cold

Echinacea comes from the Greek echinos, meaning hedgehog or sea-urchin, because of its conical spiny seed heads.

Echinacea is anti-inflammatory and is beneficial in the acute stages of a cold or flu. It may also be more effective when used in conjunction with other immune-supportive herbs such as Elderberry and Gingerroot. During this time, Echinacea  must be taken in high dose and frequency to be effective as soon as symptoms begin to appear.

It also decreases inflammatory allergic reactions in mild food allergies and stimulates gastric healing. The constituent, echinacin, has been shown to be useful in treatment of tonsillitis. It is used for colds, influenza, wounds, infections, allergies, bacterial and viral disease, swollen glands and gum disease.

Each part of Echinacea has unique phyto-chemistries that can benefit the immune system in many ways. In my spagyric tincture there are 70% roots, and 30% flowers and leaves.

Echinacea was a traditional remedy of the Native American Indians in the Great Plains, where it grows wild. The Cheyenne, Comanche, and other tribes used it for many ailments, including toothaches, sore throats, tonsillitis, coughs, and blood and lymphatic diseases.

it is an excellent bloodpurifyer.

The the  lay doctor, H. C. F. Meyer, who  “re-discovered” Echinacea in the 1870s claimed to know of over 600 cases in which his remedy had not failed to cure rattlesnake bites. He let himself be bitten by many rattlesnakes to prove his point.

This was the beginning of a hype!