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.