Spring protection of garden plants from pests and diseases. Echinacea purpurea: healing action and application

Echinacea- a perennial medicinal plant, a representative of the Compositae family. The flower is native to North America. This grass is found in Slovakia, Great Britain, Primorsky Krai. Outwardly, Echinacea is a herbaceous plant with a rough stem, long leaves and purple flowers (see photo). Translated from Latin, the genus name means "thorny".

Echinacea was widely used by the indigenous population of the North American continent. More than 400 years ago, they discovered the beneficial properties in this flower and began to use the stems, roots and flowers of the plant for medicinal purposes. Europeans after the discovery of America explored the properties of herbs on this continent, including the beneficial properties of echinacea. Before the discovery of antibiotics, echinacea was considered one of the strongest antimicrobial agents in medicine. Nowadays, this amazing plant is part of more than 240 preparations.

Collection and storage

Echinacea is harvested several times: inflorescences and the upper part of the plant are harvested during the flowering period, and the rhizome is harvested in the fall. Echinacea blooms from July to September. In order to collect truly useful raw materials, it is important to remember that the flower accumulates its properties over the years, so plants should be collected from two years of life. 3-4 year old plants are suitable for harvesting roots. Echinacea roots should be dug up in spring or fall. Dry them in the shade. Echinacea tincture can be used for one year, stored in a dark bottle. The grass and flowers of the plant can be used for 6 months.

Medicinal properties

The medicinal properties of the flower, and hence the chemical composition of echinacea, differ depending on the part used. The aerial part of the plant is rich in polysaccharides, while the roots contain more essential oil and flavonoids. Polysaccharides have immunomodulatory properties, they increase the production of interferons and contribute to the restoration of affected tissues. Interferons are a series of proteins that body cells secrete in response to an invasion by a virus. In this way, echinacea helps to improve the immune defense of the body.

This flower improves the formation of leukocytes - blood particles that are responsible for protecting the body and the immune system. It is the formation of leukocytes that makes it possible to attribute echinacea to powerful immunostimulating drugs. Echinacea improves the quality of white blood cells and increases their ability to absorb microbes. The Indians used the plant for almost all diseases: from syphilis, cancer, bites of poisonous snakes and insects, smallpox, treatment of non-healing wounds.

Echinacea is valued as a source of a balanced complex of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, selenium, silicon. Selenium is known as one of the most powerful antioxidants, it is included in all modern dietary supplements. Selenium is especially effective in combination with vitamins E and C. Such a composition prevents cancer, slows down aging. The mineral composition of the plant allows the flower to have a beneficial effect on the processes of hematopoiesis, it also improves the condition of hair, nails, and takes care of teeth and bones.

Scientists are still conducting research on echinacea and discovering more and more beneficial properties. Currently, science is investigating the effect of the plant on the treatment of cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and arthritis. It has been proven that echinacea has a beneficial effect on the patient's condition with herpetic lesions, ulcers, and frequent colds. The plant stimulates the central nervous system, which improves the condition with depression, nervous exhaustion and overwork.

Echinacea is considered a powerful antioxidant, it prevents aging and neutralizes free radicals. The rejuvenating effect of this plant is due to the fact that it cleanses the lymphatic and circulatory system which age faster than others. The plant has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, eliminates age spots, heals wounds. Echinacea has been proven beneficial for eczema. Purple flower effectively cleanses the blood, improves the functioning of the liver and kidneys.

Use in cooking

In cooking, echinacea is used to make tea drinks. For brewing such drinks, dried flowers and leaves of the plant are used. Very often, echinacea is combined with other useful herbs and fruits, such as rose hips, lemon balm and others. Adults can drink this tea several times a day for one glass, it is better for kids to give half a glass once a day. Tea improves the body's defenses, speeds up recovery, and is a good prevention of viral diseases.

Echinacea is also used to make an amazingly delicious salad. Finely chopped young leaves of the plant are mixed with finely chopped parsley and cucumbers, the salad is seasoned with a small amount of vegetable oil. You can add any vegetables to the dish, fresh tomatoes perfectly diversify the salad. It is served as a side dish for meat dishes.

The plant is perfect for making fruit compotes, one of these drinks is apple compote. For a drink you will need 4 apples, 500 grams of grapes and 2 grams of dried mint and echinacea. Grapes and finely chopped apples are placed in boiling water with sugar, boiled for 5-7 minutes, then dried herbs are added to the compote. Echinacea boosts the immune system and tones the body, and dried mint adds a menthol flavor to the compote.

