Echinacea

(purple cone/lower)

Three types: Angustifolia (Narrow leaves)

Purperea (Purple)
Pallida (Pale)
Plant type and habitat: Herbaceous 3lowering plants in the Asteraceae daisy
family. Native to North American prairies and glades endangered in wild due to
habitat loss
Part used: Angustifolia root of plant at least 2 years old, Purperea and Pallida
whole plan
Composition: Alkamides (isobutylamides predominant in Angustifolia, trace in
Pallida) gives sharp, tingling taste, (anti-in3lammatory)
Phenylpropanoid glycosides (anti-oxidant and anti-viral) including
Echinacoside (however only occurs in trace amounts in Purperea) and Cichoric acid
Inulin also present in signi3icant quantities in all 3 types. (stabilises blood
sugar, diuretic, immunostimulating).
Traditional Uses: Fighting infections, Fevers, Snake bites
Modern Uses:

Upper respiratory tract infections

Preventing infections
Enhancing immune system
Sinusitis
Cancer
Abscesses, bites, infections and wounds

Anti-oxidant: This is particularly true of Echinacoside

Anti-microbial: Shown to work well against Candida, used to 3ight infections, and
risk of relapse. Some use against shortening length of time of cold.
Anti-in/lammaotry: Alkamides derived from angustifolia roots may contribute to
the pharmacological action of the herbal extract by inhibiting COX-2-dependent
PGE2 formation at sites of in3lammation.
Immunomodulatory: Stimulation of various immune cells such as macrophages,
other monocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells has been demonstrated repeatedly in
vitro. Research suggests a relevant role for Echinacea angustifolia root extract in the
control of cytokine expression in vivo. The roots seem to be more effective for this
than the aerial parts
Anti-cancer: Cichoric acid (one of Echinaceas phenylpropanoids) has a strong
growth-inhibitory effect against colon cancer cells
Daily Dosage and administration

Decoction 1.5-3 g 3 (Fisher)

Tincture 1:5 (45%) 3-6 ml (Fisher)
Liquid extract 1:2 (45%) 3-6 ml (Bone)
Fluid extract 1:1 (45%) 0.75-3 ml (Fisher)
Also Cream/ointment for skin infections etc

Counter-indications: None except maybe those who are hypersensitive to plants

belonging to the daisy family.
ANONYMOUS (2003) Understanding Echinacea. Nursing, Vol 33, No 1, pp. 76-76.
BARRETT, B. (2003) Medicinal properties of Echinacea: a critical review. Phytomedicine :
International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology, Vol 10, No 1, pp. 66-86.
BONE, K. (2003) A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: herbal formulations for the individual
patient. St. Louis: Churchill Livingstone.
DAPAS, B., DALL'ACQUA, S., BULLA, R., AGOSTINIS, C., PERISSUTTI, B., INVERNIZZI,
S., GRASSI, G. & VOINOVICH, D. (2014) Immunomodulation mediated by a herbal syrup
containing a standardized Echinacea root extract: A pilot study in healthy human subjects on
cytokine gene expression. Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and
Phytopharmacology, Vol 21, No 11, pp. 1406-1410.
FISHER, C. (2009) Materia medica of Western herbs. Nelson: Vitex Medica.
HINZ, B., WOELKART, K. & BAUER, R. (2007) Alkamides from Echinacea inhibit
cyclooxygenase-2 activity in human neuroglioma cells. Biochemical and biophysical
research communications, Vol 360, No 2, pp. 441-446.
PENGELLY, A. (2004) The constituents of medicinal plants: an introduction to the chemistry and
therapeutics of herbal medicine. Wallingford: CABI.
THYGESEN, L., THULIN, J., MORTENSEN, A., SKIBSTED, L. H. & MOLGAARD, P. (2007)
Antioxidant activity of cichoric acid and alkamides from Echinacea purpurea, alone and in
combination. Food Chemistry, Vol 101, No 1, pp. 74-81.
TSAI, Y.-L., CHIU, C.-C., YI-FU CHEN, J., CHAN, K.-C. & LIN, S.-D. (2012) Cytotoxic effects
of Echinacea purpurea flower extracts and cichoric acid on human colon cancer cells
through induction of apoptosis. Journal of ethnopharmacology, Vol 143, No 3, pp. 914-919.
WEISS, R. F. (1988) Herbal medicine. Beaconsfield; Gothenburg: A. B. Arcanum.