Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Echinacea

DMatt

Recommended Posts

DMatt Newbie
DMatt
Posted

When ordering vitamins/supplements I always check to make sure they are marked gluten free. When reading the label on the echinacea bottle it is noted that those with auto immune conditions should not take echinacea. I never noticed this precaution before. Does anyone have additional information? Can celiacs ingest echinacea? Thanks.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Thats interesting--I've never noticed that warning before. I have taken echinacia before, but it was several years ago--I didn't know I had celiac disease, so I didn't read labels with the same scrutiny that I do now. I never thought that it helped me with colds, etc. so I stopped using it.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Echinacea activates your immune system, gives it a boost, so if you have an autoimmune disease, that would mean it also activates your disease. ie. if you have Hashi's thyroid (where your body attacks your thyroid) taking Echinacea could theoretically increase damage potential... Celiac is unique in the the sense that if we are gluten-free and our body is no longer attacking our intestines, then our autoimmune disease is dormant, so to speak, so taking Echinacea should be technically be okay. I waited until recently to begin taking Echinacea again, and I only do so for a short period of time when I am getting sick and my body needs some help. Taking Echinacea long term or too frequently is not good for anyone. If you have been gluten-free for a while, and decide to take Echinacea, make sure you verify that the supplement is gluten-free. Hope that helps !

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Thanks Jen--I get it now! :)

Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

I was told by my doctor (he has a Celiac son) that Celiac's should not be taking Echinacea. Even if we are feeling healthy and accidently get into gluten contamination, it makes it much worse.

DMatt Newbie
DMatt
Posted
  • Author

Thank you very much. What seemed complicated is now understandable. I think we will just stay away from the echinacea. Thanks again.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Shirley...That is a good point. There is an amount of risk in choosing to take it either way. I felt like it was worth taking last week...it is such an amazing supplement! I wonder about other "immune boosters" like goldenseal etc. too...

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest Viola
Guest Viola
Posted

My doctor told me to be very careful with all the herbal stuff as one ... they are not tested on people with auto immune diseases and two ... their contents are not government regulated ... by that I mean they can put as much, or as little of the active ingredient as they want and use what ever they want for fillers.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

yeah, that's true. herbs can be "subjective." i stick with two brands mostly...one that my husband's mom has worked with for years. we trust the purity of their products.

nikki-uk Enthusiast
nikki-uk
Posted
When ordering vitamins/supplements I always check to make sure they are marked gluten free. When reading the label on the echinacea bottle it is noted that those with auto immune conditions should not take echinacea. I never noticed this precaution before. Does anyone have additional information? Can celiacs ingest echinacea? Thanks.

I think the theory behind this is(bare with me) is echinacea boosts your immune system.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease(such as celiac disease)your immune system is really super sensitive and working too hard already.Your immune system is so good,that it's turned in on itself(think of rheumatiod arthritis where the body attacks the joints)

So,bottom line-your immune system doesn't need boosting-in fact it needs dampening down.

This of course is just my take and understanding of it.

Hope that made sense! :huh:

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

Open Original Shared Link

this might give you a wee bit more info--this is when i posted this same question a while back...

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
When ordering vitamins/supplements I always check to make sure they are marked gluten free. When reading the label on the echinacea bottle it is noted that those with auto immune conditions should not take echinacea. I never noticed this precaution before. Does anyone have additional information? Can celiacs ingest echinacea? Thanks.

Well, I've felt like I was coming down with a horrible sore throat...felt like strep throat or something. I could hardly swallow, felt like there was a lump in my throat. At first I thought it was perhaps reaction to going totally off gluten because this started about 4 days after that....and oddly, taking 2 Advil helped, but at that point I was taking Echinacea AND Astragalus, which I had recently read was thought by some to be even more effective than echinacea. Plus I took 1g vitamin C a couple of times a day. Anyhow, this sort of came and went for a couple of days but now seems to be gone 4 days after I first felt it, and I never did get sick beyond the sore throat. In any case, was this a cold developing or was it due to gluten withdrawal? Who knows, not I. But the echinacea didn't seem to bother me as far as I can tell. I looked at the bottle and it also had the autoimmine warning. Weird.

jenvan Collaborator
jenvan
Posted

it might have been a cold. can't tell you how many times in the past i was getting sick, took echinacea for a 2 days and was normal again. i have been reading on Astragalus...going to have to do some more research and maybe try sometime. goldenseal is good too...