Echinacea benefits and treatment

The benefits of the purple flower are known to folk and official medicine. Aboriginal people used echinacea as the first remedy for blood poisoning. Modern research has proven that the flower is able to accelerate regeneration of the skin and mucous membranes thus contributing to their recovery.

Scientists have learned that echinacea acts like it copes with diseases of a viral and bacterial nature.

For pain in the joints, headaches, stomach ulcers, edema, echinacea infusion is used. To prepare the infusion, it is necessary to pour a teaspoon of raw materials with boiling water and insist for 20 minutes. Take a third cup of infusion 3 times a day. In order to increase immunity, prepare an infusion of 30 grams of flowers, which are boiled for 10 minutes. The infusion is left for 5 hours, and then filtered. It should be taken in half a glass 4 times a day, if desired, sugar, honey or a spoonful of jam can be added to the drink. Echinacea promotes the activation of cellular immunity processes and ensures the body's resistance to adverse environmental influences.

Echinacea is recommended for use in any septic conditions, colds, inflammatory processes. The plant is used to treat otitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, tonsillitis. The use of tinctures or other preparations based on this plant increases the effectiveness of traditional treatment. Echinacea has a detrimental effect on E. coli, streptococci and staphylococci. Taking this plant during epidemics will help the body resist infections.

The polysaccharides of this plant affect the production of T-lymphocytes, prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses that are harmful to the body. They also increase the activity of blood cells, which allows the latter to better resist the negative effects of microbes.

Echinacea has analgesic effect due to the presence of caffeic acid glycosides. The plant also effectively stimulates the production of hormones, provides an antirheumatic effect. Echinacea is indicated for use in colds, diseases of the ENT organs, herpetic lesions.

Plant leaves, flowers, rhizomes are used as medicinal raw materials. At home, you can prepare an alcohol tincture or an aqueous infusion of echinacea. In addition, pharmacies offer a wide range of different preparations based on this plant. Alcohol tincture is effective with prostate adenoma, inflammation of the female genital organs. To prepare the tincture, you will need crushed rhizomes. The roots of the plant should be poured with alcohol 1:10 and left to infuse in a dark place for 10 days. Take tincture should be 30 drops before meals.

Harm of echinacea and contraindications

The plant can cause harm to the body with such serious diseases as multiple sclerosis, leukemia, autoimmune disorders, collagenosis.

Echinacea is contraindicated in pregnant women.

Before long-term use of the plant, you should consult with your doctor.

Flower echinacea (lat. Echinacea) belongs to the genus of perennials of the family Asteraceae, or Compositae, which includes 9 species. Echinacea is native to eastern North America. From Greek, the name of the plant is translated as "hedgehog, or prickly, like a hedgehog." The most famous species in the genus is Echinacea purpurea, also known as purpurea rudbeckia, which is widely used in folk and traditional medicine, as well as in ornamental gardening. Echinacea was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, attributing it to the genus Rudbecky, but forty years later, Echinacea was separated into a separate genus, since noticeable differences were found between these two plants.

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Planting and caring for Echinacea (at a glance)

Landing: spring or autumn.
Bloom: from July to September.
Lighting: bright sunlight.
The soil: dryish, nutritious, well processed, containing a small amount of lime.
Watering: frequent and copious, in the evening.
Top dressing: rotted compost with ash twice a season: in spring and autumn.
Reproduction: dividing the bush in April or during leaf fall. Echinacea species can be propagated by seeds.
Pests: bedbugs, slobbering pennitsy and slugs.
Diseases: powdery mildew, cercosporosis, septoria, viral infections.

Read more about growing echinacea below.

Echinacea flower - description

Echinacea are perennial herbaceous rhizomatous plants with straight, rough stems reaching a height of 1-1.5 m. The basal wide oval leaves of echinacea, serrated at the edges, are located on long petioles, and the stem leaves are lanceolate, alternate, sessile or almost sessile. Inflorescences consist of large baskets, which in turn are composed of marginal reed flowers of red, white or pink color and median tubular flowers, red-brown or dark red. Echinacea fruit is a four-sided achene.

Planting Echinacea

When to plant echinacea

Planting echinacea is carried out both in spring and autumn. The process is usually preceded by such a procedure as dividing the echinacea bush. You can, of course, grow a plant from seeds, but the generative propagation method is used exclusively for growing specific echinacea, hybrid varieties reproduce vegetatively. So, find a brightly lit place for echinacea with fertile, deeply cultivated neutral or slightly alkaline soil - too wet or light sandy soils will not work for echinacea. If the soil is acidic in the area, you will have to add lime to it.

