

Most commonly, Echinacea preparations are used to stimulate the immune system to help fight infections and combat colds or flu. You can use either fresh or dried plant materials.

You can use all parts of the plant (both roots and aerial components), to create powders, teas, extracts, expressed juice, and poultices for herbal remedies. However, only three of the species are used medicinally: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida. Inside the genus of Echinacea, there are nine different species. You can find the plant growing wild in prairies and open woodlands in well-draining soil. However, the plant is also known by many common names including purple coneflower, pale coneflower, black samson, and Kansas snakeroot.Įchinacea can grow up to two feet tall and produces beautiful purple/pink flowers with a large, spiny, seed head located in the center. The name Echinacea is derived from the Greek word echinos, meaning hedgehog, because of the similar appearance of the prominent, spiky cone located in the center of the flower. What is echinacea? Echinacea is a genus of perennial, flowering plants in the Asteraceae, or composite daisy family, and is native to central North America.
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We’ll also offer suggestions for how to find an Echinacea preparation that’s right for you.Īnd if you want more information on medicinal uses of herbs, check out Grow your own herbal medicine cabinet? Yes, you can. In this post, we’ll lay out a comprehensive view of Echinacea, including an explanation of how the plant is used medicinally, and the effects it can have on your immune system. These products are easy to find at pharmacies, grocery stores, health shops, and online suppliers. Today, you can find Echinacea in many forms including teas, supplements and liquid extracts. The research shows that Echinacea may modify the immune system while also working as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-viral and even anti-anxiety aid. Scientists have done a ton of studies to identify the compounds that make Echinacea an effective complement to mainstream medical treatments.

Some people also use Echinacea for other conditions such as pain relief, wound management, and venomous snake bites. Typically, Echinacea is marketed as an herbal remedy for the prevention and treatment of the common cold. But what does it actually do? For centuries, people have used this striking purple flower to battle an array of health concerns. Echinacea is one of the most well known and popular herbal remedies in the world.
