Echinacea
augustifolia | purpurea | pallida
AKA Purple Coneflower
Cooling, Spicy, Bitter
Immune Modulator
Antiviral + Antibacterial
Endangered - Use Cultivated Only
Echinacea Medicinal Benefits
Commonly known as Purple Coneflower, Echinacea is revered as a powerful multi-purpose medicinal that helps clear heat and toxins as well as supporting the immune system. Echinacea is in the Asteracea plant family. It is recommended by many herbalists to use this herb for “a short period of time” and then discontinue, however there are no reported side effects from long-term use and no limits set on how long it can be used.
Echinacea Medicinal Uses
Acute Microbial Infections - Echinacea has been used traditionally and also shown in modern clinical data to be a powerful preventative and treatment for acute infections such as influenza. Echinacea’s constituents activate the body’s immune system - raising levels of white blood cells (neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, and B-lymphocytes).
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections - Echinacea is especially helpful for these kinds of infections. Notably, laryngitis, common cold, tonsillitis and other conditions of the nose and sinuses respond really well to echinacea. (Hoffman, D.)
Gingivitis & Pyorrhea - Tincture or decoction of Echinacea can be used as a mouthwash for mouth infections such as gingivitis or pyorrhea. (Hoffman, D.)
Anti-cancer - Echinacea activates macrophages that destroy cancer cells among other pathogens. (Hoffman, D.)
Fungal Infections - treatment of fungal infections with Echinacea tincture proved useful in preventing reoccurance of Candida albicans. (Hoffman, D.) This is likely due to the Caffeic acid content.
Snake & Insect Bites - Can be used as a poultice and internally to help aid recovery from snake & insect bites.
Biomedical Actions of Echinacea
Immune Modulating, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Viral, Anti-Fungal, Alterative, Vulnerary
Echinacea Herbal Constituents
Caffeic acid esters - ~6mg of caffeic acid is reported to be equivalent to 1 unit of penicillin.
Echinacoside - often used as a marker compound but it's meaningless as far as effectiveness
Cichoric acid - found in higher amounts in purpurea
Alkylamides - fat soluble, anti-inflammatory
Polysaccarides - including Echinacin B, Anti-viral properties (Hoffman, D.)
Polyacetylenes - antioxidant, immune modulating, antimicrobial
Essential Oil - anti-microbial and anti-oxidant
Endangered
Echincacea is now considered endangered due to years of unsustainable harvesting practices. Including echinacea species native to your area in your garden is an excellent idea to help repopulate. It’s fairly easy to grow in most areas of the USA and produces beautiful purple flowers that are a beneficial food source for pollinators. Click here to read more about Echinacea’s status as an endangered medicinal herb.
Echinacea Medicinal Dose
Echinacea is a non-toxic herb that can be used in large doses if necessary. It’s often advertised as a “daily immune support”, however it’s most appropriately used in acute situations for a shorter duration. Most herbalists recommend using echinacea at the first sign of an acute infection. This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.
Tincture Dosage: 1-4ml, 3x per day (1:5 in strength 40% alcohol) (source: Hoffman, D.)
Decoction: Add 1-2 tsp echinacea root to 1 cup of water and bring slowly to a boil. Allow to simmer for 30+ minutes. Drink this decoction 3x per day. (source: Hoffman, D.)
Poultice: A poultice is a soft, moist mass of plant material applied directly to the skin to treat wounds, inflammation, or infections in herbal medicine. Poultices are easy to make and are really useful for first aid purposes.
Contraindications
Echinacea should not be used by people allergic to Echinacea or other plants in the Asteracea family. Theoretically, it may interfere with immunosuppressant therapies (Scroll to learn more about this).
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Chew the Leaves: Take the fresh plant leaves and place them in your mouth. Chew them gently to break down the fibers and release the natural juices, creating a soft, moist mass.
Apply to Affected Area: Remove the chewed leaves from your mouth and apply the wet mass directly to the wound, bite, or irritated skin.
Cover the Poultice (Optional): If desired, cover the poultice with a clean cloth or bandage to keep it in place.
Leave on the Skin: Allow the poultice to remain on the affected area for about 15-30 minutes.
Repeat as Necessary: Reapply a fresh poultice as needed, several times a day, until the irritation or wound improves.
Read More About Decoctions & Infusions
Angustifolia Vs. Purpurea Vs. Pallida
Same, Same, but Different
Image Source: ResearchGateAll of these three species of echinacea have similar medicinal properties and constituents, however most of the studies done with this plant are with either angustifolia or purpurea.
Angustifolia was preferred by the eclectic herbalists, and features narrowed leaves.
Purpurea contains higher amounts of Cichoric acid compared with the other varieties of this medicinal. Cichoric acid, a key compound in this plant, offers several medicinal benefits, including enhancing the immune system by stimulating white blood cell activity, providing antioxidant effects to reduce oxidative stress, and exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties to help manage chronic inflammation. It also has antiviral activity, aiding in the fight against infections like the common cold and flu, and supports wound healing through its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. These properties contribute to the plant's value in herbal medicine for boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and promoting overall health.