How to plant echinacea

Holes for echinacea are dug 5 cm deep at a distance of 30 cm from each other - this is for planting seedlings, and for divisions, the depth of the hole should be slightly larger than the root system of the seedling. Put some compost in the bottom of the holes, and only then plant echinacea. After planting, the area is watered. If your planting material is in a container, then the hole should be larger, about 40 cm. on which he grew up in a container.

Echinacea care in the garden

How to care for echinacea

Growing echinacea is not at all tedious, but it still requires attention. Firstly, echinacea should be watered frequently and abundantly, and it is better to do this in the evening. But the most important thing is to keep the site clean - remove weeds immediately after they appear. From the second year of life, echinacea needs top dressing with rotted compost with ash - this will give it the opportunity to bloom more magnificently. Fertilizers are applied twice per season: in spring and after flowering. If you don't need seeds, cut off the withered florets with part of the stem down to the first green leaf.

Reproduction of echinacea

Most often, echinacea is propagated by dividing the bush, especially since this can be done both in spring in April and in autumn during leaf fall. The first time you can divide an echinacea bush is when it is 4-5 years old. Dig up the plant carefully so as not to damage the rhizome, then the bush is divided so that 3-4 renewal buds remain in each part. Landing of delenok is carried out in the same order and according to the same rules as the initial landing.

Species echinacea, as already mentioned, is propagated by seed. Large echinacea seeds are sown directly in the spring in open ground, as they germinate best at a temperature of 13 ºC. After sowing, the seeds are lightly sprinkled with a thin layer of garden soil. But it is better to grow seedlings from seeds, because echinacea shoots that have just hatched are too tender and fragile for unstable spring weather. Seeds are sown in February-March in boxes or containers to a depth of half a centimeter, they are lightly sprinkled with soil on top and moistened with a sprayer. Germination, even at the optimum temperature for echinacea, will have to wait a long time, sometimes up to a month and a half, but when the seedlings appear, grow up and get stronger, they are planted in open ground, after which care for them consists in watering, weeding and loosening the soil on the site. In the first year, echinacea grown from seeds will not bloom, it will only grow a rosette of leaves 15-20 cm high, but next season you will surely see a charming flowering and hear the pleasant aroma of echinacea exuded by its inflorescences.

Pests and diseases of echinacea

The plant rarely gets sick, and all its troubles usually happen due to improper care. In hot summers with frequent rains and temperature fluctuations, as well as from too abundant nitrogen fertilizing, echinacea can become sick with powdery mildew - a dangerous whitish coating will appear on the shoots, leaves and flowers. You can destroy the fungus by treating echinacea with colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux liquid. Sometimes echinacea suffers from fungal diseases of septoria and cercosporosis, manifested by spots on the leaves, weakening the plant and leading it to death. If the disease is detected at an early stage, you can save echinacea by removing the affected areas, but if the disease has taken effect, you will have to resort to treating the plant with fungicides. It happens that echinacea is affected by viral diseases, from which flower stalks are deformed, the leaves of the plant turn yellow and dry. Sick specimens must be urgently removed from the site and burned, and the place where they grew must be disinfected with a strong solution of potassium permanganate. There is no cure for viral diseases yet.

Sometimes bugs, slugs and slobbering pennitsa harm echinacea. It is better to collect slugs with your hands, and as a preventive measure, you can scatter nutshells around the area, which will prevent gastropods from moving around. Insects are destroyed with insecticides - Aktellik or Karbofos. All these troubles are very easy to avoid if you strictly follow the conditions of the plant's agricultural technology, especially since planting and caring for echinacea in the open field is not so burdensome.

Echinacea after flowering

How and When to Harvest Echinacea Seeds

Collect echinacea seeds at the end of the season, when they ripen on the bushes. However, they do not ripen all at once, so the seeds are collected gradually. When you see that the middle of the flower has darkened, put on a glove and collect the seeds from the center of the basket, then clean them of the remnants of tubular flowers and dry them. Echinacea seeds quickly lose their germination capacity, so it is better to sow them immediately.

