Evidence supporting the use of: Echinacea purpurea
For the health condition: Bladder Infection

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Echinacea purpurea has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American tribes and later in European herbalism. It has been employed for a variety of infections and inflammatory conditions, including urinary tract and bladder infections. The rationale behind this traditional use is based on echinacea’s reputed immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory properties, which theoretically could support the body’s defense mechanisms against infections such as those affecting the bladder.

However, scientific evidence for Echinacea purpurea specifically in the prevention or treatment of bladder infections (urinary tract infections, UTIs) is limited and inconclusive. Most modern research on echinacea focuses on its role in preventing or treating upper respiratory tract infections, with only a few studies addressing urinary tract health. These studies are often small, heterogeneous, or lack rigorous controls, and results have been mixed. A handful of laboratory studies suggest that echinacea extracts may have mild antibacterial effects or can modulate immune cell activity, but these findings have not translated into robust clinical evidence for bladder infection treatment.

Overall, while echinacea’s use for bladder infections is supported by tradition, there is insufficient high-quality clinical evidence to recommend its use for this purpose. Most authoritative reviews and guidelines do not endorse echinacea for urinary tract or bladder infections due to this lack of strong evidence.

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