Echinacea

Echinacea is one of my favourite herbs (I even have one tattooed on my arm), for one it's amazingly beautiful when seen in nature, and it has a myriad of medicinal applications. For me, it's a true wonder herb and remedy everyone should have at their disposal.

Three species of Echinacea are used as herbal remedies:

Echinacea angustifolia

-A narrow-leaved purple coneflower

Echinacea pallida

-A pale purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

-A purple coneflower with broader leaves

Common names

Black Sampson, Coneflower, Niggerhead, Rudbeckia, Brauneria pallid (Nutt.)

Plant family

Echinacea is a member of the daisy family (Compositae or Asteraceae)

Parts used

Coneflowers and the roots

Habitat

Echinacea is native to North America from Virginia to Ohio and Michigan, south to Georgia and Louisiana, where it likes to grow in dry open woodland, prairies and barrens.

Botanical characteristics

Echinacea grows to around 2 - 3 feet in height, with stout, hairy stems and thick hairy leaves which are around 3 to 8 inches long. The plant flowers from July to October and can range from a pale pink to a light purple colour. The roots are cylindrical and taper slightly, stretching from 10-20cm in length and are a light, greyish brown in colour.

History and folklore

The scientific name "echinacea" comes from the Greek word for hedgehog or sea urchin (echinos) due to the spiky projections in the centre of its flower head in the seed stage.
Carrying echinacea on one's person is said to provide inner strength and can be grown around the home to invoke prosperity and protect the family from poverty. The flowers make great offerings to place spirits and river goddesses, and including it in spells and rituals will increase their effectiveness.

Planet: Mars

Mars, the God of war, is a planet which embodies qualities such as confidence and self-assertion, sexuality, energy, strength and ambition.

Astrological Sign: Scorpio

Scorpio as a star sign exhibits many the same attributes as the planet Mars, as originally before the discovery of Pluto, Mars was seen as the ruler of Scorpio. This sign supports the expansion of psychic pathways and its energy is affiliated with magic, cleansing and healing.

Herbal actions and main therapeutic uses

Echinacea has a tonic action on the immune system and clinical research has confirmed an increase in white blood cells and their efficacy in patients taking the herb. The polysaccharides in the plant prevent viruses from hijacking the body's own cells, whilst the alkylamides are antibacterial and antifungal. Echinacea has been used extensively in Native American medicine to treat toothache, sore throats, septic conditions, and was known as Indian snakeroot because of its ability to treat snake bites. In western herbal medicine it's used to aid fungal and skin infections (e.g., acne and boils), throat and upper respiratory tract conditions (e.g., colds, flu, coughs) and is generally prescribed to patients with an underperforming immune system. The herb is also known to treat allergies such as asthma. Echinacea tincture can be used as a mouthwash to treat pyorrhoea and gingivitis. In lotion form it is good for helping septic sores and cuts.
Echinacea has also been recommended for those who suffer from ADHD to relieve anxiety, depression and social phobias.

# Dosage ranges and safety issues For a decoction 1-2 tsp of the root in 1 cup of water should be consumed 3 times a day. And for a tincture, depending on the concentration of the herb, 1-4ml should be taken 3 times a day. Echinacea is likely to cause an allergic response in those who are allergic to ragweed, marigolds or dashes and a medical professional should be consulted before taking. Also those suffering from autoimmune diseases such as MS, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, should avoid taking echinacea due to its immune boosting properties as it could worsen these conditions. Echinacea is known to have moderate contraindications with caffeine and immunosuppressants. # Ecological and conservation issues As a result of the increase in popularity of echinacea as a medicinal herb, extensive and unsustainable harvesting of wild populations has occurred, and their natural habitat is rapidly decreasing. The plant is said to undergo changes to the distribution and abundance due to the habitat becoming increasingly fragmented. This diminishing habitat has lead to inbreeding in an isolated plant community, research has shown that these inbred plants have significantly lower photosynthetic rates, water use efficiencies and leaf area, so inbred plants had a lower survival rate compared the outbred plants. Echinacea prefers deep soil situated in a sunny position. It can succeed in dry soil and can tolerate drought occasionally, once established. The plant will attract the interest of slugs, birds and butterflies!

Relevance to herbal practice

Echinacea is a widely publicised herbal remedy that is used by many and has become readily available as an immunostimulant. Pharmacists have confirmed echinaceas significant bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects, providing a scientific basis for the application of the herb to treat allergic disorders of the airways (asthma). Research has also looked into echinacea as a treatment for colon cancer. Their results showed that echinacea can effectively induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. With scientific backing and echinacea being one of the most popular herbal products, I find it to be very relevant in any herbal practice. It has a wide variety of uses with little safety concerns for all ages, with echinacea tablets specifically for children being sold in high street pharmacies. It’s uses range from general immune support to treating bites from insects or snakes, due to its diverse treating abilities it provides something for everyone. It can also be prepared in many different ways to suit different patients needs, for example, you can take it as a tincture for internal issues such as the common cold or it can be made into an ointment or lotion for the skin to help in the treatment of acne.