Echinacea - sick of having colds, and breastfeeding

[AussieSim]

Does anyone know if I can build up my immune system by taking Echinacea supplements while I breastfeed my 14mo DS, or whether it might even do him some good too? I keep catching colds - I am not used to this European weather and am a terrible judge of what to wear here etc. This last cold I have now even my DS didn't catch - maybe I am rundown by the longterm bfing. Am just rambling now, but can anyone advise me?

a pharmacist told me when I was still bfeeding dd1 that I shouldn't take echinacea, dunno if he was talking out of his a**e though..

I think that may have been his a**e talking, Bundle, but generally health professionals feel they have to be cautious if there is little research to confirm the safety of a medicine when used while b/f etc, don't they.
But I did take echinacea while b/f ds when he was 18 months old and I was catching all sorts. It seemed to help. Didn't harm him - by the time they are over a year our breast milk is only a small part of their overall diet, or so I justified it to myself.
Hope you feel better soon, AussieSim. Plenty of foods rich in vitamin C, zinc and iron will help boost your immune system too.

When I was breastfeeding, my dp actually phoned up the manufacturers of Echinaforce (the product we had in the house) and they said they do not advise taking it. So I didn't

My Central American friend used to get alot of colds when she first came to the UK - said the same thing about the European weather. She was advised by a doctor to take cod liver oil supplements. It worked for her, so you may want to give that a try.

Thanks guys. I think I will give it a miss then. This is what Breastfeeding.com had to say about it: "Other Herbal Therapies Should Be Used Only After Checking With Your Physician

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia), an herb thought to boost the immune system, has become popular to treat cold symptoms. Evidence of the effectiveness of Echinacea has been mixed. One recent clinical trial found that Echinacea lessened symptoms of the common cold compared to a placebo, when it was taken at the onset of symptoms. Another clinical trial found no benefit associated with taking Echinacea on a regular basis to avoid such infections, however. Although its effectiveness is questionable, these studies suggest that Echinacea is probably safe when taken for short periods of time, except in individuals who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums and related plants. The Echinacea plant itself is a commonly recognized, purple cone flower that is a member of the daisy family."

I am worried that I am getting a bit run down and that my DS is getting the best of me. I think I need to think about weaning.

That's interesting Sparks - I still suspect that a) to most doctors and pharmaceuticals "breast-feeding" means tiny babies not yet on solids
b) it's because there's no research confirming it's safe so they issue a blanket no-no
but having read that, I will skip it this time round!

Yes, you are probably right that it's the manufacturers "covering their backs" to some extent. I just felt that I didn't absolutely need to take it, so I gave it a miss.