QUESTION: Is echinacea intoxicating? I've heard that young
people who take megadoses of the herb become spaced out. Can this
be true?
ANSWER: No way! Echinacea is neither an intoxicant nor a
euphoriant. However, many of the liquid echinacea preparations are
made by extracting the herb with 40 to 60 percent alcohol. That's
80 to 120 proof, which is pretty strong stuff. The normal doses of
most echinacea tinctures range from 20 to 40 drops (about 1 to 2
teaspoons), which wouldn't have a significant effect on the central
nervous system. But if taken in very large doses, the potent
alcohol could obviously produce intoxication. Blame the alcohol,
not the echinacea, for any such effects.
Some people like to avoid alcohol entirely, even the small
amounts used in medicines. Therefore, extracts of echinacea are
sometimes prepared with glycerin as a substitute for ethyl alcohol.
The problem with these so-called glycerites is that they haven't
been tested to show that all of the active principles of echinacea
(polysaccharides, alkylamides, cichoric-acid and related compounds)
are present in the extract made with that solvent.
If you want to take echinacea and avoid alcohol, solid
preparations in the form of capsules or tablets are your best bet.
QUESTION: For the past year, knee pain has prevented me from
being active. I've been to my family doctor and an orthopedist, but
they have only been able to help me temporarily. As soon as I start
exercising, my knee acts up again. Any suggestions?
ANSWER: After being sidelined with a foot injury a few years
ago, I went to a podiatrist, who wanted to operate, and an
orthopedist, who told me to stop running and doing aerobics.
I finally got the help I needed from a physiatrist (pronounced
fizz-ee-at-trist), a medical doctor who specializes in physical
medicine and rehabilitation. Instead of just looking at my feet, he
checked my leg strength, flexibility and how I walked and ran.
In addition to a chronic foot problem, he discovered that my hip
muscles were tight and weak. This was aggravating my foot every
time I tried to resume exercising. Now I do stretches and
strengthening exercises for these areas, and I've been able to
prevent or manage any pain.
Physiatrists focus on getting you back to previous activity
levels without surgery. They use therapies such as exercise,
biofeedback, massage, heat and cold, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy -
and prescription medication when needed. In addition to treating
acute conditions, a physiatrist aims to prevent future problems.
Besides exercise-related problems or injuries, physiatrists also
treat other medical problems that can impair function, such as back
pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple sclerosis,
osteoporosis and stroke.
To find a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor in your
area, contact the American Academy of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation at (312) 464-9700 or www.aapmr.org.
Copyright 2000 Rodale Press Inc.
