Echinacea- Learn more about this herb.

Echinacea

Latin Botanical: Echinacea purpurea / Echinacea Angustifolia

I almost always us the purpurea variety because the other can be on endangered or watch lists in the wild, so I grow purpurea. I like it to grow for at least three years before harvesting the root.

Common Name(s): Echinacea, cone Flower, purple coneflower, red sunflower, and Rudbeckia

Family: Asteraceae

Parts Used: Whole plant. Some regions favor the root over the flower and some whole plant over just the root.

Qualities: Lightly sweet, then bitter taste. Has warming, dry tingling sensation, for some almost a numbing sensation, on the tongue and mucous membranes.

Constituents

• Alkylamides
• Caffeic acid derivatives –cichoric acid
• Polysaccharides
• Polyacetylenes (esp. in fresh Echinacea purpurea and pallida)
• Volatile oils
• Flavonoids- rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and nicotiflorin.
• Trace elements like zinc, iron, calcium, and manganese are present.
• Inulin, iron, copper, cobalt and fatty acids   

Actions

• Immuno-stimulant- non-specific stimulation of immunological defenses. (1) 
• Immuno-modulator- effects immune system responsiveness.
• Lymphatic- moves lymph and helps increase lymphatic flow. 
• Antiviral-inhibit viral development.
• Antibacterial-destructive to or inhibits the growth of bacteria.
• Anti-inflammatory- reduces inflammation and swelling.
• Antioxidants- are compounds that inhibit oxidation.
• Vulnerary- Promotes wound healing.
• Sialagogue- Promotes saliva production.

Indications

Bacterial or viral infections- can assist in treating and potentially preventing. Lancet Infectious Diseases published a report from, the University of Connecticut conducted a meta-analysis study that appraised 14 studies and concluded that:

Echinacea decreases the likelihood of catching a common cold by 58 percent.

Echinacea decreases the term of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days. (2)

Respiratory Tract- Upper Respiratory Tract Infections, Colds and Influenza (3)

Infections- Other viral, fungal and bacterial infections

Sore Throats- Sore throats, tonsillitis, and issues like a toothache.

Inflammation- Inflammatory and autoimmune conditions benefit from the usage of Echinacea. Can be helpful in arthritic conditions.

Pain- Works as a pain-killer. Can be used topically or internally.

Skin conditions –like acne, eczema, psoriasis, staph conditions like staphylococcus and streptococcus infections. Also used for antibiotic-resistant diseases like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It can be used internally or topically. If someone has MSRA or Staph, they should seek appropriate medical care also.

Wounds-helpful with slow-healing wounds, dermal wounds, bruises, burns, cuts and scrapes, leg ulcers, acne, and impetigo.

Chemo side effects- Decreases chemotherapy side effects and leukopenia (WBC). White blood cell (WBC) count is an analysis that measures the number of white blood cells in the body.