Flower Power (Echinacea)

Member Name: TigerTiger

Product:	Echinacea
Date:	14/01/02 (277 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It prevents infections and illnesses, It is natural and so there are no side effects

Disadvantages: Expense

If you had told someone to take echinacea a couple of years ago, the chances are that they would have looked at you a little strangely. "Eki....what?" Indeed even today many people are a little unsure as to what echinacea is, yet it is widely available in supermarkets, chemists and health stores and many people are amazed by the results that it can have, me included.

I have been battling with my health for the past 13 months after a botched "routine" surgical procedure and so my immune system is non-existant to say the least.

In December I came down with the flu and whilst most people had it for a maximum of 2 weeks, I battled on with it all through the Christmas holidays. Then a friend told me that Echinacea was very good for the immune system, as well as many other things and that I should try it, as it may be of benefit generally to me. I did and I feel a lot better now than I have done for most of the year.

Although increasingly popular, I, as with most people don't fully understand what it is they are taking and so I set out to discover more. I mean even my Doctor wasn't sure exactly what it was, although he knew it was very good!

~~~what Exactly is Echinacea?~~~

Echinacea, belongs to the daisy family and is commonly known as the 'purple coneflower'.

Echinacea can be found growing as a wildflower mostly in the prairies, the midwest states and as far south as Texas. Today this flower is not only an ornamental in many gardens, but also a cultivated herb with it's beautiful flowing rows of purplish blossoms.

Of the several varieties of echinacea the three most popular are purpurea, angustifolia and pallida. They are harvested for their roots, flowerheads,seeds, or juice of the whole plant and can then be made into capsules,extracts, tinctures and tea. Other species are probably just as effective medicinally but little research has been done on them.
<
br>~~~What exactly does Echinacea do??~~~

The whole plant, but specifically the roots of Echinacea, is highly regarded as a non-specific stimulant of the immune system, as an anti-inflammatory and as an aid in wound healing.

Traditionally, it was highly valued as a remedy against various types of infections, in treating poisonous bites of snakes and insects and as a palliative agent in malignant conditions and for its wound-healing properties. It is now particularly used to increase resistance to infections.

Historically, Echinacea was one of the most important plants used medicinally by the North American Indians. Echinacea tincture became a very popular herbal remedy and, by 1916, the roots of E. angustifolia and E. pallida were made official drugs and remained in the National Formulary of the USA until 1950.

In Europe, Echinacea did not achieve general recognition as a medicinal plant until the turn of the century. In subsequent years, Echinacea became especially important in homeopathy. Echinacea was extensively researched in Germany in the 1950s, where it now has a well established place in mainstream medicine - more than 250 products containing Echinacea are available there today.

~~~How do you take it and where can you get it from???~~~

Echinacea can be bought in many places and in different formats. Typically you find it in either tablet or liquid form.

You will find Echinacea in supermarkets, chemists and health food shops. There were many to choose from in Boots when I was last in there, I was spoilt for choice. However, with so many different brands of Echinacea to buy, choosing one can be a hard choice. Unsure of how the tonic would taste I opted for the tablets. There is often the choice of regular or high potency. I was a little confused at this, but considering that I was already ill I opted for the high potency. I presume on most occasions the regular dosage is fine.

~~~Ho
w do you take echinacea??~~~

They suggest that you take echinacea for a 3 week period. The problem is that our bodies get used to the herb and it stops being effective after a while. So, we are better off taking it for certain periods each year to keep our immune systems topped up to the brim.

Ideally you should take echinacea before you get sick, as it builds up your system and prevents you catching anything. However, if you are not as well prepared as this (I wasn't!) then as soon as you feel the symptoms coming on you can start taking it.

I was amazed at how quickly the product took action, as even the very next day I felt like I was on the mend.

Having spoken to many friends who are also users of echinacea it appears it really works in preventing illness, coughs, colds and the like, as I have heard people saying that they have not been ill in over a year.

I also found it very useful in the treatment of mouth ulcers. I have been suffering with these as a result of being very run down and ill. I had tried every product on the market for them and my doctor had just told me I would have to live with the discomfort. However, without realising they disapeered as my flu did. I was amazed.

To conclude, I whole heartedly recommend this product to everyone. In fact I think doctors should be prescribing it more readily and making all people who are sucepible to illnesses take it. Maybe it would be more worthwhile than having a flu jab. At least you know that what you are putting into your system is natural with little to no side effects. I have certainly not experienced any side effects and don't know of anyone else who has either. However, I do believe you need to be careful with echinacea if you are pregnant.

The real downside, if there is one, is the expense. Echinacea doesn't come too cheap. For 30 capsules(2 a day, needed for a3 week period) it cost me £7.99. However, if you think that th
is potentially means no days off sick and illness, then it is worthwhile and you don't have to take it all the time.

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