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Psicología del Amor

Echinacea: properties and uses of this great immunostimulant plant

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia either Echinacea purpurea) is probably the best known North American medicinal plant and used in Western phytotherapy. It has earned the unanimous agreement of experts in considering it one of the most effective herbal remedies for strengthen the immune system. Today it is used to relieve various respiratory conditions such as colds, flu, pharyngitis, bronchitis or respiratory allergies and is also considered very effective for the treatment of dental and dermatological disorders, for example herpes.

However, the history of echinacea as a medicinal remedy reveals that the discovery of these immunostimulant properties is relatively recent.

It is known that up to fourteen native people of north america They used echinacea to protect themselves from health problems as diverse as toothache, inflammation of the tonsils or snake bites.

In 1870, Dr. Meyer incorporated this native knowledge into his own formulas to purify blood and heal bites. Just two decades later, in 1887, the plant was integrated into the practice of conventional medicineespecially in the treatment of dermatological problems such as abscesses, boils and eczema.

In 1910 American researchers discovered those immunostimulating propertiesand twenty years later it was taken to Germany, where this plant has had great success and has been the subject of numerous studies.

With the discovery of antibiotics, their use declined, but in recent decades their properties have led to a resurgence of interest in their applications and have popularized their use in many sectors of the Western population. Although there is still some controversy about the properties and benefits of echinacea due to the conclusions of different scientific studies, countless products containing echinacea can currently be found on the market.

Echinacea properties

Preparations with echinacea come from up to nine different species of this same genus. The most used are:

  • Echinacea angustifolia
  • Echinacea purpurea
  • Echinacea pallida

These three species of echinacea They grow in the American Midwest naturally, but its cultivation has spread to other places in America, Europe and Asia. They are also highly valued plants in gardening.

The echinacea with greater therapeutic potency would be the first, the narrow-leaved echinacea: the Echinacea angustifolia DC

For therapeutic purposes The part of the plant that is mainly used is the root and, to a lesser extent, its flowering tops, that is, its large floral heads and upper leaves. Both parts of the plant are used equally, although they do not share the same active ingredients:

  • Echinacea root: Contains cynarin and caffeic, chlorogenic and chicoric acids, traces of alkaloids, resins and polysaccharides (sugars)
  • Flowering tops: They contain essential oil, with borneol and caryophyllene, among other volatile substances. Also anthocyanosides in their pigments.

Due to this composition, different health properties are attributed to echinacea:

  • Immunostimulant properties
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Bacteriostatic properties
  • Anti-thermal properties
  • Sudorific properties
  • Anti-allergic properties
  • Digestive properties
  • Choleretic properties
  • Antifungal properties
  • Healing properties

How it acts on the skin

At the epidermal level, echinacea blocks hyaluronidase, thereby prevents the spread of infectionstimulating the transformation of fibroblasts into fibrocytes, and favoring the tissue regeneration and healing.

That is why they are prepared with echinacea ointments and compresses for skin irritation and burnsand is also included in many formulations of facial and body creams (combined with lanolin), mouthwashes, soaps and toothpastes.

How it acts on the immune system

Echinacea influences macrophages, enhancing the ability of these cells to engulf and eliminate or neutralize pathogens foreign, such as bacteria or virus-infected cells.

Its glycoproteins act on some families of lymphocytes of the immune system, stimulating cytokine production and increasing interferon levels (which is the cellular response to the attack of viruses and other microorganisms) and properdinaa non-specific indicator that defines the body’s resistance capacity.

What is echinacea used for?

The great protective and healing capacity of Echinacea has made it an exceptional herbal remedy with multiple benefits. It is primarily used for:

  • Stimulate defenses not specific to the organism and increase defenses against the incidence of infections.
  • Prevent and treat bacterial and viral infections that affect the respiratory tract, such as flu, bronchitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis and tonsillitis
  • Rreduce the tenths of fever in respiratory, digestive or urinary infections, since echinacea is a very effective antipyretic.
  • Try different dermatological problems common, such as the appearance of dermatitis, eczema, boils, abscesses, and on minor wounds, sores, hives, burns and non-serious scalds.
  • Treat mouth conditionssuch as canker sores, tongue inflammation or glossitis, oral candidiasis and irritations of the oral walls.
  • Echinacea extract is intended for the treatment of genital herpesbut some studies do not give it a very relevant effectiveness at this point.
  • Treat the ear pain due to infectiononly internally in the form of a herbal tea, never directly topically on the ear.

