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Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea
augustifolia
Other Names: Purple coneflower, Black Sampson, Coneflower,
Eastern Purple Coneflower, Indian head, Kansas Snakeroot, Missouri Snakeroot, Rudbeckia, Scurvy root
Echinacea Photo by Karen Bergeron
Copyright 2006
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Echinacea Habitat
Echinacea is a
perennial native to North America from Virginia to
Ohio and Michigan, south to Georgia and Louisiana. Its showy flowers can be
found in summer, decorating open fields, dry open
woods, prairies and barrens. Echinacea flowers bloom from July to October. Also
known as Purple Coneflower, it is a very ornamental plant, and is often
grown in gardens, parks and landscapes. It attracts butterflies to the
garden, but watch out for slugs as they seem to love Echinacea.
Echinacea has daisy-like flowers with
large rich purple or pink rays surrounding a high brownish-orange cone.
The flower heads can reach 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Purple Coneflower
stems are long 2 to 3 feet high, slender but stout, rough and bristly.
The leaves are also bristly, dark green, lanceolate, alternate, and long petioled
at the base, more sessile near the top of the stem. The roots are
tapering, cylindrical, slightly spiral, and fibrous with as aromatic
smell. |
How to Grow Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea, or the Purple
Coneflower is easy to grow from seed. Sow outdoors in very early
spring or fall. Echinacea prefers light,
loamy, well-drained soil and a sunny position, tolerates shade. Gather root and entire plant in fall or when
in bloom, dry for later herb use. Organic
Echinacea Seed from Mountain Rose Herbs
Echinacea Herb Use and Medicinal Properties
Echinacea was used extensively by Native
Americans and the early American settlers also adopted its use. It has been used for years
in alternative medicine to
support the immune system, and to purify the blood, especially during season changes and
during the cold and flu season. Scientific studies of Echinacea have confirmed the presents of natural
chemicals, echinacosides, which increase white blood cell activity. Other valuable
constituents include betaine, echinolone, inulin, humulene, polysaccharides, two
phytosterols and fatty acids, oleic, cerotic, linolic and palmatic. Extracts of Echinacea
were found to enhance the cellular immune function of normal individuals and patients with
AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Unlike antibiotics, which directly kills bacteria,
Echinacea makes our own immune cells more efficient in attacking bacteria, viruses and
abnormal cells, including cancer cells. The root now confirmed by modern science as
adaptogen, alterative, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic, aphrodisiac, depurative,
diaphoretic, digestive, sialagogue. Echinacea is considered to be a most effective
detoxicant for the urinary tract, circulatory, lymphatic, and respiratory systems. The
roots and the whole plant are considered particularly beneficial in the external treatment
of psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions, sores, wounds, burns, and sore
throat, possessing cortisone-like and antibacterial activity as well as showing skin
regenerating properties. Echinacea also contains chemicals that are highly insecticidal
particularly to mosquitoes and house flies.
Echinacea Folklore and History
Once used as an antidote to treat
snakebites and other venomous bites by Native Americans. Believed in old English herbals
to cure syphilis and rabies.
Echinacea Herb Tea Recipe
Infusion: To 1 tbsp. dry herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep
20 min., drink in mouthful doses throughout the day, at the beginning of a cold or for
general fatigue.
Article by Deb Jackson & Karen
Bergeron
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