Preparing echinacea for winter

Echinacea is a rather cold-resistant plant, however, in too frosty and snowless winters, it can freeze. Colds are especially dangerous for plants of the first year of life. So that the echinacea does not die, at the end of October, cut off all its stems, mulch the root collar with compost, and then cover the area with echinacea with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Types and varieties of echinacea

In nature, there are nine species of Echinacea, but most of the plants of this genus grown in culture are varieties and hybrids of Echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea purpurea)

- a perennial plant reaching a height of 100 cm. Its stems are straight, rough, basal leaves are broadly oval, sharply tapering to long winged petioles, collected in a rosette, stem leaves are also rough, lanceolate, alternate, sessile. Inflorescences-baskets consist of purple-pink reed flowers up to 4 cm long, pointed to the top, tubular flowers located in the middle, red-brown. The best varieties:

Granatstern- echinacea up to 130 cm high with baskets 13 cm in diameter with slightly lowered purple reed flowers with two teeth at the top and brown tubular flowers forming a convex hemisphere up to 4 cm in diameter;
Sonnenlach- the height of this plant is about 140 cm, baskets up to 10 cm in diameter consist of dark red lanceolate reed flowers up to 3.5 cm long, ending with two or three teeth, and a convex brown hemisphere of tubular flowers.

Echinacea Sunset (Echinacea x sunset)

- A series of hybrids between Echinacea purpurea and paradox, bred by Richard Skol. These hybrids combine all the best qualities of both species - large basket sizes, curved petals, strong branching stems, exquisite colors of mango, mustard, peach, strawberry, amazing aroma. The tubular petals are henna colored.

As a result of intensive breeding work, varieties with purple, white, orange, pink, yellow and reddish inflorescences were bred. We offer you the most popular varieties of Echinacea garden:

Julia- belongs to the Butterfly Kiss variety series. This dwarf Echinacea, reaching a height of only 45 cm, has bright orange flowers that open in early summer and do not disappear until the end of the season;
Cleopatra- the variety is named after bright yellow butterflies. This is a plant with bright yellow baskets up to 7.5 cm in diameter with horizontally arranged reed flowers - they look like the sun in a child's drawing;
Evnin Glow- blooms in baskets with yellow reed flowers with an orange stripe with a pinkish tint, the middle of the tubular flowers acts as a dark cone;
Cantaloupe- has the color of this particular vegetable: a double row of reed petals looks like a pinkish-orange jabot, and darker tubular flowers form a shaggy hemisphere;
Passion Flute- an unusual echinacea: the reed flowers twisted into a tube are golden yellow in color, and the tubular middle is a greenish-mustard hue. This variety belongs to the Lets Buggi variety series, it is drought-resistant and unpretentious in care;
Double Scoop Cranberry is an easy to care for, drought tolerant cranberry beauty that catches the eye and attracts butterflies - she is incredibly good in a bouquet.

Echinacea properties

Useful properties of echinacea

Echinacea herb contains polysaccharides, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, hydroxycinnamic and organic acids, phytosterols, resins and essential oils. The rhizome also contains essential as well as fatty oils, resins, enzymes, macronutrients in the form of potassium and calcium, and trace elements selenium, silver, zinc, manganese, molybdenum and cobalt. Preparations from echinacea purpurea have antiviral, antimicrobial, wound healing and antifungal effects, strengthen the immune system, and help with physical and mental overwork. By preparations we mean juice, decoctions, tinctures and extracts of echinacea purpurea. Tincture, for example, has the ability to heal burns and increase potency. In folk medicine, the juice from fresh inflorescences of the plant heals wounds, and the use inside accelerates blood clotting.

The healing properties and contraindications of echinacea were first described by North American shamans. The Indians called this grass "golden flower" and "evening sun." She saved from many diseases: she was treated with colds, headaches, wounds, burns, ulcers, venereal diseases, used as an antidote for bites of poisonous insects and snakes. Taken in the form of decoctions, mixed with other herbs. Echinacea came to Europe in the 17th century. At first it was used only as an ornamental plant, later it began to be used in medicine.

Features of Echinacea purpurea

Translated from the Greek "echinos" means "hedgehog". Perhaps the name of the plant was due to the internal pointed flowers. When they dry out, they look like hedgehog thorns. What is the herb Echinacea purpurea famous for?

Distribution area

This plant is native to eastern North America. Here echinacea grows in the wild, found on sandy river banks, rocky soils, loves dry areas. In Europe, the grass has taken root as an agricultural crop, which is often grown in home gardens, in parks, gardens as an ornamental and medicinal plant.

