Post by theshee on Apr 2, 2010 22:48:15 GMT 10
Echinacea is a perennial herb native to the midwestern region of North America. It has tall stems, bears single pink or purple flowers, and has a central cone that is usually purple or brown in colour. The large cone is actually a seed head with sharp spines that resemble a stiff comb.
Results of archaeological digs indicate that Native Americans may have used Echinacea for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds and as a general "cure-all." Throughout history people have used Echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.
Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that Echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. For this reason, professional herbalists may recommend Echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (Candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete's foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds. One study even suggests that Echinacea extract exerted an antiviral action on the development of recurrent HSVI when supplied prior to infection.
As Echinacea needs a high dose over a prorogued period of time to be effective it would not be suitable to treat acute infections unless a general immunity to frequent infection was required. Although NOT recommended for more than 8 weeks!! You must have a break for it. A high dose is required for a therapeutic effect: 1g dried root 3 x daily; Powder - 250mg x3 daily; Tincture - 1:5, 2-5ml x3 daily (Bartram 1995, p162). Some commercial preparations do not contain enough active extract to maintain the proper therapeutic dose.
More than 8 weeks use could be toxic; don't use with steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, or ketoconazole. Echinacea can also alter bleeding time so should not be used with blood agents such as Wafarin or aspirin (Miller 1998, p2207). Because echinacea is immune-enhancing, it should not be used with immuno-supressant medication, as it will be opposing the desired effect. Echinacea is contraindicated with the drug Econazole and also with certain immuno-suppressant medication. Also People with tuberculosis, leukemia, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS, any autoimmune diseases, or, possibly, liver disorders should not take Echinacea.
Apart from buying it over the counter this can be made at home.
Chop root (dried or fresh) into small pieces and fill a jar to the top with the chopped root. Fill jar to the top with alcohol, either vodka or brandy. Cover the root completely. Cap the bottle of jar tightly. Label it. Shake jar each day. Fresh root tinctures are ready to use in two weeks. But the longer you leave it the more potent it is. After 3-6 weeks, line a colander with cheesecloth and place over a bowl large enough to catch the tincture. Pour the tincture through to strain. Gather cheesecloth up and squeeze out all the goodness from the herb. The fresh root is the best to use, but you can use dried. You need more herbs if you are using the dried herb.
The recommended dosage is a half to one teaspoon, three times daily.
Results of archaeological digs indicate that Native Americans may have used Echinacea for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds and as a general "cure-all." Throughout history people have used Echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.
Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that Echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. For this reason, professional herbalists may recommend Echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (Candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete's foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds. One study even suggests that Echinacea extract exerted an antiviral action on the development of recurrent HSVI when supplied prior to infection.
As Echinacea needs a high dose over a prorogued period of time to be effective it would not be suitable to treat acute infections unless a general immunity to frequent infection was required. Although NOT recommended for more than 8 weeks!! You must have a break for it. A high dose is required for a therapeutic effect: 1g dried root 3 x daily; Powder - 250mg x3 daily; Tincture - 1:5, 2-5ml x3 daily (Bartram 1995, p162). Some commercial preparations do not contain enough active extract to maintain the proper therapeutic dose.
More than 8 weeks use could be toxic; don't use with steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, or ketoconazole. Echinacea can also alter bleeding time so should not be used with blood agents such as Wafarin or aspirin (Miller 1998, p2207). Because echinacea is immune-enhancing, it should not be used with immuno-supressant medication, as it will be opposing the desired effect. Echinacea is contraindicated with the drug Econazole and also with certain immuno-suppressant medication. Also People with tuberculosis, leukemia, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS, any autoimmune diseases, or, possibly, liver disorders should not take Echinacea.
Apart from buying it over the counter this can be made at home.
Chop root (dried or fresh) into small pieces and fill a jar to the top with the chopped root. Fill jar to the top with alcohol, either vodka or brandy. Cover the root completely. Cap the bottle of jar tightly. Label it. Shake jar each day. Fresh root tinctures are ready to use in two weeks. But the longer you leave it the more potent it is. After 3-6 weeks, line a colander with cheesecloth and place over a bowl large enough to catch the tincture. Pour the tincture through to strain. Gather cheesecloth up and squeeze out all the goodness from the herb. The fresh root is the best to use, but you can use dried. You need more herbs if you are using the dried herb.
The recommended dosage is a half to one teaspoon, three times daily.