A Shot Of Echinacea Is Medicine For The Garden

Echinacea, widely known as coneflower, belongs to the family of Asteraceae. They are daisy like in appearance sporting a large cone seed head which feels spiny. The Native Americans gave the coneflower its name Echinacea because the seed head reminded them of “spines of angry hedgehog”. The Greek word Echinus refers to spiny or prickly also. Echinacea has a long history in the medical arena. The native plant was used by the Native Americans for healing skin infections, sore throats, coughs, snake bites and even used it to heal their horses’ ailments. They would take the root of the Echinacea plant before the plant flowered and dry it. They then would use the powder for tonics, tinctures and poultices. In the late 1800’s a Nebraska salesman by the name of Joseph Meyer made the Echinacea tonics famous through his antics of enticing a rattlesnake to bite him. He would then drink the tonic and not get sick from the snake bite. His potion became known as snake oil. Mr. Meyer did try to determine the actual medicinal property of the Echinacea plant that was responsible for preventing and curing infections. He enlisted the help of a doctor/ professor/ herbalist back East to analyze his tonic. Professor King wanted Mr. Meyer to send him the Echinacea plant which he did. The only problem was the good doctor was trying to cure his wife’s ailment of cancer so he shelved the tonic and plant. After several months of treating his wife with the then best medicines her condition did not improve: however, a couple of months later she had a full recovery. Well the good doctor started patting himself on the back ‘til she explained to him she was taking the snake oil tonic that he had shelved and that’s what helped her. After that he did start investigating the plant and found it shrank tumors. Echinacea was widely used in medicine ‘til the 1930,s when Penicillin was discovered. At that time too the medical profession decided Echinacea had no medical attributes. Not agreeing or bending to the political atmosphere a German doctor named Gerhard Madaus decided to research the plant and came to the States to collect samples of Echinacea Angustifolia. This was the popular plant at that time; however, unbeknownst to him, he had collected Echinacea Purpurea instead. Back in Germany he made a preparation from the plant’s leaves, stalk and flowers which is called Echinanin. This is still the most popular product used today in the herbal markets of Europe and the United States. It is believed Echinacea is an immune enhancing drug that jumps starts the T cells and increases the activity of the immune system. It should only be used for a short period of time (no more than 2 weeks) then give the body a rest for two weeks before starting the cycle again. Echinacea should never be used in combination with goldseal or any product with goldseal in it. It must be noted immune conditions such as Tb, HIV, and Multiple Sclerosis should not use this product either. There are nine native varieties of Echinacea but only three have any medical properties. They are E.Angustifolia, E.Pallida and E.Purpurea. Echinacea or coneflowers are easy to grow. They thrive in zones 3-8 with full sun. They will tolerate some shade and grow in just about any soil as long as their feet aren’t soggy. They are drought tolerant, deer resistant thus making them a great plant for xenoscapes to a more established garden. The market offers many new colors and shades to add excitement to the garden especially at this time of the year when most plants are fading in the summer heat. Echinacea grows into the fall attracting many types of butterflies and wild birds. Add their dried seed to bird seed mixes too. These plants are medicine to the garden as an uplift as well as nutritional food for wild birds and other wildlife. As for their medicinal value to humans please research and ask you doctor about Echinacea before using it. Remember herbal medicines are not regulated as approved medicines are. Please visit my website www.WildBirdSeedMart.com for any wild bird products you may need as well as bird books and birdbaths.