Echinacea, or coneflower, is a flowering plant and popular herbal remedy.

Originally from North America, it has long been used in Native American practices to treat a variety of ailments, including wounds, burns, toothaches, sore throat, and upset stomach (2Trusted Source).

Most parts of the plant, including the leaves, petals, and roots, can be used medicinally — though many people believe the roots have the strongest effect.

Echinacea is usually taken as a tea or supplement but can also be applied topically.

Today, it’s primarily used to treat or prevent the common cold, though the science behind this isn’t particularly strong.

One review in over 4,000 people found a potential 10–20% reduced risk of colds from taking echinacea, but there’s little to no evidence that it treats the cold after you have caught it (3Trusted Source).

Though insufficient data exists to evaluate the long-term effects of this herb, short-term use is generally considered safe. That said, side effects like nausea, stomach pain, and skin rash have occasionally been reported.

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