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ECHINACEA

Botanical Name

  • Family Asteraceae [formerly Compositae]
  • Echinacea species (especially E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. purpurea)

Common Names

  • Purple Coneflower, Black Sampson, Niggerhead, Rudbeckia, Sampson Root, Hedgehog, Red Sunflower, Snakeroot, Kansas Snakeroot, Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower, Scurvy Root, Indian Head, Comb Flower, Black Susans

Cautions

  • High doses can occasionally cause nausea and dizziness.
  • Those allergic to daisies or other wildflowers may also react similarily to this herb.

Description

Native to the plains of North America, echinacea does not grow wild anywhere else in the world, but is widely cultivated, especially in Europe and the US. There are nine species of echinacea, four of which are used medicinally. However, E. purpurea has been studied the most and is the easiest to cultivate. The four species are E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. purpurea, and the endangered E. tennensiensis.

Echinacea is a perennial, growing up to twenty inches in height, producing large, beautiful, daisylike purple flowers and leaves covered in coarse hair. The central “cone” of the flower is prominent and distinctive. It is found primarily in dry upland prairie regions, often in rocky areas of the Great Plains, east of the Rocky Mountains from Saskatchewan to Texas. There have been concerns over the years of overharvesting, leading many areas to declare the wild plant a protected species and forcing the development of cultivated areas for commercial purposes. It takes three to four years for the roots to reach harvestable size, although the flowerheads are harvested yearly.

Key Actions

Key Components

  • amides
  • antibiotic polyacetylenes
  • caffeic acid derivatives
  • flavonoids
  • glycosides
  • inulin
  • volatile oil
  • vitamins and minerals (especially chromium, iron, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, selenium, and vitamin C)

Medicinal Parts

Roots, flowerheads

Scientifically, echinacea has been found to stimulate the production of leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight infection in the body. It also assists phagocytes in their job of engulfing toxins and preparing them for disposal. These immune fighters also remove damaged cells and any other irregularities in the blood.

It has a mild antibiotic effect, helping to protect cells from such invading pathogens as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The plant both stimulates the properdin/complement system, which helps the body control and prevent infections, and increases production of alpha- and alpha-2 gamma globulins, which prevents viral and other infections.

Note: Each of the species has different medicinal properties; and some can be confused with, or adulterated by, Parthenium integrifoium, a non-therapeutic plant. This is more likely to result when manufacturers do not state the origin of their echinacea. E. angustifolia is considered to be the most potent by some practitioners.

Remedies

  • Tinctures of the root are used for chronic infections.
  • Decoctions of the root are used to treat throat infections.
  • Capsules of powdered root are used to boost immunity at the first sign of an impending infection.
  • Flowerheads are less commonly used today than the root.
  • Powdered root can be dusted on infected skin conditions such as boils (if combined with marshmallow), or weeping, infected eczema.
  • Gargles made from diluted tinctures are used for sore throats.
  • Washes made from decoctions or diluted tinctures are used on infected wounds which are frequently bathed.

Traditional Uses

It is mainly used mainly to treat impending infections of the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, fevers, urinary tract infections, inflammations of the mouth and pharynx, to boost immunity, and to treat wounds and burns.

It reduces the intensity and duration of cold and flu symptoms and helps the body fight recurrent infections, especially of the respiratory system, middle ear, urinary tract, and vaginal yeast infections. When taken at the first sign of colds or flu, echinacea may prevent the infection from taking hold or may shorten the duration of full-blown symptoms. Because echinacea’s effects are relatively short-lived, it is most effective if taken every two or three hours initially until symptoms are relieved, and then three times a day for a week to ensure complete recovery and optimal immune function. The overuse of this herb is regrettable because, when the immune system is continually artificially stimulated for too long, the unenhanced portion begins to deteriorate even further. Therefore, it should not be taken any longer than eight to ten days at a time. It is most effective if stopped for a week and then resumed. By taking ginseng for a year or so, the immune system will become stronger so that echinacea will have to be used only during an acute episode of illness rather than for a general feeling of tiredness.

Echinacea relieves symptoms of chronic fatigue and reduces opportunistic infections in HIV individuals.

Internally, it is also used for pain associated with headaches, stomach aches, measles, coughs, and gonorrhea.

Externally, it is used as a treatment for poorly healing wounds and such inflammatory conditions as leg ulcers and abscesses. Echinacea speeds tissue repair and heals connective tissue. Torn ligaments also respond well to the plant and is often used in healing salves. In combination with St. John’s Wort in a salve, scarring from surgery and other wounds is markedly reduced.

Echinacea also appears to seek out and destroy mutant precancerous cells.

Note: Coneflower, or Goldenglow (Rudbeckia laciniata) is not to be confused with the purple coneflower, also known as echinacea. Coneflower is a perennial herb that grows to about seven feet high with yellow flowers. The Chippewa used it in a tea as a soothing remedy for digestive upsets. When applied topically in a poultice, coneflower was effective in treating burns.

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