Echinacea is in the Asteraceae family and stands proudly with her stiff orange florets aiming straight up towards the cosmos with her elegant ray florets draping neatly back towards the ground in shades of pink or white. Echinacea is the modern herbalist’s quintessential ally.
One taste of the bud or root will activate the salivary glands in the mouth and initiates the immune system. The Isobutylamide known as echinacein is responsible for that effervescent sensation. Isobutylamide constituents have shown to be anti-inflammatory as well as phagocytic (encouraging cells to engulf and consume foreign material).
Echinacea is cooling, drying, and stimulating. It also has anti-hyaluronidase activity (inhibiting hyaluronidase), which is an enzyme that catalyzes the break-down of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is the intercellular glue within our cellular matrix. Hyaluronidase can be found in the venom of some snakes and spiders, as well as bacteria.
Echinacea is indicated for exhaustion (especially in cases of chronic over-working), skin eruptions, lymphatic congestion, swollen glands, dull mindedness, and can be associated with fever and chills.
Echinacea is an immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antibacterial, and antifungal. It can stimulate the adrenal cortex as well as leukocytes.
Contraindications: Echinacea is sometimes contraindicated in cases of auto-immune diseases.
This information is intended only as a general reference, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.