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Echinacea is a perennial low plant with a short rhizome with many thin roots. The stems of the plant are leafy, simple, but strongly branching. On the stems are rough, arranged in the next position of the leaves, which decrease towards the top of the stem. At the top of the echinacea stem is a flower basket with a ball-shaped receptacle. The flower basket consists of reed flowers that vary in color from pink to purple. Summer is the period when echinacea blooms and beautiful bright flowers appear on the stems. In the center of the basket are tubular flowers – it is they who bear fruit.
Echinacea is common in Russia, the North Caucasus and Ukraine. She prefers to grow in the sun, fertile and at least slightly drained soils.
Useful properties of echinacea
Echinacea has beneficial properties that help in the treatment of various diseases. Echinacea improves immunity. The plant has an antiviral property: it does not allow coccal infections, harmful bacteria and viruses to multiply. Echinacea is used for herpes, flu and intestinal infections. This plant is often used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Echinacea has the ability to heal difficult wounds, ulcers and eczema.
Echinacea is a good cold remedy, which is why it is used for sore throat, SARS and influenza. The plant contains many medicinal elements and substances, of which betaine is especially important. It prevents the onset of symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
Echinacea
For the treatment of various diseases, traditional medicine uses echinacea, which is at least two years old. Medicinal raw materials of the plant are flowers, stems, roots and leaves. Inside, echinacea is recommended for colds, flu, blood poisoning, or bladder diseases. In addition to internal use, echinacea is still successfully and quite often used externally in the treatment of urticaria, burns, herpes and other skin diseases.
Echinacea is used for exposure to heavy metals and fungicides, liver disease and diabetes. Preparations made on the basis of echinacea have a depressing effect on streptococci, Escherichia coli and the influenza virus present in the body.
The plant has shown good results in the treatment of prostatitis, rheumatism, osteomyelitis and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Lotions from a decoction of echinacea are used for psoriasis, insect bites, as an antidote to a snake bite. A decoction of echinacea treats stomach ulcers, normalizes blood pressure and improves the condition of the body as a whole.
Echinacea decoction. Take the fresh (dry) leaves of the plant and grind them. Now pour 1 teaspoon of chopped raw materials with a glass of boiling water. Put everything in a water bath for 5-10 minutes. After removing from the water bath, the broth is allowed to brew. Take it 100 ml 3 times a day before meals.
Echinacea tincture for depression. To prepare it, you need to take 10 grams of plant roots and pour them with 100 ml of 70% alcohol. The tool is left to infuse for a day. Take tincture of 20 (30) drops three times a day.
Echinacea from a headache. We take all parts of the plant and make a powder out of them. Mix the finished powder with honey. For 100 grams of echinacea powder, you need 300 grams of honey. All contents are thoroughly mixed and taken with tea three times a day. This tool helps to normalize sleep, calms the nervous system and lowers blood pressure.
Echinacea tea for flu and colds. Take the root of the plant and grind it. Now mix 1 teaspoon of the root and the same amount of echinacea leaves with three flowers of the plant. Pour the whole mixture with two cups of boiling water and leave for 40 minutes. Tea is taken in the amount of three glasses a day in the treatment of a disease, and as a prophylaxis – one glass a day.
Echinacea tincture for constipation or gastritis. We take 20 grams of stems along with leaves and flowers and fill them with 200 ml of vodka. We leave to infuse for 14-20 days in a dark room. During the infusion period, it is necessary to periodically shake the contents. After straining the finished tincture, it is taken three times a day, 20-30 drops before meals. The course of treatment is 1,5 weeks, after which they take a break for 3 days and again resume the course of treatment, and so one more time. This tincture can treat diseases of the female genital organs, diseases of the kidneys or bladder, vasospasm and stomach ulcers.
Tincture of Echinacea
Alcohol tincture of echinacea has a powerful effect on the human immune system. Regular use of such a remedy significantly increases the number of leukocytes, activates the phagocytic response, and can also inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic microbes. In the cold season, taking such a healing tincture will lengthen the periods between episodes of viral infections, since it activates protective immune mechanisms. In addition, the unique components that make up echinacea will help get rid of inflammatory processes in the bladder, kidneys and ureter. It should also be noted that this wonderful tincture can be used to treat wounds for their speedy healing, as well as various boils and skin inflammations. It not only increases the action of histogenic phagocytes, but also promotes tissue repair.