Echinacea Roots Vs. Ariel Parts
Through the ages there is evidence of various parts of this herb being used medicinally. Indigenous peoples of the Americas and the Eclectic herbalists traditionally used the roots of this flower, however more modern preparations favored the leafy parts and flowers of this plant. We can say that the whole plant contains the medicinal constituents that make it such a potent health ally. Since the plant is now endangered from long-term unsustainable foraging, I think it makes the most sense to sustainably harvest only the above-ground parts of the plant, so that it can continue growing into the next seasons.
Preparations with Echinacea
My preferred method of storing and using this medicinal plant is tinctures. They preserve really well and hold their potency over many years. Since this is a plant that works best in shorter spurts to help you get over the symptoms of cold & flu, having it in a tincture form in the back of your medicine cabinet tends to work well.
If you’re planning to make your own tincture, it is recommended to use a higher proof of alcohol such as vodka or everclear since lower proofs will not pull out as many beneficial constituents. It’s also important to factor in whether your herb is dried or fresh since fresh plants will have more water content that will dilute the potency of your end product.
Does Echinacea cause autoimmune flare ups?
In theory, those with autoimmune diseases are advised to avoid any herbs or supplements that can strengthen the immune system in order to prevent a flare up. However, I’ve never heard of or seen documented any case where this actually occurred.
A recent study on NOD mice, which serve as an excellent model for human Type 1 diabetes, revealed that dietary Echinacea significantly boosts the number of natural killer (NK) cells in both the spleen and bone marrow. The research demonstrated that both short-term and long-term administration of Echinacea increased NK cell levels without negatively impacting other immune or blood cell populations. These findings suggest that Echinacea could offer a promising new approach for enhancing immune function and potentially treating autoimmune diabetes. (Delorme D)
Because there is not much clinical data from human studies, some people with autoimmune diseases may choose to avoid Echinacea. Some alternate herbs you could use with similar properties would be Goldenseal root or Oregon Grape Root (or other sources of berberine). Just a reminder that none of the information provided here is to be taken as medical advice. This is all for educational purposes only.
Synergistic Herbal Combinations
with Echinacea
You may have noticed products at your local health food store featuring a recurring combination of several herbals formulated together. There are many schools of thought on how to formulate herbs to work synergistically, taking into consideration the constitution of the whole person. Many of these have been passed down through the generations and are revered for working well for most people.
Goldenseal Root
Goldenseal is often paired with echinacea for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, supporting respiratory health and immune function. These two powerful herbals are often found together in formulations for cold + flu and immune tonics.
Elderberry
Known for its antiviral properties, elderberry works well with echinacea to support the immune system, especially during cold and flu season.
Astragalus
Also known as, Huang Qi, and Milk-Vetch Root, this adaptogenic herb is used to strengthen the immune system and is often combined with echinacea to boost overall immune health. In traditional Chinese Medicine, this herb was not typically used for cold and flu, but more of a long-term, slow-acting disease prevention. Modern use has found it to be effective for preventing cold & flu.
Vitamin C
A powerful antioxidant that supports immune function, commonly included with echinacea in immune-boosting formulas.
Zinc
An essential mineral for immune health, often found in echinacea supplements to enhance immune response. Zinc is crucial for the proper functioning of the immune system. It helps in the development and activation of T-lymphocytes, which are essential for immune responses.Additionally, Zinc is necessary for the synthesis of proteins, which are essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues.
Garlic
Known for its antimicrobial properties, garlic can complement echinacea in supporting immune health.
Learn more about Garlic’s medicinal properties here.
Probiotics
These beneficial bacteria support gut health, which is closely linked to immune function, and are sometimes included with echinacea to promote a healthy immune response.
Ginger
With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, ginger is often combined with echinacea to support respiratory illness. Ginger is great for drying up excess mucus secretions in the respiratory tract and is excellent for controlling nausea.
Learn more about Ginger’s medicinal properties here.
Sources + Further Reading:
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Healing Arts Press.
Ciganović, P.; Jakupović, L.; Momchev, P.; Nižić Nodilo, L.; Hafner, A.; Zovko Končić, M. Extraction Optimization, Antioxidant, Cosmeceutical and Wound Healing Potential of Echinacea purpurea Glycerolic Extracts. Molecules 2023, 28, 1177. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031177
Delorme D, Miller SC. Dietary consumption of Echinacea by mice afflicted with autoimmune (type I) diabetes: effect of consuming the herb on hemopoietic and immune cell dynamics. Autoimmunity. 2005 Sep;38(6):453-61. doi: 10.1080/08916930500221761. PMID: 16278152.
Phytochemical profiling of Echinacea Genus: A mini review of chemical constituents of selected species - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Flowers-of-E-purpurea-E-angustifolia-and-E-pallida_fig1_381231292 [accessed 9 Aug 2024]