|
Information about the herb Echinacea
Echinacea Angustifolia, also known as Black Sampson is part of the Compositae plant family. Resembling a black-eyed Susan, Echinacea or purple coneflower is a North American
perennial plant that is indigenous to the central plains where it grows on road
banks, prairies, fields and in dry, open woods, from the prairie states northward
to Pennsylvania.
General Information
Botanical
Name: Echinacea Angustifolia, Echinacea purpure
Plant
Family: Compositae
Common
names: Black Sampson, Narrow-leafed purple coneflower, Rudbeckia, Sampson
Root, Snakeroot, Sonnenhut
History: The name Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos, 'sea
urchin', referring to the prickly scales of the dried seed head.
For over 400 years the Plains Indians used various species of Echinacea to treat:
- infections
- measles
- mumps
- poisonous
insect and snake bites
- smallpox
- sore
throat
- toothaches
- wounds
and
the Sioux Indians used it for:
- a
general 'cure-all'
- blood
poisoning
- hydrophobia
- snakebites
Echinacea has also been used throughout history to treat:
- diphtheria
- scarlet
fever
- syphilis
- malaria
Tradition: In
religious ceremonies Echinacea was used:
- as
an offering to the spirits or gods and goddesses
- to
strengthen a spell or ritual.
Back to the Top
Plant Constituents of Echinacea
Contains:
- alkamides
- betain
- caryophylene
- copper
- esquiterpenes
- essential
oil
- fatty
acids
- flavonoids
- glycoproteins
- glycosides
- iron
- polyacetylenes
- polysaccharides
- the important components stimulating the immune system are the large polysaccharides,which
contribute to the herb's immune empowering effects and increases T-cell production
and other natural killer cell activity. These include:
- caffeic
acid glycoside Echinacoside
- fat-soluble
alkylamides
- inulin
- protein
- tannins
- vitamins
A, C, E
- volatile
oils
Roots
The
chemicals contained in the root differ considerably from the upper part of the
plant. The roots have high concentrations of volatile oils (odorous compounds)
while the above-ground parts of the plant tend to contain more polysaccharides
(substances known to trigger the activity of the immune system). The beneficial
effects of Echinacea appear to be due to the combination of these active substances.
The
root of the E. pallida are used to treat:
- influenza-like
infections
Above-ground
Parts
The
above-ground parts of E. purpurea are used to treat:
- colds
- slow-healing
wounds
- upper
respiratory tract infections
- urinary
tract infections
Many Echinacea products may contain one species, a combination of
two or all three plant species.
Echinacea prevents the formation of an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which destroys a natural
barrier between healthy tissue and damaging organisms.
Action:
- alterative
[an agent capable of favorably altering or changing unhealthy conditions of
the body and tending to restore
normal bodily function, usually by improving nutrition]
- antibacterial
[an agent that destroys bacteria; bactericide]
- antibiotic
[an agent that destroys or stops the growth of micro-organisms]
- anti-microbial
[an agent that destroys microbes]
- antioxidant
[contributing to the oxidation of free radicals which are believed to contribute
to premature aging and dementia]
- antiseptic
[agent for destroying or inhibiting pathogenic or putrefactive bacteria] particularly
for the Lymphatic System
- antiviral
[an agent that destroys viruses]
- hormonal
effect
Back to the Top
Usage of Echinacea
Medicinal
part used: Rootstock
Echinacea is used internally for:
Bacterial
and Viral Conditions
- AIDS
- herpes
- meningitis
- vaginal
yeast (candida) infections
- venereal
diseases
Blood
Conditions
- blood
poisoning
- cleansing
the blood [one of the best blood purifiers]
- hemorrhoids
- increases
the production of white blood cells
Female
Conditions
Gastrointestinal
Conditions
- dispels
flatulence
- fermentative
dyspepsia
- improves
digestion
- promotes
proper digestion
Genitourinary
Conditions
Glandular
Conditions
- improves
the lymph glands
- relieves
lymphatic swelling
Immune
System Conditions
- boosts
the body's immune system by increasing production of infection-fighting T-cells
[T-lymphocytes]
- helps
build resistance to infections
- helps
in nearly all infections
- stimulates
a healthy immune system to ward off viruses
- supports
and stabilizes cellular immunity
Combined
with Golden Seal, Echinacea is effective against:
- allergies
- relieving
the symptoms of hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis)
- immune
system disorders by increasing the process by which white blood cells destroy
bad microorganisms
- Candida
(an annoying and persistent fungal infection)
- staphylococcus
and streptococcus infections
Inflammatory
Conditions
- reduces
inflammation
- relieves
arthritis
Respiratory Tract Infections
- bronchitis
- sore
throats
- tonsillitis
- helps
build resistance to colds and influenza
- reduces
the severity of symptoms of influenza (flu) such as runny nose, fever and
sore throat (pharyngitis) and reduces the duration of the illness
- reduces
the symptoms and duration of the common cold and alleviates the associated
symptoms
- sinusitis
- tuberculosis
- upper
respiratory infections
- whooping
cough
Other
- aids
in the production of interferon
- cancers
and tumors
- ear
infections (also known as otitits media)
- fevers
- relieves
pain
- skin
cancers
- ulcers
- toothaches
Echinacea is used in homoeopathy
treatments for:
- chronic
fatigue syndrome
- indigestion
- gastro-enteritis
- weight
loss
Echinacea's antibacterial and
depurative properties:
- can
stimulate wound healing
and is beneficial internally and externally in skin conditions such as:
- abscesses
of teeth and glands
- acne
- athlete's
foot
- boils
- burns
- carbuncles
- eczema
- gangrene
- insect
bites
- psoriasis
- slow-healing
wounds
- ulcers
Topical application of Echnacea has been shown to:
- decrease
inflammation
- promote
tissue regeneration
Dosage:
Recommended
dosage is as follows:
- 15-40mL per week
of 1:2 fluid extract
- 20-40mL per week
of 1:2 root fluid extract
Back to the Top
Precautions
Caution:
Echinacea should
only be used under the guidance of a professional, such as a naturopathic doctor,
herbalist or other health practitioners if you:
- have
an auto-immune disorder
- use
any other immune stimulant herb
Back to the Top
Products
Global Herbal Supplies has Echinacea available in the following forms:
Research
Articles
Information given by our website is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.
|