Echinacea Herbal Remedies
Echinacea is a popular, non-toxic herb widely revered and used for its immune-stimulating, anti-bacterial, and antiviral activity. It enhances one's resistance to colds and flu (particularly when taken at the onset), is useful for septicemia and skin complaints (such as boils, abscesses, or carbuncles), and is used as a mouthwash for gum problems. Echinacea is taken for chronic infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts. It is also used locally as an antiseptic for burns, wounds, bites, skin ulcers, and eczema and psoriasis. Echinacea has a taste of SPICY and a temperature of COOL, WARM.
Echinacea Proper Dose
| Type | Dossage |
| Echinacea Decoction | 1 cup 3-4 x daily |
| Echinacea Powder | 2 capsules 3 x daily |
| Echinacea Tincture | 2 droppersful 3-4 x daily |
Echinacea Reference Information
| Latin Name | Echinacea angustifolia |
| Other Names | Purple coneflower |
| Part Used | Root, Flowers, Seeds |
| Herb Forms | Tincture, capsule, tablet, lozenge, mouthwash, throat spray, soap, salve, teabag, bulk herb, powder. |
| Affects | Immune system, Integumentary system |
| Cautions | Long-term use in people who have chronically weakened immune systems may lead to further immune suppression. Commission E, an official body who has evaluated commonly-used herbs, has recommended that echinacea not be used in people with AIDS or chronic a |
| Botanical Info | A perennial plant with large purple flowers and cone-shaped spiny seed heads. |
Supporting Research
Blumenthal, Mark et al. 1998. The Complete Commission E Monographs. Austin: American Botanical Council.
Newall, C. et al.. 1996. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press.
Leung, A. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients. New York: J. Wiley & Sons.
McGuffin, M. et al. 1997. Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Felter, H.W. and J.U. Lloyd. 1983. (1898). King's Dispensatory. Portland, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Weiss, R. 1988. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers.
Wren, R.C. 1988. Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs. Essex: C.W. Daniel Co. Ltd.