Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre
We Take Care of Your Health Naturally, Using Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Western Herbal Medicine, Diet and Body Therapies.
Medicinal Herb: Echinacea purpurea
Echinacea purpurea
Biological Name:
Echinacea parpurea (L.) Moench
Family:
Asteracae (Compositae)
Other Names:
American coneflower, Black Sampson, Black Susan, Comb flower, Echinacea, Echinaceawurzel, Hedgehog, Igelkopfwurzel, Indian head, Kansas snakeroot, Narrow-leaved purple coneflower, Purple coneflower, Purpursonnenhutkraut, Racine d’echininacea, Radix Echinacea, Rock-up-hat, Roter sonnenhut, Scurvy root, Snakeroot, Sonnenhutwurzel
Introduction:
Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is one of the most important and well-known medicinal plants in the world. E. purpurea is a perennial, medicinal herb with important immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, especially the alleviation of cold symptoms.
Other biological activities of the Echinacea include: antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and larvicidal activities. [1]
Traditional Indications:
Antiseptic, Digestive, Anti-microbial – used as an effective remedy for boils, acne, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, abscesses and septicaemia [2]. Bacterial and viral infections especially of the upper respiratory tract. Immune stimulant [3]. Also a primary medicine to treat tooth abscess [4].
Pharmacology/Indications:
The immune-stimulating properties of Echinacea have not been attributed to any single compound. Echinacea increases the proliferation of phagocytes in spleen and bone marrow, stimulates monocytes to produce cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF), increases the number of PMN, activates macrophages, and promotes the adherence of PMN to endothelial cells.
Echinacea has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. Echinacea was shown to inhibit the influenza virus and the herpes simplex virus (I and II). Topically, Echinacea has anti-inflammatory properties where it inhibits edema. Echinacea may interfere with cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme [5].
According to Perri, et al., (2006) traditionally E. purpurea was use to treat conditions including wounds, insect bites, infections, toothache, joint pain, and as an antidote for rattlesnake bites.
As with any herbal remedy, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using Echinacea purpurea, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications. They can provide personalised advice and guidance based on your specific situation..
Growing Conditions: Echinacea purpurea is a hardy plant that thrives in full sun or partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of soil types. It is drought-tolerant once established and generally low-maintenance.
Appearance: Echinacea purpurea is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows to a height of about 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm). It has sturdy stems that bear large, showy, daisy-like flowers with purple or pink petals and a spiky, cone-shaped center (hence the name “coneflower”).
References
- Manayi A, Vazirian M, Saeidnia S. Echinacea purpurea: Pharmacology, phytochemistry and analysis methods. Pharmacogn Rev. 2015
- Jan-Jun;9(17):63-72. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.156353. PMID: 26009695; PMCID: PMC4441164.
- Stuart, M. (1979) The encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing Limited, London.
- Stuart, D.L. Wills, R.B.H. and Dickeson, T.M. (2004) Optimisation of Polysaccharides in Processed Processed Echinacea purpurea. Centre for the Advancement of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Newcastle.
- Hall, D. (1988) Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Lothian Publishing, Melourne, Australia.
- Perri D, Dugoua JJ, Mills E, Koren G. Safety and efficacy of echinacea (Echinacea angustafolia, e. purpurea and e. pallida) during pregnancy and lactation. Can J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 Fall;13(3):e262-7. Epub 2006 Nov 3. PMID: 17085774.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer information for users of the Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre, Namaste Yoga Kurrajong and The Herbal Health Coach website.
Page last updated: 26th June 2020
Information provided for education and research information only
The information on this website is presented by Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre for the purpose of disseminating health information free of charge for the benefit of the public.
While Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre has exercised due care in ensuring the accuracy of the material contained on this website, the information on the site is made available on the basis that Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre is not providing professional advice on a particular matter.
This website is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this site is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.
Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.
Quality of information
Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre makes every effort to ensure the quality of the information available on this website and updates the information regularly. Before relying on the information on this site, however, users should carefully evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre cannot guarantee and assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or interpretation of the information.
The material may include the views or recommendations of third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action.
Links to other websites
This website contains links to other websites which are external to Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre. Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre takes reasonable care in selecting linking websites but Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre accepts no responsibility for material contained in a website that is linked to this site. It is the responsibility of the user to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of information contained in linked external websites.
Links to external websites are provided for the user’s convenience and do not constitute an endorsement or a recommendation of any third party products or services offered by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site. Users of links provided by this site are responsible for being aware of which organisation is hosting the site they visit.
Views or recommendations provided in linked sites may include the views or recommendations of third parties and do not necessarily reflect those of Kurrajong Natural Medicine Centre or indicate a commitment to a particular course of action. .
