This article from WebMD (below) says that echinacea was found to change the composition of gut bacteria. It does not say whether this change was for better or worse and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this.

About a week ago I started drinking echinacea tea 3-5 times a day (box says to drink that much when you are "sick" lol). Everything was good but yesterday my body cleared out like I took a laxative. I'm taking a break because that wasn't the effect I was going for. I'm wondering if anyone has an experience with this. I'd be keen to hear from some of the candida/leaky gut crowd as I think I might have that and a gut bacteria change might not be the worse thing. I don't have a rash or stomach/abdominal pains. I sometimes get fleeting headaches and definitely get dry mouth but both are easily fixed with a big glass of water.

Here's the article, you be the judge (but please weigh in here):

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20061220/echinacea-side-effects

edit: better font =)