Echinacea Benefits - For Wounds, Colds and Flu

Courtesy of gardenseeds.swarthmore.edu - Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida

articlemostwanted - No warm seasonal border or herb garden is complete without echinacea, a robust and unique wildflower native exclusively to North America. Echinacea's flowers consist of irritable, domed centers encircled by a single layer of lavender-hued petals, which are the source of the herb's most typical name, purple coneflower. The "cone" is the characteristic perfectly recorded by the genus name, as Echinacea originates from the Greek echinos, indicating "hedgehog." Centuries before European settlers arrived in North America, native people were utilizing at least three species of echinacea medicinally. The herb was something of a universal remedy to Indians of the Great Plains and neighboring regions. It was used for more healing purposes than nearly any other herb.

THERAPEUTIC USES

Colds and flu
Wounds

Echinacea is one of the best-studied herbs in organic medication today. It has actually gained a reputation for reducing the seriousness and length of the cold. It has been revealed to have many effects on the body immune system-- from increased antibody reactions to raised interferon levels for combating bacterias to stimulation of white blood cells to work more difficult to fight infection. There are several chemical compounds in echinacea that vary among the 3 types of the plant, plant parts, and extraction strategies: Polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and alkylamides all have medicinal effects that boost the body immune system and inhibit bacterias and germs. Researchers remain to examine how echinacea works.

Daily use of echinacea does not seem to safeguard versus getting a cold; however, some studies point to an effect of minimizing a cold's length by one to 2 days. In order to see advantages, take appropriate dosages of excellent product at the very first sign of disease.

HOW TO USE THE BENEFITS OF ECHINACEA

Tea: Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons echinacea leaf/flower in 1 cup boiling water, or boil 1 teaspoon of root in 1 to 2 cups water for 10 minutes.

Tincture: When coming down with a cold, take either a tincture of echinacea root or the expressed juice from fresh E. purpurea aboveground parts supported in alcohol. Every 2 hours, take 1 to 2 ml directly or watered down in water.

Pill: The dose differs with each echinacea product, depending upon the plant part utilized and the species. Follow manufacturer's guidelines.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

virtual office murah .adv - Anyone with an autoimmune condition must exercise care in taking an immune-boosting herb like echinacea. Echinacea might hinder particular liver enzymes, theoretically enhancing blood levels of medications such as itraconazole (for fungal infections), lovastatin (for decreasing cholesterol), and fexofenadine (for allergies). For that reason, it is necessary to be cautious when taking echinacea with these and other medications, including contraceptive pill. An uncommon allergy can occur in people who dislike other plants in the Asteraceae (daisy) household. Some people experience very moderate stomach upset or lightheadedness. High doses of echinacea can trigger queasiness.

source: NG