The Echinacea plant: some interesting facts
February 3, 2011 by Haylee Hulme
Filed under Supplements
Want to know more about the Echinacea plant?
Echinacea plants are becoming increasingly popular, but how much do you know about them? Echinacea purpurea, also known as the “purple coneflower” is a hardy, drought resistant plant endemic to eastern and central North America, where it is found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas[1]. There are several species of the Echinacea plant, which bloom from early to late summer, with some categorised as a ’cause for conservation concern’.
Some species are used in herbal medicines and some are cultivated in gardens simply for the way they look: a pretty flower with spiky petals. They’re definately a visually striking plant, and if you’ve seen one in bloom you’ll probably be able to understand the attraction. Most species produce flowers that are purple in appearance; however there are some species in the genus which have yellow coloured flowers.
How do we use it?
The North American Plains Indians traditionally utilised Echinacea for the general medicinal qualities associated with the plant[2]. According to legend, they discovered the plant after observing injured Elks seeking out the plants. Although that origin story is potentially apocryphal, there is valid historical research showing that Native Americans might have used the herb for as long as 400 years[3].
What Echinacea products can I buy?
Most good health stores, whether on the highstreet or online, should be able to provide Echinacea products, and there are many that are currently on the market. You can purchase echinacea products in a variety of forms:
* Capsules
* Tea
* Liquid extract
* Cold relief tablets
* Herbal infusion
[1] Wikipedia (2010). Echinacea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinacea
[2] Wishart, David J. (2007). Encyclopedia of the Great Plains Indians. U of Nebraska Press. p. 156
[3] UMM (2009). Echinacea. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/echinacea-000239.htm
Haylee writes detailed articles on the history and use of echinacea and other supplements. She’s currently planning to write more about health, nutrition and echinacea.