Echinacea and Garlic Supplementation: Uses, Effectiveness, and Safety

Echinacea was the number one dietary supplement in the U.S. according to the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (Barnes et al., 2004). Identifying the specific chemical principles within the three species of the perennial plant Echinacea that produce clinically relevant effects is the subject of ongoing research, and lack of this information hampers the ability to develop dosage forms and regimens that produce reliable clinical effects.  In the 2012 NHIS survey of dietary supplement use, garlic was ranked as the 8th most commonly used dietary supplement in the U.S. (Clarke et al., 2015). Garlic, a top ten dietary supplement, has a long history as a medicinal agent with anti-infective, anti-tumor, cardiovascular, and performance enhancing effects.  Many uses have been proposed for Echinacea and garlic.  Consumers have difficulty evaluating the literature and making appropriate choices with regard to the uses, dosing, adverse effects, interactions, and product quality of these supplements.  Pharmacists who are knowledgeable about Echinacea and garlic supplements can assist patients in the appropriate use of these products to achieve better health.