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Echinacea: beneficial properties. Video
Echinacea purpurea is a medicinal perennial plant whose flowers are simultaneously similar to asters and chamomile. The range of its use in traditional medicine is quite wide, but there are also contraindications.
Echinacea: beneficial properties
This medicinal plant has a unique composition, thanks to which it is used both as an immunomodulator and as an anti-inflammatory agent. It promotes the production of lymphocytes, so that viruses in the blood die early after entering the body. Echinacea contains caffeic acid, the glycosides of which help the plant work as an analgesic. In addition, all parts of the plant are a source of various minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, cobalt, barium, molybdenum.
Echinacea also promotes the production of hormones with antiallergic effect.
Echinacea for the treatment of diseases
The instructions for using this herb have a wide range of indications. First of all, echinacea extract is used for the prevention of viral diseases during their exacerbation. The nature of diseases can be both viral and colds, therefore they drink grass both with sore throat and with a common cold. At the same time, it is much cheaper to buy echinacea in its pure form than as part of prophylactic agents from well-known companies. Echinacea has general strengthening properties in diseases of the blood, respiratory organs, skin diseases, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system. All parts of the plant are used for treatment, from roots to essential oils.
As a remedy, echinacea is taken both internally in the form of tinctures and decoctions, and externally, making compresses and lotions from it on wounds
How to treat with echinacea
Even children can use echinacea in the form of a decoction or infusion of alcohol-free juice. With colds, you can brew tea with it, as well as take it in the form of a decoction for the prevention of viral diseases. Also, the plant has diuretic properties, normalizes blood pressure and stimulates appetite. Preparation of the broth includes boiling a teaspoon of foliage in a glass of boiling water in a water bath for a quarter of an hour. Then strain the broth and drink two tablespoons before meals three times a day. Alcohol tincture is required to use the same number of times, 25-30 drops.
A similar tincture can be either purchased at a pharmacy or made independently by insisting pre-chopped plant roots in alcohol for 10 days
Contraindications to the use of echinacea
Before starting any use of this plant, you need to talk to your doctor, since there are certain prohibitions on the use of echinacea.
Among them:
- pregnancy
- age up to two years
- diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis and other diseases
Pregnancy and these diseases are not the only contraindications. Alcohol tincture is not used for diseases of the stomach, as well as in childhood, in this case, only dry raw materials are suitable.