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
it might have been a cold. can't tell you how many times in the past i was getting sick, took echinacea for a 2 days and was normal again. i have been reading on Astragalus...going to have to do some more research and maybe try sometime. goldenseal is good too...

I'm using one of Swanson's Premium Brand Echinacea with Goldenseal Root. The bottle claims the only other ingredient is gelatin. In my family, we all think it can nip things in the bud. The jury is out on the astragalus, but it's interesting. This was my first experience with it recently.

  • 4 years later...
mudgely Newbie
mudgely
Posted

I'm using one of Swanson's Premium Brand Echinacea with Goldenseal Root. The bottle claims the only other ingredient is gelatin. In my family, we all think it can nip things in the bud. The jury is out on the astragalus, but it's interesting. This was my first experience with it recently.

I can confirm that echinacea has a rapid immune effect in the gastroinstestinal tract from an experience that I am having right now. Last night, I got "glutened" at a restaurant. I realized it as soon as it happened, and I took 30 mg dexamethasone to suppress my immune response. Today, I was still reacting, to I took 15 mg twice during the day, and things were OK. I was in the mood for some tea, and without thinking I drank some echinacea tea. My body responded within minutes, with cramping and diarrhea. It occurred to me immediately, that the echinacea must have boosted my immune response, so my body was rejecting the gluten still in me.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens. I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium. I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells. When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly. This is safe...
    2. Jane02
      - Jane02 replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency. I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently...
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      Hello, @Jane02, I take Naturewise D 3. It contains olive oil. Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets. Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking. Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the...
    4. Scott Adams
      0

      Penobscot Bay, Maine: Nurturing Gluten-Free Wellness Retreat with expert celiac dietitian, Melinda Dennis

      until
      Hello! Join me and treat yourself to a four-day, three-night restorative gluten-free retreat in a peaceful, private coastal retreat setting near Penobscot Bay in Maine. Dates: April 10-13, 2026 Enjoy engaging classes...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jane02's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      9

      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product.
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,331
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Kristy2026
    Newest Member
    Kristy2026
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jane02,  I take Naturewise D 3.  It contains olive oil.   Some Vitamin D supplements, like D Drops, are made with fractionated coconut oil which can cause digestive upsets.  Fractionated coconut oil is not the same as coconut oil used for cooking.  Fractionated coconut oil has been treated for longer shelf life, so it won't go bad in the jar, and thus may be irritating to the digestive system. I avoid supplements made with soy because many people with Celiac Disease also react to soy.  Mixed tocopherols, an ingredient in Thornes Vitamin D, may be sourced from soy oil.  Kirkland's has soy on its ingredient list. I avoid things that might contain or be exposed to crustaceans, like Metagenics says on its label.  I have a crustacean/shellfish/fish allergy.  I like Life Extension Bioactive Complete B Complex.  I take additional Thiamine B 1 in the form Benfotiamine which helps the intestines heal, Life Extension MegaBenfotiamine. Thiamine is needed to activate Vitamin D.   Low thiamine can make one feel like they are getting glutened after a meal containing lots of simple carbohydrates like white rice, or processed gluten free foods like cookies and pasta.   It's rare to have a single vitamin deficiency.  The water soluble B Complex vitamins should be supplemented together with additional Thiamine in the form Benfotiamine and Thiamine TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) to correct subclinical deficiencies that don't show up on blood tests.  These are subclinical deficiencies within organs and tissues.  Blood is a transportation system.  The body will deplete tissues and organs in order to keep a supply of thiamine in the bloodstream going to the brain and heart.   If you're low in Vitamin D, you may well be low in other fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin A and Vitamin K. Have you seen a dietician?
    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.