Echinacea: The Power Plant of Healing and Immunity

Echinacea is a flowering herbaceous annual in the daisy family. It proliferates in dry and open areas and is a hardy, drought-resistant plant.

Indigenous to the central and eastern regions of North America, echinacea is commonly known as coneflowers. Named ‘echinacea’ in 1753 by early European botanists, the word is derived from the Greek ekhinos for sea urchin. This is in reference to the spiny center of the flowers.

We take a look at the historical and modern uses of echinacea.

Echinacea in History

Native Americans have known the value of echinacea for centuries before the arrival of the first Europeans. Local tribes widely used it during rituals and as a medicine.

Western tribes associated echinacea with the elk, and it was known as elk-root to them.

Traditional uses included treatment for:

-sore throats

-tooth and gum infections

-cough and chest infections

-headaches

-pain relief

-stomach cramps

-snakebites

It didn’t take early settlers long to notice the plant’s value, and they started developing their own folk medicines. As the benefits of echinacea crossed the Atlantic, European natural remedy manufacturers took note.

In the 1880s, a Swiss company, Meyers, launched Meyers Blood Purifier to treat snakebites, rheumatism, and neuralgia. By the beginning of the 20th century, it was the USA’s most widely used commercially prepared herbal remedy.

Modern Natural Medicine

By the 1930s, echinacea was being grown commercially in Europe. Touted as a cure-all, pharmaceutical companies were eager to get echinacea packaged and onto shelves across Europe. Echinacea is still one of the most popular remedies today sold to treat colds and flu and boost immunity.

But just how much efficacy is fact, and how much is due to folklore?

According to modern science, it turns out that there’s a lot of fact in folk wisdom.

Scientific research has shown echinacea to have medicinal properties that can:

-support the immune system and speed up recovery

-decrease the risk of contracting colds and shorten the duration

-lower blood sugar and make cells more sensitive to the effects of insulin

-lessen excess inflammation in the body related to chronic conditions

-treat skin conditions and reduce swelling, infection, and inflammation

-improve skin hydration and delay aging

-reduce feelings of anxiety

-suppress the growth of cancer cells

-defend cells against oxidative stress linked to chronic disease, including cardiac illness and -diabetes

Echinacea supplements are widely available and can be bought over the counter. They mostly come in tablets, capsules, tinctures, and tea infusions. Essential oils are available for external application only, and dried echinacea is available from specialist outlets.

While echinacea is shown to be well tolerated with few side effects, it’s essential to consult a doctor before treatment, particularly if you have a chronic condition, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are inclined to plant allergies.

People with autoimmune disorders and those on immunosuppressive drugs must avoid echinacea as it stimulates the immune system.

Echinacea is generally not recommended for children under 12 years of age unless it’s a supplement specifically prepared for children.

Making Your Own Remedies

The whole plant, seeds, and roots can make infusions, tinctures, elixirs, creams, gels, and poultices.

If you’re buying dry echinacea to add to your medicine chest, make sure you buy high-quality from a reputable source. Opting to grow your own is an excellent idea if you live in a drier climate. Once it has taken root, echinacea is self-seeding and will thrive in the right spot in your garden.

Be aware, though, that there are ten species, of which only three are suitable for medicinal purposes. Namely, Echinacea Purpurea, Echinacea Pallida, and Echinacea Angustifolia. Check with your stockist first because the other species are sold as ornamentals.

The general dilution is one cup of liquid to two teaspoons of dried or ground dry echinacea. For infusions, use a loose handful of fresh leaves, stems, or roots in one cup of boiling water—strain after steeping for about ten minutes.

Creams, gels, and poultices can be made with echinacea essential oil, but, once mixed, they’ll have a short shelf life. It’s best to make it up in very small batches and use it within 48-hours. For example, finely ground echinacea or essential oil can be mixed with a tablespoon of raw honey to treat skin infections from cuts or bites. Or, add a drop of echinacea essential oil to some body or face cream while in your hand, just before applying it to your skin.

Magickal Properties

The medicinal benefits of echinacea by far outweigh its magickal properties.

Native Americans chewed and burned echinacea during purification rituals in sweat lodges. It was known as a sacred life medicine in some tribes. As a result, it has a reputation for strengthening spells and rituals.

In European witchcraft, echinacea is regarded as masculine energy affiliated with the planet Mars and the Earth element. It’s primarily used in spells for prosperity, protection, healing, and fertility.

You can plant echinacea around your home for protection and prosperity or put fresh-cut flowers inside. A few petals or leaves in your purse or wallet won’t do any harm either.

Another way to benefit is hanging bunches of dried flowers above your doorways or a room where someone is convalescing. Burning echinacea incense will bring the same benefits as well.

In Conclusion

The most valuable gift echinacea brings is protecting and strengthening the body to prevent or heal disease.

This makes it a must-have in your medicine chest or, if you’re into herbalism, in your garden. The only caution is to ensure you’re buying the real deal when you start out.