Echinacea

Echinacea also known as the Coneflower.....









Here is a Purple Coneflower from my herb garden.....







Wild Coneflower from our pastures that we picked...

This herbs petals will fold down and cause the flower head to look like a cone when it has matured.

Its use is medicinal and all parts of the plants are used.
The dried root is what
is used the most.  It is used by either ingesting it in
powdered form or by 
drinking it as a decoction.      Read on....

Echinacea is well known for its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to help lessen the symptoms and duration at the onset of a cold or the flu. Liquid form seems to be the most effective way, taken in a tea to be used up to 6 times per day, or as an oil at one drop every 2-3 hours or so (mix it in warm water because it tastes bad). The leaves can be dried and pulverized into a powder then you can make them into capsules to utilize its beneficial properties. This method also solves the problem of the bad taste. It is safe to take intermittently for a couple of weeks a month if you want to experiment with its preventative properties.

Echinacea also appears to be useful for other common ailments, and a tea can be made to reduce symptoms of scratchy or sore throat, lymph node inflammation, stomach cramps, and urinary tract infections. There has been some indication that it is beneficial in cancer patients, helping to rejuvenate the system after chemotherapy, and it is widely used as a general blood purifier.

Externally, it can be made into an ointment for treatment of insect bites, burns, measles, skin ulcers, herpes sores, cold sores, and yeast infections in women. The Indians swore by it as being an effective anti-venom agent for snakebites, but this hasn't been conclusively proven. However It would sure be worth a try in a situation where no doctors were close by.

Echinacea is safe to use other than for people with allergies to members of the daisy family. This is an herb you will want to always keep on hand! We use it in our house hold all year long! Enjoy good health!

Dearest Lord, not only is this a wonderfully amazing herb that you have given to us but it is also a very pretty one! I love how it looks in my garden! Thank you as always, for the amazing world of herbs and plants of such variety you have so generously given to us! In Jesus name I pray, Amen~