Botanical description

Echinacea purpurea. Botanical illustration by Sydenham Edwards from The Botanical Magazine, vol. 1., no. 2, 1792.

There are 11 species of this plant in the genus. The most famous of them are white, purple, narrow-leaved echinacea. They are used in folk medicine. But few people have heard of echinacea paradoxical, simulating, bloody, Tennessee - all these are ornamental plant species that adorn our flower beds and front gardens. In folk medicine, Echinacea purpurea is most often used. What does this plant look like?

It can be up to 1–1.5 m high.
The leaves are narrow, oval, with pubescence and small teeth.
Straight, rough stem splits upward.
On a split stem, inflorescences are formed in the form of baskets.
Baskets can be up to 15 cm in diameter.
The inner tubular flowers are pointed, dark red or brownish.
Reed marginal flowers are pink, purple.

Echinacea blooms for a long time, starting from the end of June and ending with the first frosts in the Central Russian zone. Sometimes you can find another name for this type of grass - purple rudbeckia. This is an erroneous synonym. In modern botanical catalogs, these are two different genera.

healing action

What are the medicinal properties of echinacea? Thanks to what useful substances is it popular in traditional and folk medicine?

Chemical composition. There are many trace elements in the grass. Among them are reserves of zinc, selenium, iron, manganese, silicon, calcium, cobalt, silver, potassium and other trace elements. The flower is rich in vitamins, valuable essential oils, tannins, organic acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, glycosides, resins. It contains enzymes, flavonoids, phytosterols, saponins. Healing substances are found in flowers, stems, stem, basal leaves and rhizomes of echinacea.
Immunomodulator. Such well-known plants as ginseng, lemongrass, eleutherococcus are immune system stimulants, that is, they invigorate the body, restore impaired immunity. Echinacea has a different principle of action: it pushes the immune system to work independently, to use the internal resource. It has been clinically proven that the herb can be used as an antiviral agent in the treatment and prevention of SARS, influenza.
Antioxidant. Thanks to selenium, a group of vitamins B and C, echinacea is able to bind free radicals and remove them from the body, which prevents cancer and premature aging of the body.
Antiseptic and antibiotic. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the herb were well known to the Native American tribes. Today, echinacea-based preparations are used externally for antiseptic treatment of the skin, but they are also taken orally for viral (including herpes), fungal and bacterial infections. Conducted clinical trials in which it was proved that echinacea is active against staphylococci and streptococci.

Indications for use

Colds, SARS, influenza (treatment and prevention).
Inflammatory processes on the mucous membrane of the nasal, oral cavity, throat.
Respiratory diseases.
Gastric ulcer.
Urinary tract infections.
Externally: dermatitis, trophic ulcers, burns, wounds, boils, eczema, insect bites, psoriasis.

Also, the drug is prescribed for rehabilitation after prolonged illnesses, radiotherapy for oncological diagnoses, to remove toxins from the body in case of poisoning with chemicals, heavy metals.

Contraindications

What are the contraindications for Echinacea purpurea?

Autoimmune diseases.
AIDS.
Tuberculosis.
Multiple sclerosis.
Leukemia and leukemia.
Individual sensitivity to grass.
Pregnancy and lactation period.
Older people take in limited doses.
Children under 12 years old.

Echinacea can pose the greatest danger to people with diseases of the immune system. The drug can lead to unpredictable immune shifts that will be dangerous to health and life. However, some restrictions (eg, pregnancy, lactation, age) are introduced due to the lack of clinical trials. The harm of echinacea has not been proven in this case, but the benefits have not been clinically confirmed either.

Echinacea contains no toxic components. In rare cases, there are side effects in the form of an allergic reaction to the grass. Sometimes there is a tingling and numbness of the tongue after oral administration, which is explained by the action of unsaturated acids. But this symptom passes quickly. In case of an overdose, such manifestations are possible: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, chills, nervous excitement. In this case, the drug should be immediately discontinued and seek medical help.

How is echinacea used in pharmacology and traditional medicine

The most valuable thing in echinacea is its juice. To preserve its beneficial properties, alcohol, citric acid, sugar are used as a preservative in pharmacology, and vodka and honey are used in folk medicine. Tinctures are made from the juice, but dry extract of the herb (flowers, leaves, stems, root) is also used.

Forms of release in pharmacology

Pharmaceutical preparations of echinacea are available in different dosage forms. The herb extract is also added to other preparations that activate the immune system.

