What is it used for?
Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve cold symptoms [Source note 2].
Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections [Source note 3].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine to help fight off infections, especially of the upper respiratory tract [Source note 4].
Supportive therapy in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (e.g. common colds) [Source note 5].
Helps to relieve the symptoms and shorten the duration of upper respiratory tract infections [Source note 6].
The above uses can be combined on the product label if from the same traditional or non-traditional system of medicine (e.g., Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve cold symptoms and symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections).
For multi-ingredient products:
To prevent the product from being represented as a “traditional medicine”, any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific active ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Purple coneflower is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to help relieve cold symptoms).
When ALL of the active ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.
Who does this guide cover?
As specified below.
How is it taken?
Oral
Which forms are covered?
this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.
Acceptable dosage forms by age group:
Children 2 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to emulsion/suspension and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).
Children 3-5 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to chewables, emulsion/ suspension, powders and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).
Children 6-11 years, Adolescents 12-17 years, and Adults 18 years and older: The
Quantities
Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract*, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)
HERB TOP
| Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Dried herb top (g/day) / Minimum | Dried herb top (g/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 2-4 years | 0.4 g | 1.0 g |
| Children | 5-9 years | 0.6 g | 1.5 g |
| Children | |||
| Children | 10-11 years | 1.3 g | 3.0 g |
| Adolescents | 12-14 years | 1.3 g | 3.0 g |
| Adolescents | 15-17 years | 2.5 g | 6.0 g |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 2.5 g | 6.0 g |
¹Children and adolescent doses were calculated as a proportion of the adult dose [Source note 7]. The use of Echinacea purpurea herb top in children is supported by the following references: McIntyre 2005; Bove 2001; Schilcher 1997. ²Adult dose supported by the following reference: Mills and Bone 2000.
ROOT
| Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Dried root (g/day) / Minimum | Dried root (g/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 2-4 years | 0.15 g | 0.8 g |
| Children | 5-9 years | 0.23 g | 1.1 g |
| Children | |||
| Children | 10-11 years | 0.45 g | 2.3 g |
| Adolescents | 12-14 years | 0.45 g | 2.3 g |
| Adolescents | 15-17 years | 0.90 g | 4.5 g |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 0.90 g | 4.5 g |
¹Children and adolescent doses were calculated as a proportion of the adult dose [Source note 8]. The use of Echinacea purpurea root in children is supported by the following references: McIntyre 2005; Bove 2001; Schilcher 1997 ²Adult dose supported by the following references: Mills and Bone 2000; Bräunig et al. 1992
HERB TOP and ROOT
| Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Dried herb top and root (g/day) / Minimum | Dried herb top and root (g/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 2-4 years | 0.5 g | 0.9 g |
| Children | 5-9 years | 0.8 g | 1.4 g |
| Children | |||
| Children | 10-11 years | 1.5 g | 2.8 g |
| Adolescents | 12-14 years | 1.5 g | 2.8 g |
| Adolescents | 15-17 years | 3.0 g | 5.5 g |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 3.0 g | 5.5 g |
¹Children and adolescent doses were calculated as a proportion of the adult dose [Source note 9]. The use of Echinacea purpurea in children is supported by the following references: McIntyre 2005; Bove 2001; Schilcher 1997. ²Adult dose supported by the following reference: Mills and Bone 2000.
*Note: Solvents allowed for the method of preparation “Non-standardized extracts (Dry extract)” as part of this reference are ethanol and/or water only.
Method of preparation: Juice
HERB TOP
| Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Subpopulation(s)¹,² | Juice of herb top (mL/day) / Minimum | Juice of herb top (mL/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 2-4 years | 0.7 mL | 1.7 mL |
| Children | 5-9 years | 1.0 mL | 2.5 mL |
| Children | |||
| Children | 10-11 years | 2.0 mL | 5.0 mL |
| Adolescents | 12-14 years | 2.0 mL | 5.0 mL |
| Adolescents | 15-17 years | 3.9 mL | 10.0 mL |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 3.9 mL | 10.0 mL |
¹Children and adolescent doses were calculated as a proportion of the adult dose [Source note 10]. The use of Echinacea purpurea herb top in children is supported by the following references: McIntyre 2005; Bove 2001; Schilcher 1997. ²Adult dose supported by the following references: Schulten et al. 2001; Hoheisel et al. 1997.
How is it used?
Take at the first sign of infection [Source note 11].
How long is it used?
Ask a healthcare professional for use beyond 8 weeks [Source note 12].
Warnings and precautions
Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen.
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have a progressive systemic disease such as tuberculosis, collagenosis, multiple sclerosis, or an immune system disorder [Source note 13].
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you are taking medications to suppress the immune system [Source note 14].
When should it be avoided?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Possible side effects
Preparations containing herb top
Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs [Source note 15].
Storage
Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.
Preparation details
Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.
Ingredients and preparations
| Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | Source information / Source material(s) | Source information / Part(s) | Source information / Preparation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echinacea purpurea |
| Echinacea purpurea | Herb top |
|
| Echinacea purpurea |
| Echinacea purpurea |
| Dry |
References: Proper name: USDA 2024; Common names: Gardner and McGuffin 2013, Blumenthal et al. 2000; Source information: Barnes et al. 2007, ESCOP 2003.
Other ingredients
Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.
Preparation and quality requirements
The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.
The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.
Guide change history
Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.
Minor updates
Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.
Initial release
Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.
Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.
Sources
Source information
This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.
The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.
- Source document version
- December 19, 2025
- Source captured
- Aug 15, 2026
- Editorial work
- Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.
Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.
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