EchinaceaEchinacea root, most often as the species
Echinacea angustifolium, has
been a popular medicine with American herbalists
for more than a century. They use it in the
treatment of various infections, fevers, snake and
insect bites, and many skin problems, such as
acne, boils, abscesses, and ulcers. More recently,
Echinacea has become very popular with the
American public, mostly for infections and to
purify the blood and lymph. For treating skin
problems, most natural practitioners feel that
blood purification is important. Recent
experiments have shown that Echinacea root can
increase the white blood count and thus our
ability to handle bacteria and viruses, stimulate
the important T-lymphocytes' activity, and
generally stimulate the lymphatic system to clear
wastes. The immune-supporting aspects of this
valuable herb makes it effective in the treatment
of mild infections, such as vaginitis and
prostatitis, poison oak and ivy, acne and boils,
and respiratory infections.
Although more research is needed to verify its
effectiveness, many people describe a very good
response to taking Echinacea root products, either
singularly or in combination with other purifying
anti-infectious herbs and vitamins. Though
Echinacea use appears basically nontoxic, until
more research can clarify its safety, I do not
advise extended use for more than three or four
weeks, due to possible effects such as liver
irritation or changes in the normal intestinal
flora.
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