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Here are a few posts I recieved about Celiac's taking Echinacea

1.I am a trained herbalist, and my son can not have gluten. My experience with
echinacea is to be cautious if there is a tendency towards allergies.
However, ocassional use for acute conditions if not allergic to ragweed, ie
colds seems to be okay. Long-term use may be too stimulating. I use other
herbs that are more useful for immune health. Astragalus is a favorite,
however, I would use it based on the person. Some people have a tendency
towards being dry and this is a drying herb. There is research to support it
works very well to boost the immune system if used in the traditional sense.
It is usually used to strengten the body before illness, Fall and Winter
months. It is stopped if there is a cold with a fever because it will
strengthen the fever. However, once the fever is gone it can be resumed. If
it is a cold without a heat condition, ie fever, it can still be taken. I use
it in food and as a tea. Tincture is alright, but it is overkill in my
opinion. Plus it is not used like echinacea which is usually taken once you
have symptoms of a cold.


2.there's lots in the archives....I was told by several md's NOT to use it..and since
I use homeopathic remedies...I really don't need it.  Recently once person posted
and said we can take it......I don't believe it

3.The warning is autoimmune disease and that is celiac disease and so echinacea is a no no 

4.My Gastroenterologist warned against taking echinacea.  The t-cells which 
attack the villi can still react even in the complete removal of gluten 
because they have been activated and stimulated to an extent that in many of 
us who continue to have symptoms for awhile on a GFD, they may still be 
stimulated and involved in inflammation.  I still have stomach symptoms and 
it has been found that these t-cells are also found increased in the stomach 
lining in celiac patients;  My doctor believes that my stomach symptoms may 
be caused by t-cells which have not yet gone dormant and triggers such as 
echinacea or msg not derived from gluten, and other irritating foods trigger 
inflammation.
In fact, CD patients who have been found to have a form of lymphocytic 
(t-cell) gastritis (stomach inflammation), have been found to take up to 5 
years to resolve their gastritis.

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