Tincture. Produced on the basis of fresh crushed Echinacea purpurea (roots and rhizomes) and 50% ethyl alcohol. For preventive purposes, take 5-10 drops 2 times a day. In the acute period of infection and at the initial stage of the disease, increased doses are recommended: the tincture can be drunk 15 drops 6 times a day. Read more about the use of echinacea tincture.
syrup. It contains not only echinacea, but also extracts of wild rose, rowan fruits, green tea. The syrup can be taken in a tablespoon once a day to prevent seasonal viral infections. You can drink the medicine for 3 weeks. Then they take a break in treatment for a month, on the recommendation of a doctor, repeat the course.
Tablets . The dry extract is obtained from Echinacea purpurea and angustifolia. Adults are allowed to take 1 tablet 3-4 times a day. Tablets are not swallowed, but dissolved until completely dissolved in the mouth. The therapeutic effect is observed a week after the start of administration. The course of treatment should not exceed 2 months. Tablets are prohibited for children under 12 years of age. Shelf life - 3 years. The most famous commercial names for echinacea tablets are "Immunal", "Immunorm". Also offered dietary supplement "Neoline echinacea" in the form of effervescent tablets with the addition of ascorbic acid and zinc.

How to prepare medicine at home

Echinacea has found wide application in folk medicine. Healers with extensive experience prefer to grow this valuable plant themselves and give advice on preparing potions from echinacea.

Echinacea tea preparation

Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water.
Insist 30 minutes.

You can take tea 1 glass a day for prevention. At the beginning of the flu, colds, SARS, you can drink a loading dose - 3 glasses a day, with the addition of honey.

Preparing the mixture with honey

Grind the dry parts of the plant into a powder.
Take 100 g of powder.
Put 300 g of honey in it.
Mix thoroughly.

This mixture can be taken 3 times a day in a tablespoon with tea. It is recommended as a prophylactic for ARVI, fatigue, headache.

Preparation of alcohol tincture

Take 20 g of dry echinacea.
Pour 200 g of vodka.
Infuse for 14 days, shaking occasionally.

In therapeutic doses, the tincture is taken 30 drops 3 times a day, it can be diluted with water.

Decoction preparation

Take 1 teaspoon of dried echinacea herb.
Pour in a glass of boiling water.
Hold in a water bath for 15 minutes.
Leave for 1 hour.

Take a decoction 3 times a day for ½ cup. Instead of dried grass, fresh leaves and flowers can be used.

Today, echinacea has become wildly popular among plants. They began to actively grow it in their gardens and dachas. This is due not only to the fact that echinacea is a medicinal crop. It is also a beautiful ornamental and honey plant. However, it is loved most of all because of its medicinal properties.

Therefore, in this article, we would like to take a closer look at practical issues: when, and in what way is it best to harvest echinacea? How to use it?

So, all parts of this amazing plant have medicinal properties - leaves, root, inflorescences. They are rich in biologically active compounds, phenolic substances (among which chicory acid is of particular value), polysaccharides, alkylamides and many other components. It is these substances that provide the bactericidal, immunostimulating, regenerating effect of drugs from echinacea. Probably everyone remembers the burning taste and stiffness (like from lidocaine) of the tongue when you gnaw a piece of a root or a seed. This is the action of alkylamides.

Recent studies have proven that the polysaccharides found in this plant are one of the most beneficial compounds for improving immunity. Thus, echinacea stems also need to be applied, despite the fact that they do not look very presentable. It is in the stems that a large amount of these healing substances accumulate.

When do you start harvesting raw materials? The fact is that echinacea is a perennial plant, so we advise you to use the aerial parts. This can be done successfully for many years in a row. If you need rhizomes with roots, then do not forget to plant new plants in the spring.

To be treated at home, it is not necessary to use echinacea rhizomes and roots. Of these, most often make tincture. For this, fresh and dry raw materials are suitable. Remember that not everyone can use alcohol tincture for medicinal purposes, there is an individual intolerance to alcohol or the drug itself. The tincture is more suitable for treating abrasions and wounds, rubbing the face, gargling, in general, for external use. Also, not everyone is recommended to take a decoction of the roots. Remember that the effect of a decoction of rhizomes and the effect of using herbs is the same. Only you can choose...

