Echinacea

The purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, is a drought-tolerant perennial of the flowering plant Family Asteraceae and native to North America. It has daisy-like purple flowers arranged in a large cone-shaped head.

Herbal remedy

As an herbal remedy, Echinacea is attributed with the ability to boost the body's immune system and fight off infections. It is used in the treatment of:

Colds, coughs and flu and other upper respiratory conditions

Enlarged lymph glands, sore throat

Urinary tract infections

Other minor infections

Herpes and candida

Wounds, skin regeneration and skin infections (external use)

Psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions (external use)
There are three species of echinacea — E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida. Depending on which species is used, herbal medications are made from the above-ground herb (aerial) and/or root portions. It is not clearly known which of echinacea's many chemical components are responsible for its effects, although all species possess a certain marker compounds of the chemical class called "phenols" (cichoric and caftaric acids are phenols that are present in the aerial and root portions of E. purpurea, and echinacoside is a phenol found in higher levels specifically within E. angustifolia and E. pallida roots). When making herbal remedies, these phenols serve as markers to evaluate the quality of echinacea in the product. Other constituents that may be important include alkamides and polysaccharides.

Related to echinacea;

Benefits Of Echinacea

Echinacea Pregnancy

For Further Information go to Nutritional Supplements Directory...