To strengthen the children’s body, modern pediatricians recommend giving children such a tincture. It is an excellent anti-cold remedy of natural origin. Side effects with long-term use of echinacea tincture are very rare. As a rule, it can be various allergic rashes and dizziness. In these cases, the tincture should be stopped immediately.
How to take echinacea? Experts prescribe such a remedy before meals (20-30 minutes) at least three times a day. Note that at the very beginning of treatment, the exact dose should not exceed 40 drops for an adult per day. In the following days, the maximum dosage is 60 drops. Children over 12 years old can take a tincture diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3, 5-10 drops 2 times a day.
The appropriate duration of the course of treatment is determined by the doctor, depending on the specific characteristics of the course of the disease and its severity. With good tolerance, the drug can be used in prescribed doses until a stable therapeutic effect is achieved. However, the maximum duration should not exceed 8 weeks. For external use, it is recommended to prepare a special solution. 40 drops of tincture should be diluted in 100 ml of sodium chloride. Such a tool is shown as compresses, lotions, abdominal tampons and rinses.
Echinacea for immunity
The activity of this drug has been proven many years ago. Such an immunostimulant helps to produce special substances that endow cell membranes with resistance to penetration by pathogens. This unique property significantly slows down the spread of microbes throughout the body. Along with this, echinacea stimulates defense mechanisms that determine the body’s resistance to infectious diseases. The unique trace elements of such a plant enhances the phagocytosis of leukocytes and macrophages. In addition, echinacea helps to produce an antitumor factor that prevents the appearance of malignant cells that destroy.
On an industrial scale, mainly drugs and dietary supplements are produced based on the juice or extract of the herb Echinacea purpurea, for example, echinacea tincture in ethyl alcohol. In clinical practice with proven experience in the use of drugs widely used in the production of which the juice of freshly harvested plants was used (for example, Immunal, Immunal plus C, Echinacea Vilar, Immunorm-Teva, Immunorm, Gerbion echinacea, Echinacea Geksal).
Echinacea for children
Healing echinacea is considered one of the mandatory drugs in the complex treatment of acute respiratory diseases in children. Moreover, it can also be prescribed as an effective prophylactic agent, which allows, due to its unique properties, to stimulate the body’s own defenses. This wonderful plant is effective against macrophages and neutrophils. Thanks to this effect, prescribing echinacea at the first sign of a viral infection can significantly shorten the period of the disease. It should be noted that in almost all children this plant does not cause allergic reactions.
Echinacea extract
Echinacea extract has a powerful tonic effect on the entire nervous system. It gives a feeling of cheerfulness, and also perfectly restores working capacity. The delightful adaptogenic properties of the plant determine the body’s immunity to adverse environmental factors. In addition, the regular use of such a remedy perfectly relieves overstrain and is an excellent prophylactic drug against acute respiratory infections. Immunostimulating effect will help reduce the number of colds. As an external agent, echinacea extract is indicated for pain relief and healing of various wounds.
The dosage of the drug for adults is no more than 8 drops, for children – from 3 to 5 drops, depending on age. Toddlers can dissolve echinacea in a small amount of water or tea.
It should be borne in mind that in chronic hypertension and overexcitation, such a drug is categorically contraindicated.
echinacea syrup
The healing syrup of this plant helps to strengthen the protective mechanisms of the immune system. Echinacea also boasts its antioxidant properties. Echinacea syrup is prescribed for various oncological manifestations. In addition, such a drug increases the resistance of healthy cells to the effects of harmful microorganisms. It should also be noted that echinacea syrup normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland and metabolism.
Contraindications to the use of echinacea
Children under the age of two years should not use echination in any form. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and people with multiple sclerosis should also be wary of preparations from this plant. If a person has an acute sore throat, then echinacea tincture is contraindicated for him. In any case, you should not take echinacea for more than one month.