Echinacea

Echinacea is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. It comes from the North American prairie - even the ancient Indians used echinacea to treat wounds, sepsis, smallpox, syphilis, cancer, erysipelas and snake bites.

About three centuries ago, this plant was first described by Karl Linnaeus, who named it after his teacher "Rudbeck" - Olaf Rudbeck (Swedish botanist). Subsequently, it became customary for botanists to distinguish between 2 genera - rudbekia and echinacea. In the twentieth century, scientists discovered the numerous medicinal properties of echinacea and began to grow it as a medicinal plant.

Echinacea species

In general, it is customary to distinguish several species of echinacea, among which the most famous is echinacea purpurea (Echinacea purpurea). This plant reaches a height of up to one meter and is distinguished by straight rough stems, basal serrated leaves on long petioles, as well as large baskets up to 15 centimeters in diameter. As a rule, this species of echinacea is characterized by purple-pink color of flowers and a specific smell.

Composition of Echinacea

In the composition of echinacea, biologically active compounds and valuable substances were found: flavonoids, polysaccharides, fatty and essential oils, derivatives of caffeic acid, a number of vitamins, macronutrients - calcium and potassium, trace elements - zinc, silver, cobalt, selenium, copper, lithium and others.

Benefits of Echinacea

The benefits of echinacea are simply obvious, so it is not only included in more than 240 drugs of the medicinal direction, but also used by people as food. Most often, the grass and roots of the plant are used in the preparation of various vitamin drinks, decoction and teas. Echinacea is used to treat many diseases, including toothache, colds, wounds, ulcers and herpes.

The benefit of echinacea is undoubted also because it is a natural remedy that can stimulate and simulate human immunity. In addition, a number of studies are underway today aimed at the use of echinacea for the treatment of arthritis, cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.

According to the results of laboratory and clinical tests, echinacea has the effect of an antibiotic, being the most powerful and most effective immunostimulant of all known preparations of plant origin. The benefits of echinacea have also been proven in the treatment of influenza, polio, smallpox, cystitis, urinary tract infections. Echinacea-based drugs can inhibit the growth and development of streptococcus, E. coli, staphylococcus.

Harm to Echinacea

Harm to echinacea and drugs based on it for human health is possible in the presence of systemic diseases (multiple sclerosis, collagenoses, leukemias and autoimmune disorders), as well as in pregnancy.