What Is Echinacea?

What Is Echinacea?

With the great push against medicines and pills growing in America, many have looked to home and natural remedies to help with their ailments. The possibilities are quite vast when one considers using alternative medicines such as this. One such alternative medicine is known as Echinacea.

Echinacea is Native to North America. It was revered by the Native Americans for its healing properties. It is a perennial herb that can grow up to a meter in height. It is quite colorful and grows wild around various parts of North America. The flower is usually purple earning itself the name, the purple sun flower. The Echinacea is native to North America but is cultivated for commercial use in Western Europe.

It is actually the root and the rhizome that is used in the Echinacea. In the autumn, after the plant has flowered, the roots are harvested and used. The extract from the fresh roots are the most effective. The roots loose some of their properties if they are allowed to dry out.

The roots contain many helpful properties. Among these are Volatile oil and glycosides. The extracts from the Echinacea roots have been known to help treat several ailments. It is believed to work as an immunostimulant, antibacterial, antiviral and anti inflammatory. It is also believed to have antibiotic properties as well.

Echinacea with all of its properties can be used as a natural medicine. Being an anti-biotic it has been helpful in riding the body of microbial infections. It has been used to treat boils, abscesses and septicemia. It has also been helpful in resisting colds, flues and influenza. It is also believed that 3 small doses per day can help the body fight off nearly any kind of infection. Echinacea needs to be taken with caution. Too much has been known to cause nausea and dizziness. However, if taken properly this herbal remedy can provide all kinds of natural treatments for the body.

Today, with all of the negative press surrounding drugs and animal testing, many are feeling the pressure to go the natural route. Natural remedies can be very effective and less harsh on the human body. Echinacea is an excellent remedy that can help the body resist and fight infection. It looks beautiful in the garden and can also help you feel better and remain healthier. As with any new remedy, doctors should be consulted. However, taken properly the benefits of Echinacea can be quite widespread.