The Essential Herbal...Echinacea

Next on the essential herbal list is Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
Everyone has heard by now about the wonderful healing powers of Echinacea.

Echinacea

(E. purpurea)


Echinacea is native to central parts of the United States. Three species of Echinacea are used medicinally...E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. All are threatened in the wild, and only organic commercially grown plants should be used. Echinacea purpurea is the one most commonly used. The leaves and flowers are gathered during flowering.
Echinacea is also known as Purple Cone Flower.
Native Americans have been using it for years. They used it for toothaches, sore throats, rabies, snakebites, and many other conditions.
Echinacea's effect is still not fully understood. We do know that a number of it's key constituents (properties) boost the immune system. It can help both viral and bacterial infections. It can be helpful in preventing upper respiratory infections.
Echinacea acts as an herbal antibiotic. It detoxifies, helps heal wounds, and acts as an anti-iflammatory.
It can be added to herbal organic body care products, or drank as a tea. You can add it to other teas to make a blend. You can use Echinacea as a wash for cuts and scrapes.
Care must be taken not to ingest too much Echinacea. High doses can cause nausea and vomiting. It should only be taken for 4 weeks at a time then give the body a rest from it. Too much is not better.

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