# Echinacea

## Remedy Classification
- **Type:** Herbal Remedy
- **Alternative Names:** Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea
- **Miasm:** Psoric Miasm
- **Temperament:** Neutral
- **Aggravation Time:** Neutral/Anytime

## Keynote Indications
Key Actions: Antibacterial, Antiviral, Blood cleanser, Immune-enhancing, Wound healer.
Parts Used: Whole plant.

## Modalities (Aggravations / Ameliorations)
Cautions: Can cause allergic reactions. If.

## Symptoms by System

### Skin
- key information Safety ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩ traditional uSe ★ ★ ★ ★ reSearch ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩ beSt taken aS Tincture ✓✓✓ Tablet ✓✓ Capsule ✓ doSage B (see pp.44–45) often uSed with Golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis) cautionS Can cause allergic reactions.
- If taking prescribed medication, seek advice from an herbal or medical practitioner.
- See also pp.41–52.
- Parts used Whole plant key actions Antibacterial • Antiviral • Blood cleanser • Immune-enhancing • Wound healer colds, flu, viral and bacterial infection Echinacea—as tincture, tablet, or capsule—is frequently taken to speed recovery from colds, sore throats, and chest infections.
- The herb is also known to enhance immune resistance in those prone to recurrent colds or herpes outbreaks or where flulike symptoms linger .
- Echinacea combines well with the flower or berry of elder (Sambucus nigra) in this context.
- The diluted tincture makes a mouthwash or gargle, and can be used to wash infected skin rashes and wounds.
- Bacterial infections, such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, and chronic bronchitis can be Echinacea Echinacea angustifolia, E.
- purpurea, E.
- pallida A plant from the plains of North America, echinacea is thought to powerfully stimulate the body’s ability to resist infection and counter toxicity .
- Taken mainly as a treatment or preventative for common cold, flu, and viral infections, the herb also helps heal skin disorders such as eczema and acne.
- self-treated with echinacea, preferably in combination with remedies such as garlic (Allium sativum) and golden seal (Hydrastis canadensis), but a fever of 102°F (39°C) or over indicates the need to seek professional advice.
- Although the evidence is reasonably good, there is still some debate on echinacea’s effectiveness in treating and preventing infection.
- This may be partly because the dosage used in some clinical trials was too low , or the wrong plant parts or species were studied.
- The quality and form of echinacea products are medicinal uSeS dried root 118 A–z o F hErBAl rEmEdIEs fresh root root is used to boost immune system important—E.
- angustifolia or extracts of the fresh-pressed juice of the above-ground parts of E.
- purpurea are thought to have the strongest medicinal activity .
- immune support and detoxification Echinacea stimulates nonspecific immunity , increasing the number and activity of white blood cells.
- This makes it a frontline remedy wherever the immune system is overburdened by chronic infection or toxic residues, such as swollen lymph glands, recurrent boils, chronic dull headache, or sore throat.
- Used carefully—and this means in conjunction with an herbal practitioner— it helps in cleansing the lymph system, supporting resistance to underlying infection such as fungal problems, and improving overall vitality .
- Echinacea is not suitable for self-treatment in autoimmune disorders or hIV infection.
- rattlesnake snake root Knowledge of echinacea’s medicinal value has been passed down from the experience of Native Americans.
- Used traditionally as a treatment for snake bite (hence its other common name, “snake root”), echinacea has been used to prevent septic infection in wounds and as a remedy for toothache, sore throat, and rabies.
- aerial parts are used to aid recovery from colds and flu three echinacea species are used medicinally.
- All are threatened in the wild, but Echinacea purpurea is cultivated widely in the US and Europe.
- 119EChINACEA ANgUsTIFolIA A Native American remedy for septic conditions and snake bites, echinacea (Echinacea spp.) is today the most important immune stimulant in Western herbal medicine.