Harvest rhizomes in September-October, after the seeds are ripe, or in early spring, before the growing season begins. Dig up the rhizomes, then wash, cut into pieces with a knife, rinse again if necessary, and dry. Here you have to be careful! Dry at a temperature of no more than 40-60 C. If you do not dry the roots, they can be destroyed by mold. When the raw material starts to break down, it means that it is already well dried. Where you are dealing with harvesting rhizomes, do not forget to control that no soft tissue remains. Next, pour the pieces into a jar or cloth bag. Keep roots in the dark.

The aerial part is harvested and used at different times. From young plants, when a rosette is just formed, you can safely cut off the leaves in early autumn, because they will die off quickly anyway. You can dry it whole, or you can cut it into pieces. But still, it’s better to cut it: it will dry faster, and it will be more convenient to use raw materials.

In the spring, when echinacea is just starting to grow, you can start harvesting it. Do not overdo it, otherwise there will be no flower left later. The best way is to use young leaves in spring, for example, add to salads. You can mix echinacea with other herbs such as nettle, dandelion, wheat germ, lettuce, etc. Cut all the ingredients, mix, salt and add olive oil. An excellent set of vitamins in one dish!

For tea and medicinal preparations, prepare leaves and inflorescences during the period when the plant is just beginning to bloom, or even shortly before the inflorescences open. At this time, they are saturated with the greatest amount of biologically active substances. Inflorescences that have faded, it makes no sense to use. After the first collection, in a couple of weeks, inflorescences form again, which can also be harvested, etc. Raw materials are best crushed and dried in a dark place.

How to make healing tea? Take a few leaves or inflorescences of echinacea, pour boiling water over it, leave for 15-20 minutes, and apply. You can take honey and drink it with infusion. Do not dissolve in a drink, namely drink it down.

The state of immunity is an indicator of human health. There are many drugs in pharmacies that increase the body's resistance. Along with synthetic drugs, very often use products based on plant materials. Echinacea is used as an immunostimulant - the beneficial properties and contraindications of this beautiful flower do not find unequivocal reviews from doctors.

Origin and description

Echinacea purpurea is often used to decorate the area in front of houses and in public places. This unpretentious flower was born in the eastern United States. Echinacea grows in Eastern Europe, the UK and almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation. This is a tall perennial from the Compositae family (grows up to 120 cm). The plant pleases the eye with bright flowering for more than 2 months and remains cut for a long time.

Echinacea was used as a medicine by the Indians who inhabited North America. They noticed that sick deer recovered by eating this plant. The indigenous inhabitants of the continent endowed the plant with sacred functions and used it as a universal remedy. Echinacea was believed to cure itching from insect bites, toothache, and even serious swelling. For the manufacture of medicinal potions, the Indians used the whole plant - flowers, leaves, stem and roots.

After the discovery of America, Europeans began to explore the beneficial properties of many plants, including echinacea. It was considered one of the most effective germ killers until the discovery of antibiotics. Now more than 200 medicines are made on the basis of echinacea, in Europe and the USA more than a tenth of all dietary supplements are made from this plant.

Some scientists doubt the effectiveness of echinacea as a means to strengthen the immune system. To date, the opinions of scientists agree only that preparations made from Echinacea purpurea help to cope with diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Important! But most doctors successfully use and treat diseases.

Active Ingredients of Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea has a unique chemical composition in which the components organically complement each other. So, in the composition of the plant:

antioxidants, essential and fatty oils;
polysaccharides and glucose;
chemical elements - selenium, calcium, potassium, silver, zinc and others;
organic acids and resins.
vitamins - A, C, E.

Due to this composition, echinacea is used to make preparations for hematopoiesis, strengthen nails, hair and teeth. The selenium content makes the plant an ideal component for dietary supplements. The action of selenium is enhanced by vitamins C and E - they help to remove free radicals from the body. All this prevents the development of malignant neoplasms and cell aging.

The combination of minerals and vitamins has endowed echinacea with unique antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. Due to the content of a large number of polysaccharides in the body, damaged tissues are restored and interferons are produced.

Scientific studies have found that regular intake of echinacea doubles the amount of leukocytes in the blood and increases the protective functions of the liver in hepatitis.

For the manufacture of medicines, all parts of a plant that has reached 2 years are used. The roots of the plant are harvested in autumn or spring. Inflorescences and leaves are collected in summer, during the flowering period. The resulting plant material is dried in a darkened room.

