Echinacea has been used for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds and to prevent colds, flus and general immune system weakness (or as an antibiotic). Throughout history people have used echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria. Echinacea can shorten the duration of the common cold and flu and reduce symptoms, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever. Studies suggest that echinacea can inhance the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects, so professional herbalists recommend echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete's foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds.