When choosing Echinacea, purple coneflower, it's important to read the Latin name. Of 9 species, 3 are most commonly used for medicinal purposes.
Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida
"I've had a purple coneflower blooming in my flowerbeds for decades and never realized it was Echinacea—a powerful medicinal plant used for centuries in traditional healing."
Key Uses:
- common cold
- infections
- low immune status
- cancer
Native Americans are said to have used Echinacea more than any other plant for treating illness and injury. The root was used externally for wounds, burns, abscesses, and insect bites. Internally, it was used for infections, toothaches, joint pain and for snake bites.
-American Indian Medicine. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK 1970, pp. 356-357
Shortens common cold & infections
Echinacea is well known for its ability to boost the immune system which may help fight off colds and infections. Most often, it is recommended to take Echinacea every 1-2 hours at the beginning of a cold or infection, then stop once symptoms are gone.
With infections, such as sinus, the immune system is already weak by the cold or allergy that caused it so taking doses frequently is important.
A few properties that studies have shown: antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Echinacea is known as the wonder herb for acute inflammatory conditions. Most recent studies in Germany, where it has been in constant use since the early 1900's, show the usefulness of it in not only chronic conditions, but also acute arthritic disease, certain cancers, and various viral diseases and possibly even helping in the treatment against AIDS.
Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs, Pocket Books.
drying echinacea for winter use
Harvesting Echinacea
Homestead Medicinal Herbs: Harvesting Echinacea
- Harvest flowers when in full bloom
- cut the stem just above the lowest leaf pairs to harvest both flowers and leaves or just leaves.
- use fresh in a tea or tincture and dry for later use.
Roots
- best time for harvest is Fall or early Spring
- The plant should be at least 3 years old
- you can harvest the whole plant or just parts of the root ball while leaving some of the root to hopefully regrow.
Tea (infusion)
Simply add fresh or dried flowers and leaves to boiling water, let steep for a few minutes, and then strain before serving.
Add honey and other herbs that go well with Echinacea such as ginger, peppermint, catnip, chamomile, etc.
dried root as a tea 1-2 grams 3x daily
Tincture
- Fill a glass jar with plant material.
- pour and cover it with a distilled alcohol, such as vodka (at least 80 proof) or vegetable glycerin to pull the medicinal qualities out.
- store in a dark, cool place for up to 6 week. shake occasionally.
- Take 3/4-1 tsp. (up to 60 drops 3 x daily)
Caution: People allergic to aster family, such as ragweed, may be allergic to Echinacea. Not for use by those with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
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