Echinacea purpurea, a herb from the Asteraceae family, has a tonic and immunomodulatory effect. That is why various medicines (tablets, infusion, syrup and others) are made from such a herb, which can stimulate the immune defense and accelerate recovery from infections. One of these drugs is Echinacea Tincture. It is often recommended for adults, but in childhood, treatment with such a drug has some limitations.
Release form and composition
Echinacea tincture is produced by various pharmaceutical companies, including the well-known German manufacturer Doctor Theiss and many Russian companies. Such a drug is sold in vials or dropper bottles containing 25, 50 or 100 ml of a brownish transparent liquid.
Its main component is the herb Echinacea. Usually, to obtain 100 ml of tincture, it is taken in an amount of 20 g. The auxiliary component of the drug is 40% ethyl alcohol. There are no other ingredients in such a product.
In this case, the composition of the drug from "Doctor Theiss" is slightly different. 100 grams of such a solution contains 33.3 grams of the finished echinacea tincture, supplemented with 38 grams of 70% ethanol, and the remainder is purified water.
Operating principle
The effect of echinacea extract on the immune system is due to the presence of water-soluble polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyenes, essential oils and other compounds. They have an immunomodulatory effect. In addition, echinacea can influence the inflammatory process, reducing its activity.
Under the influence of polysaccharides, the phagocytic activity of various cells is activated, including macrophages and neutrophils. In addition, these substances are able to increase the production of interleukin 1 and accelerate the formation of plasma cells. The presence of betaine, levulose and inulin in echinacea has a positive effect on metabolic processes in the body.
Indications
"Echinacea tincture" is used:
- in acute infections, to strengthen nonspecific immunity and help to quickly overcome the disease;
- with frequent colds and SARS, that infection;
- with long-term antibiotic treatment of pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis and other chronic infections (as an auxiliary medicine to speed up recovery).
At what age is it prescribed?
In the instructions for "Tincture of Echinacea" any of the manufacturers noted the age of up to 12 years, which is associated with the presence of alcohol in it. You cannot give such a drug to younger children, because the amount of ethyl alcohol in it is quite large (including in the product from "Dr. Theiss").
Contraindications
Reception of "Echinacea Tincture" is prohibited when:
- autoimmune diseases;
- leukemia;
- tuberculosis;
- HIV infection;
- hypersensitivity to echinacea;
- allergies to other plants from the Asteraceae family.
It is necessary to use the drug with caution in case of diseases of the brain, liver pathologies and traumatic brain injuries.
Side effects
During treatment with Echinacea Tincture, sometimes swelling of the face, skin rash and other allergic reactions appear. Their occurrence requires immediate discontinuation of the drug.
Instructions for use
Before use, the medicine is shaken, and then the tincture is dripped into a spoonful of water in the amount of 20-35 drops. At this dose, the medication is given for the prevention of ARVI to adolescents over 12 years old before meals three times a day.
If the disease has already begun, then in an acute condition, the dosage can be increased (but only as prescribed by the doctor), and as soon as an improvement is noted, the dose is reduced to 10-20 drops per dose.
The duration of the use of "Echinacea tincture" should be determined by the doctor depending on the state of the patient's immune system, but usually it is 2-3 weeks. If necessary, the remedy is taken longer, but only under the supervision of a specialist and no more than 8 weeks in a row.
Overdose and drug interactions
Exceeding the recommended dose of the drug can provoke gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions, sleep problems, or nervous agitation. If you experience these symptoms, it is recommended to contact your doctor.
"Echinacea tincture" is not prescribed together with other immunostimulating agents, as well as with drugs that have an immunosuppressive effect (the effect will decrease). In addition, Echinacea Tincture should not be used during treatment with certain antibiotics and hepatotoxic drugs.
Terms of sale and storage
The drug is sold without a prescription, and its cost depends both on the manufacturer and on the volume of the tincture in the bottle. For example, a bottle with 50 ml of the medicine from Ecolab costs about 130 rubles. For the same volume of Echinacea-Galenopharm tincture you need to pay only 30-40 rubles, and a bottle of medication from Dr. Theiss "costs about 300 rubles.
The solution usually has a shelf life of 3 years. Since "Echinacea Tincture" is a herbal remedy, during storage in liquid, a precipitate (turbidity or flakes) can form, which does not impair the properties of the drug. Keep the medicine bottle away from sunlight at a temperature of + 12 + 15 degrees (some manufacturers indicate a range of + 15 + 25 degrees). In addition, the medication should be inaccessible to babies.
Reviews
You can find a lot of positive reviews about the use of Echinacea Tincture: the drug is called inexpensive and effective, praised for its natural plant base and ability to stimulate immunity. However, many parents do not like the presence of alcohol in the drug and the age limit up to 12 years, and some teenagers reacted to the medication with allergies. In addition, many children call the taste of the medicine unpleasant.
Analogs
One of the most popular analogs of Echinacea Tincture for strengthening the immune system is a drug called Immunal. It is represented by a solution and tablets that contain echinacea juice. Such a medicine has the same indications, but different age restrictions, allowing them to replace "Echinacea Tincture" at the age of 12 years. So, in liquid form, it is often prescribed from 1 to 3 years old, and in solid form, it is given to children over 4 years old.
Tablet "Immunal" can be replaced with tablets "Immunorm", the action of which is also provided by the dried juice of echinacea. However, they, like Echinacea Tincture, are used in patients over 12 years old.
In addition, the doctor may prescribe other immunostimulating agents, for example, "Likopid", "Imudon" or "Isoprinosine", but they have other active ingredients and have their own restrictions on their use, so a specialist should select such an analogue.
Dr. Komarovsky will tell you how to raise the immunity of a child in the next video.
