The Benefits of Echinacea

One of my favorite herbs for immune support! Also known as purple coneflower, Echinacea is not only a pretty addition to gardens, but an amazing medicinal herb. Echinacea may be useful for:

✿ Immune stimulation - Echinacea stimulates the innate immune system through various cellular pathways. Studies have shown that Echinacea can decrease the symptoms, severity, and duration of colds.

✿ Tissue regeneration - Echinacea’s constituents promote wound healing by stabilizing hyaluronic acid, stimulating fibroblast growth and promoting production of glycosaminoglycans.

✿ Reducing inflammation - The alkylamides found in Echinacea have shown that their effects take part in various cellular mechanisms to reduce inflammation.

✿ Antiviral - Studies have shown that in cell cultures, this plant inhibited the growth and replication of viruses like influenza, herpes, and vesicular stomatitis viruses.

✿ Antibacterial - It has a long history of use for internal and external bacterial infections. The compounds found in this plant have been seen to have anti-bacterial actions against Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Proteus vulgaris.

✿ Alleviate itching - Echinacea-infused topicals have also been shown to reduce and alleviate itching, which is useful in cases of eczema, psoriasis, and dry skin.

✿ Snake bites - Although no clinical studies have been reported, Echinacea has been used historically by Native American healers for treating snake bites due to its anti-venom activity.

Some studies on Echinacea: PMID: 37570681, 20005088, 20674883, 30538520, 19107735. DOI: 10.1080/13880200701734919

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before incorporating any new supplement or change to your routine.