Echinacea

Scientific Name: Echinacea angustifolia

Part Used: Root

In A Word: The better immune picker-upper

Uses: Immune System Stimulant; specific in bacterial infections, wound healer

Echinacea, our next ingredient, is relatively new to most of the world. An indigenous North American plant used first by the Native Americans and then by the pioneers, echinacea is today most commonly found in flower gardens. As a landscape designer, I planted thousands of these plants without knowing the incredible story behind their use and even more astounding reputation. Take a good look and see if you don’t have some in your flower garden.

When the first colonists arrived in North America, they were confronted with a multitude of unpleasant things: diseases, insects, and big snakes, to mention a few. The snakes were a special problem as walking around in their territory was part of the plan. Early on the colonials were on the lookout for indigenous plants that could help them survive a snakebite. Those they had known in Europe were far, far away, and the colonists had to make do with what was available. Among the medicinal plants they discovered in use by the Native Americans was echinacea. Different varieties were used by different tribes according to their locations, but they all had one thing in common: they were effective in combating the viper’s sting. Somehow, echinacea sped up the process of pumping poison out of the body through the liver and kidneys. Indeed, most life-threatening illnesses were treated with these "snake roots," and in time their powers were thought to be nothing short of miraculous.

For persons with chronic tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic urethritis or cystitis, there could be no better herb than echinacea angustifolia.

As the colonists moved westward, they came into contact with other Native Americans and the plants they used for doctoring. From this exchange of information, new plants were "discovered" and eventually accepted into the stuffed-shirt medical communities safely tucked away on the East Coast and in Europe.

Here’s an illustration of how that exchange went down. A certain H. C. F. Meyer, a German country doctor, became aware of echinacea and began using it as the main ingredient in a commercial concoction he called Meyer’s Blood Purifier. So convinced was Meyer of echinacea’s power to save that he tried to take the information to the medical establishment back east. His intentions were good, but his presentation needed a little work. He offered to let a snake bite him at a medical conference (he would provide the snake or the doctors could collect their own), and he would then cure himself with nothing but echinacea.

You can imaging the pompous physicians sitting at their professional gathering, pressed collars on one and all, with some dust-trail healer screaming outside their window, "Hey, I’ll let this here snake bite me, and this here plant will make me right as rain." Well, needless to say, the doctors shut the window and went back to their meeting. Their loss.

Meyer made his offer again, this time to two doctors named King and Lloyd, eclectics who belonged to an herbal branch of medicine now extinct. In a classic example of listening to the message and not the messenger, these two doctors took Dr. Meyer’s advice and looked into echinacea’s power. Despite initial doubts about the new plant’s abilities, it was introduced into the Materia Medica in 1887 and enjoyed quite a reputation in the heyday of herb-based medicines.

What most health product salespeople won't tell you is that there are 9 species of echinacea, all with different degrees of medicinal activity. We recommend only the 'angustifolia' species; in our opinion it is the most active medicinally, and was the one whose healing traits were passed on to the eclectic physicians at the turn of the century by First Nations healers.

Most prepared and packaged echinacea sold in stores is of the pallida species, easier to grow and less expensive to grow and harvest. Of note also is that it is the root of the plant that is most active medicinally, not the flowering tops or leaves.

Native to the plains of the United States, echinacea grows wild nowhere else in the world, except for a few sparse patches in southern Canada. It made its way to Europe in the 17^th century and was given the name echinacea from the Greek echinos (sea urchin or hedgehog) in reference to its spiny flower. Although the plant has caught on and is now one of the most popular herbal remedies in Europe, its history is in North America, and most of the folkloric information about it comes from Native Americans.

The Plains Indians used echinacea to treat toothaches, sore throats, coughs, and infections. Their preferred method was to suck on the root. Did you ever notice the lymph nodes under your chin and how when you get sick they swell up? Well, your lymph glands are located there so that they can pump out immunity cells to mix along with whatever else passes between your lips. They’re the first defense in knocking out illness and eliminating toxins as they enter the mouth. Some researchers now feel that chewing on echinacea root is the best way to use the immunity booster as echinacea actually activates the saliva and disease-fighting resources in the mouth so that they can attack anything coming in. The old custom may be the best custom.

The Sioux Indians applied the freshly scraped root of the black sampson or purple coneflower, Echinacea angustifolia, as a poultice against hydrophobia caused by the bites of rabid animals. The Cheyenne used the plant for sore mouths, the Choctaws for coughs, the Comanche for sore throats, the Crow for colds, the Kiowas for both sore throats and colds, and the Delaware for venereal diseases. The common denominator here is that the plant was used to treat infection, and science has borne this one out.

Echinacea is the most researched plant in the modern herbal world. It may have taken Dr. Meyer’s making an arse of himself, but eventually people took the cotton out of their ears. Here is what echinacea has been found to do: it stimulates the production of leukocytes, the white blood cells that fight infection in the body, and assists the phagocytes in doing their job, which is engulfing toxins, packaging them off, and preparing them for disposal. These cellular M.P.s also remove damaged cells and any other irregularities. Essentially they are trash collectors and quality controllers. If a cell isn’t looking right, they zap it. If there is some waste in the corner, they collect it and put it down the shoot.

Echinacea, which has a mild antibiotic effect, helps protect cells during infection and prevents pathogens, bacteria, and viruses from entering in the first place. The plant both stimulates the properdin / complement system, which likewise helps the body control and prevent infections, and increases production of alpha-1 and alpha-2 gamma globulins, which prevent viral and other infections as does echinacea’s interferon-like action.

The message is that echinacea does, in fact, do what the Indians said it did. We moderns don’t have to deal with the toxic venom of the snake, but we do have to deal with the toxic venom of contemporary living, and studies indicate that echinacea is just as effective in the latter realm as it was in the former.

Practitioners’ Advice

Echinacea is one of the most widely used herbal medicines, for the most part, it needs no introduction. It has been established through all kinds of scientific tests to stimulate immune function. There are a number of times when we really want a fired up immune system and therefore a number of times Echinacea angustifolia is indicated. First and foremost, Echinacea is specifically indicated in bacterial infection. For persons with chronic tonsillitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic urethritis or cystitis, there could be no better herb. It can also be used to prevent bacterial infections. Example? What often starts as a could will turn into bronchitis or pneumonia. If a cold, which is viral, often turns into a bacterial infection, do not wait. When the cold starts, start the echinacea. You may be able to avoid the follow on bacterial infection. It is also widely used in cancer. Though this use has not been tested and very little is known, stimulated immune function is a good thing when your body is fighting cancer. As echinacea is non-toxic and is not going to do any damage, it is certainly worth a try.

Using Echinacea properly is important and there is lots of bad information out there in this regard. Firstly, you can take echinacea for as long as you want and it does not lose its effect. However, you should use medicine when you need medicine. Echinacea is a immune tonic which should be used when you think you need an immune tonic. Say you feel the twinge of cystitis starting up. In that moment, use Echinacea for a month to avoid getting a full blown case of cystitis. Use it when you need it. Echinacea is not a tonic as such, it is not generally stimulating to well being. It simply stimulates the immune system. Before it is used one should ask the question. Why do I need a stimulated immune system right now? If there is no answer, do not use it. If you are looking for a general pick me up, look on.

QUICK REVIEW

Tincture (1:5, 45% alcohol): 5ml 3 times daily