Echinacea

I- Nomenclature

Latin name: Echinacea

Family : Compositae

Common names: Eastern purple coneflower, Purple Coneflower, Hedgehog coneflower

Etymology

Echinacea' is derived from Greek, meaning ‘spiny one’, in reference to the spiny sea urchins 'εχίνοι'. 'Purpurea' means 'reddish-purple'.

II- Legends and traditions

Legends and traditions

Echinacea was one of the main medicinal plants of the indigenous peoples of North America, particularly the Cheyennes and Sioux, who used the juice or porridge from the crushed grass or pieces of chewed root.

 

III- Botanical description

 Description:

Perennial herbaceous plant of 80 cm with purple-brown stems, covered with a rough down, straight, solid and resistant.

The basal leaves are alternate, petiolate rough, dark green, acuminate and lanceolate. The upper leaves almost sessile with a rough surface.

The flowers form large flower heads with purple-pink ligulate flowers whose frutescent orange-brown cone contains prickly thorns.

The fruits are achenes topped with a silky crest of hairs.

The roots are fibrous with dark bark streaked with longitudinal scars

Habitat: Native to the plains of North America 

Harvest: Picking in the wild is done in the fall. The roots are cleaned, dried and then stored in dry places.

Pars used: Roots

 

IV- Active ingredients

Roots

•   Heteroside •   Bitter principles •   Tannins

 

V- Therapeutic uses

 Properties

Roots

• Antibacterial • antiviral • immunistimulant • vulnerary

 

Indications

Upper respiratory tract infection

Feverish or cold snap

Administration mode

Mother tincture

 

VI- Precaution of use

Contraindication

Pregnant women

nursing women

young children

in case of transplant, cancer, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, polyarthritis, kidney problems, AIDS or tuberculosis: seek the advice of your doctor if taking medication.

Interaction: none known

Caution: It is recommended not to exceed 8 weeks of treatment