Echinacea has found its main use as an immunostimulating agent. In addition, the plant has other useful properties:

Plant-based preparations are successfully used in cancer - the active substances remove accumulated radionuclides.
Echinacea is popularly known as the cleanser due to its ability to cleanse the liver, lungs and kidneys.
Reception of echinacea promotes the speedy healing of wounds and fractures.
The active components of the plant (especially the roots) prevent cell aging and reduce the likelihood of tumor formation.
For men, echinacea is also useful - it enhances potency very well.

How to apply

The course of taking drugs based on echinacea should not exceed one month.

The use of teas and decoctions

The use of tea made from any part of Echinacea has been successfully used to eliminate the effects of antibiotics and prevent colds. To do this, crushed leaves, inflorescences and roots (about 2 tablespoons) are poured into 500 ml of boiling water and insisted for at least half an hour. To prevent acute respiratory infections and strengthen immunity, you need to drink a glass of drink a day. The course of admission is 1 month.

A decoction of echinacea is used for pain in the joints, swelling. It is used to normalize vision and pressure, to improve appetite and strengthen the body.

Echinacea decoction is prepared as follows:

A teaspoon of the crushed plant is poured into a glass of boiling water and placed in a water bath for at least 15 minutes.
The liquid is filtered through 2-3 layers of gauze, cooled and taken 70 ml 3 times a day before meals.
The decoction retains its medicinal properties for two days. You need to store it in the refrigerator.

In diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including chronic bronchitis and pneumonia, a decoction of echinacea and other herbs helps.

Alcohol tinctures

Alcohol tincture of echinacea has its own indications for use (you can read about this), as a rule, it is used for kidney stones. For women, echinacea is indispensable for the treatment of gynecological problems, especially with.

Echinacea tincture can be freely bought at the pharmacy. However, making it at home is very easy. You can use any part of the plant depending on the disease.

2 teaspoons of crushed rhizomes of the plant are poured into 100 ml of medical alcohol and infused for a week in a room without access to light.
Take the remedy before meals, 20 drops 3 times a day.
It helps very well with gastritis and ulcers, normalizes metabolism during weight loss.

For men, an alcohol tincture is made from a fresh plant. To do this, crushed leaves and stems are placed in a vessel and poured with vodka or alcohol. The liquid should cover the plant by about 2-3 cm for 3 weeks, the container should be in a dark room. Daily use of 30 drops of tincture three times a day for a month removes everything.

To strengthen the body in diseases of the reproductive system in women, 2 teaspoons of echinacea flowers and leaves (you can use dry and fresh) are poured into 100 ml of vodka. The tincture is kept for 2-3 weeks. For 2 weeks, take half a teaspoon 30 minutes before meals.

Echinacea tincture successfully copes with meningitis. To do this, 20 grams of crushed inflorescences are poured with 100 grams of alcohol and infused for 2 weeks. 30 drops of the drug are dissolved in water or tea and taken 3 times a day.

The extract obtained from echinacea has a very powerful effect on the body. It perfectly removes nervous strain and fatigue, improves mood and performance. Regular use of the extract will prevent colds during seasonal epidemics, and soothe shattered nerves.

Attention! The intake of this form of the plant should be dosed. Adults - no more than 8 drops, children 3-5 depending on age.

Oil infusion

For the treatment of all forms of tuberculosis, it is very effective to ingest an oily infusion of dried inflorescences or raw roots. To do this, 500 grams of raw materials are poured into 2500 ml of vegetable oil (preferably unrefined). For 30–40 days, the infusion is stored in a dark place, periodically shaking vigorously. Strained infusion is mixed with two liters of sea buckthorn and taken orally in a tablespoon 3 times a day.

Contraindications

Like any medicine, especially herbal medicine, Echinacea purpurea has contraindications and limitations. Echinacea-based preparations are not recommended:

during pregnancy and lactation;
people suffering from chronic hypertension;
with diabetes, autoimmune disorders and leukemia;
with intolerance or allergy to echinacea;

There are some restrictions for children:

before reaching 2 years of age, children are strictly contraindicated in the use of echinacea;
from 2 to 12 years old, children can be given extract, decoctions and teas of echinacea;
after 12 years, you can give a tincture of the plant for alcohol, diluted with water or juice.

Attention! Do not use echinacea during the hot season. This significantly increases the risk of chronic infection, pressure drops and deterioration of well-being.

Preparations made on the basis of echinacea are a panacea for many diseases. It is used as a prophylactic against seasonal colds in children and adults, to strengthen immunity and with constant stress.

Echinacea is an unpretentious ornamental plant of great value in medicine. It blooms for a long time, so it is ideal for decorating personal plots. Also included in many...