Biological Name: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea

Other Names: Black Sampson, Echinacea, Narrow-leaved purple coneflower, Red sunflower, Sampson root

Elements Applied: Roots are commonly applied in herbal medicine.

Active Components: Echinacea is a widely used immunity stimulant. A combination of several active components in this plant helps increase white blood cell, macrophage, and lymphocyte production in the organism. Echinacea is also responsible for interferon regulation, which commonly takes part in reducing viral infections, like influenza and colds.

History: Echinacea was widely applied by American Indians in a wide range of cases, like external sores and venomous insect bites. In 1887 it was officially recognized potent by the US medical authorities and applied for diseases like syphilis and common colds. The plant was widely investigated in Germany in 1930s.

Conventionally echinacea is applied for wounds, infections, sores, tonsillitis, diphtheria, gangrenous diseases, erysipelas, snake and insect bites, syphilis, peritonitis, boils, eczema, acne, carbuncles, fevers, and blood poisoning.

Used For: The remedy is applied for increasing metabolic rates, reducing fevers, purifying the body, and fighting infections. The list of conditions it is used in includes: yeast infections, chronic ear infections, flu, immunity disorders, periodontal diseases, Crohn’s diseases, sore throats and common colds, and mouth sores.

Echinacea is primarily applied for fighting infections. There are casual reports of echinacea application for HIV and AIDS, but more evidence is necessary to prove its effectiveness.

Giving strong assistance for human immunity, Echinacea helps the organism to fight infections, and is thus used for urogenital infections, respiratory system conditions, colds, influenza and other infections.

Echinacea is particularly useful in treating colds. It has a long history of application for colds and other upper respiratory tract infections. The herb not only impedes the disease, but also enhances one’s immunity to guard the system from other infections. People who have feeble immune system are known to get most from applying the herb.

In the early times of America echinacea was used for snake bites and stings. Its components are thought to diminish hyaluronidase, which is contained in snake poison.

Echinacea is additionally applied for skin inflammations and disorders like varicose ulcers, herpes, burns, eczema, different wounds, foliculitis, and abscesses.

Rheumatic arthritis can also be treating using the herb’s anti-inflammatory properties.

Echinacea is specifically applied in cancer, as an aid for chemotherapy and radiation, which decrease white cell production in the organism. According to scientific researches, cancer sufferers who have passed chemotherapy and took echinacea revealed a stable increase in white blood cell count, while people who were not given echinacea extract showed no positive tendency and even further decrease in white blood cell count.

Additional Info: Echinacea is a plant indigenous to North America. Though it is gathered wild and successfully used for people’s needs, Echinacea found in herbal remedies is extracted from specially raised plants. The roots are collected when the plant blossoms are and applied in medical purposes.

The stem is thick and covered leaves which are linear and have some fuzz on them. The plant blossoms from the beginning of summer to late autumn, with flowers which have 15 purple-colored rays (on average).

Preparation and Intake: Used for immunity stimulation echinacea is applied for a certain time interval. When the cold has just affected the organism, the herb is applied for 3-4 times per day, and the taking course lasts from ten days to two weeks. To help the organism self-guard itself from colds and other infections, echinacea is applied preventively for a period of 6-8 weeks thrice a day. Then a ‘blank’ interval for a week should be taken, in order to make echinacea effect as stable as possible. As an alternative to capsules, echinacea powder can be taken in a daily quantity of 900 mg.

Liquid extract or tincture is applied in a quantity of 3-4 ml, thrice a day.

Dried root daily quantity is 1-2 grams.

Frozen root is taken in a quantity of 325-650 mg a day.

Safety: Echinacea is relatively safe for internal application. In case of lupus and other autoimmune disorders, as well as multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis and other progressive conditions, echinacea should be used only after speaking to your health-care provider. Exercise care when taking echinacea if you have an allergy to daisy family plants. Echinacea extract is safe to use when breastfeeding or pregnant.