Echinacea, the purple coneflower is native to North America and has been used by the American Indians for wound healing and snake bites for many centuries. There are 3 main species used medicinally which have very similar properties: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea Augustifolia and Echinacea pallida. The root or the whole plant is used in herbal medicine.
Medicinal Properties of Echinacea
Echinacea contains compounds such as polysaccharides, alkamides, echinolone, betaine and alkaloids. Echinacea angustifolia contains additional compounds called echinosides.
Echinacea is able to act on the immune system by supporting and stimulating white blood cell activity and by activating a viral blocking substance called interferon.
Purple Coneflower Herbal Remedies
Our herbalists recommend Echinacea for over 60 different disorders, hence there are too many to list here. It is generally recommended for conditions where the immune system needs boosting in order help the body fight a bacterial, viral or fungal infection, or when the body’s healing process needs some stimulation.
Other Purple Coneflower Information
Echinacea is frequently used by herbalists to help with skin conditions such as boils, Acne, abscesses and Eczema. It is often found in licensed herbal remedies for skin health. Echinacea is about the best known immune boosting herb, and you can take it continually for long periods if you wish with no negative effects, however it may work more efficiently if taken in a cyclic manner. Some herbalists suggest 3 weeks on and 2 weeks off, whereas others recommend taking it on weekdays only and having a break at the weekends.
Echinacea is available in tablets, capsules or as a tincture, and can be used in tincture form for children 1 year of age and above. Herb tincture dosage is lower than adult levels. A simple guide for children is one drop per stone of weight.
Side Effects of Echinacea
Echinacea is generally free of side effects and does not have any contra-indications.
It is regarded as being safe to take during pregnancy and when breast-feeding.
When this article was written there were no well-known negative drug interactions with the herb Echinacea.
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