Echinacea
(also referred to as...)
Black Samson, Purple Coneflower, Narrowleaf Echinacea
Latin Name: Echinacea angustifolia/purpurea/pallida
Family: Compositae
Description
Echinacea is one of the most, if not the most used herbal home remedy today. It was originally introduced to settlers by indigenous cultures where it was extensively used for snake bites, fevers, and old, stubborn, wounds. Famous for its beautiful, deep purple, flowers and its faint, aromatic, sweet scent, it is becoming a favourite as an ornamental perennial. Wild echinacea is becoming endangered as its popularity grows.
Rather than attacking bacteria or viruses directly, this herb stimulates the immune system itself. Your body sees echinacea as a foreign substance and increases leucocyte/white blood cell production as a defense. In turn, these cells fight off bacteria and viral invaders. Echinacea also stimulates T-cell formation which assists in healing, boosting the immune system, and promoting the healing of wounds.
Echinacea inhibits certain enzymes that spread bacteria and is useful in most viral, bacterial, and inflamed conditions. This plant is a wonderful alterative (blood cleanser), either in poisoning, toxicity, cancer, and in many skin conditions such as boils and abscesses. Echinacea is also used as an ideal lymph cleanser and can be employed in tonsillitis or swollen lymph nodes.
Echinacea angustifolia (Narrowleaf Echinacea) is medicinally more active than Echinacea purpurea, but is also more difficult to grow. There is debate as to whether Echinacea pallida (Pale-purple echinacea) is in fact Echinacea angustifolia and the two have swapped names. True Echinacea pallida is even more difficult to grow than Echinacea angustifolia.
Echinacea, Group
Ailments / Situations Where Used Echinacea effectively lowers fevers and can prevent and even cure colds, the flu, and sore throats by stimulating your body's natural immune system response.
Due to the plants anti-septic properties, it can be used to treat infections in most parts of the body. This herb can be used in combination with others to treat specific infections such as those of the urinary tract (Uva-ursi or Buchu leaf combination). Consult your herbalist, naturopath, or other health practitioner if taking this approach to dealing with infection.
Externally, echinacea can be used with much success on insect bites, infected wounds, poison oak or ivy, boils, cuts, and many other skin affections.
Source
Dried root (roots and rhizomes).
Echinacea, with Butterfly
Preparations Decoction: Pour three and a half cups of cold water over three teaspoons of dried root. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes, dividing this mixture in to 3 to 4 doses. Take throughout the day. Prepared tea bags can be purchased at health food stores.
Supplement: Take one or two capsules daily.
Tincture: Take 20 to 30 drops twice daily or more as needed (up to every three hours).
For external use, a cloth is soaked in the decoction and applied to area of need.
Echinacea, Pollinated by Bee
Contraindications / Precautions / Warnings There are conflicting reports as to the appropriateness of this herb in relation HIV and AIDS due to the stimulation of T cell replication and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Echinacea may support virus replication.
Do not use this herb as a preventative as it unnecessarily stimulates the immune system and provokes a response. Use of this herb should be limited to no more than two weeks at a time. If taken for more than two months, echinacea can cause liver damage.
Do not taken in concert with hepatoxic (potentially liver damaging) drugs such as anabolic steroids, amiodrane, methotrexate, and ketoconazole. High doses of this herb can cause dizziness and nausea in some individuals.
Echinacea should not be used in concert with immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids and cyclosporine.
Ailment / Situation Listing
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