However, the benefit for which it has deserved worldwide recognition is its important ability to strengthen the immune systemwidely demonstrated by clinical studies. There are various scientific studies that support, with nuances, the effectiveness of the different species of Echinacea in the treatment of flu and other respiratory conditionsas an antiviral and antipyretic remedy.

How to use echinacea

Echinacea can be used in different ways, depending on the presentation:

  • Alcoholic tincture. Up to 50 drops of echinacea tincture are indicated, dissolved in water, three times a day, for a maximum of 10 days. Not suitable for children.
  • Liquid extract. It is ideal for children. It is indicated in viral conditions of the respiratory system, 25 drops in 3 daily doses, dissolved in juice or water.
  • Echinacea syrup with propolis. It is mixed with propolis, sage and plantain. You can take up to 3 tablespoons a day.
  • Juice. The doses are up to 60 drops of echinacea in 3 daily doses in the first phase, to be progressively reduced to 40 and 30 drops in treatments that do not exceed 12 days. They can be safely administered to children over 2 years of age.
  • In infusion. A decoction of the root is made using Echinacea angustifoliasometimes combined with elderberry or licorice. Three cups of this echinacea infusion are taken per day, in discontinuous treatments.
  • In tablets or capsules. 400 or 500 mg, up to 4 units per day, to strengthen immune defenses.
  • Topical use. Restorative and healing echinacea ointments and creams or tincture dressings diluted in water are used to relieve epidermal disorders.
  • In the form of a rinse or mouthwash. The decoction of echinacea, purified, is used to make mouthwashes or use as a mouthwash.

Echinacea and propolis, an ideal combination

In herbalists and some pharmacies, various echinacea products are offered with propolis, a combination rich in vitamin C that accentuates its anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant benefits.

It often occurs in syrupbut also in vialsin drops of extract and in capsules.

Is echinacea suitable for children?

Echinacea is suitable for children taken in the form of syrup or infusionin doses appropriate to their age. Echinacea helps to increase their defenses and can protect them against some infections.

However, it is preferable to avoid using presentations in the form of an alcoholic tincture, as well as overly concentrated infusions (no more than 4-5 g of dry plant).

How to take echinacea for…

Increase defenses

To increase defenses and prevent respiratory infections you can prepare this simple echinacea infusion.

  1. Mix equal parts echinacea, gentian, licorice, elderberry and star anise.
  2. Separate one tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water.
  3. Boil for 3 minutes, let it rest for 10 more minutes and strain.
  4. Add agave or stevia syrup to offset the bitter taste of the gentian.

Up to three glasses of infusion are taken a day.

Earache

For otitis or ear pain you can do a preparation of medicinal plants with juice:

  1. Mix echinacea, thyme and mullein in equal parts.
  2. Separate a teaspoon of this mixture and add it to a glass with the juice of one or two lemons.
  3. Drink the preparation three times a day.

You can also make a infusion of echinacea with thyme, mullein and mint:

  1. Mix the plants in equal parts.
  2. Separate one tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water.
  3. Boil for two minutes, let it rest and add the juice of one lemon.
  4. Drink up to three glasses a day, until the earache subsides.

Pharyngitis

To relieve pharyngitis you can prepare this Echinacea rinse for gargling:

  1. Place a tablespoon of root E. angustifola in a glass of water.
  2. Boil the mixture for five minutes, strain and let it rest for a few minutes.
  3. Gargle with the preparation three times a day.

Echinacea Side Effects

A study carried out by Australian researchers has brought to light the existence of possible adverse effects of echinacea in oral use, in the form of allergic reactions.

They would be unforeseeable effects, which could affect allergic people, prone to developing allergies to pollen from trees like willows and poplars, to grass and plants of the Compositae family.

The echinacea allergy would manifest with various symptoms such as throat irritation, asthmatic attacks, rashes on the fingers and toes, cough and in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. The Australian study noted that one in five allergic patients You could develop symptoms after taking echinacea preparations.

On the other hand, the echinacea preparations in liquid form taken orally have caused a slight irritation on lips and tongue in some people and can increase salivation.

Contraindications

Echinacea is also contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation and in children under two years of age due to the presence of alkaloids.

It is also not recommended for diabetics and patients with immunodeficienciesmultiple sclerosis and tuberculosis.

You should consult your doctor in case of lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

If you are taking medications that affect the immune system, sedatives, antidepressants and certain analgesics against…

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