Echinacea has long been touted as an effective herbal remedy for the common cold. Recently, it’s been getting more and more attention from those who want to harness the medicinal benefits of nature because, as it turns out, this flowering plant has more to offer than just zapping a cold.
Although you can always buy Echinacea in capsule, tincture and tea form at numerous health food shops online and offline, you may choose to grow the well-known herb in your own garden. Whether or not you have a green thumb, you are not going to have a hard time cultivating it. Aside from the fact that your garden will look marvelous with the plant’s bluish-pink or orange-brown blooms, you will also have a steady source of all-natural remedies for a variety of maladies.
It is said that every part of Echinacea that is above ground level may be used for an assortment of medicinal and health purposes. The leaves and flowers contain polysaccharides that are known to support the immune system, making the mentioned parts of the herb highly effective in dealing with infections and allergies.
This does not mean, however, that the roots are useless. In fact, volatile oils concentrated in the roots of Echinacea are known to have superb antimicrobial properties. In certain countries, the herb’s roots are actually approved by the government as effective natural remedies for the likes of urinary tract and upper respiratory tract infections.
The following are some of the reasons why growing Echinacea in your garden is a phenomenal idea:
Echinacea Helps Provide Relief From Various Types of Pain
Headaches, toothaches, sore throats, abdominal pain — all of these can be remedied by taking Echinacea in tea form. Traditional healers use the herb in treating various types of pain, and that is why having the plant in your garden can keep you from the need to always swallow painkillers that tend to come with unfavorable side effects. You may also make a poultice out of Echinacea leaves and flowers, and apply it to aching muscles and joints.
It Helps Prevent and Even Cure Cancer
Drinking Echinacea tea daily may help lower your risk of ending up with cancer due to the herb’s ability to prevent the growth and spread of cancer cells. This is possible due to the impressive amounts of cancer-fighting phytochemicals in Echinacea. In fact, the herb is so powerful that it is now being recommended to be used alongside conventional remedies for cancer. There are instances, too, wherein it is being used as a sole replacement for conventional therapies!
The Herb is Good for Soothing the Nerves and Lifting the Mood
It is said that taking Echinacea capsules can be very beneficial for those who are battling anxiety. However, the dosage should only be limited to 20 milligrams — no more, no less — in order for a person to benefit from the anti-anxiety properties of the herb. Echinacea is also very good against social phobias and even depression. What’s more, the herb is being regarded as an excellent all-natural treatment for ADD and ADHD.
Echinacea is Highly Effective in Curing Upper Respiratory Problems
Just like what’s mentioned earlier, Echinacea is being used as an herbal remedy for the common cold for so many years now. However, it’s not just a cold that this flowering plant can deal with, but also a host of other issues concerning the upper respiratory tract. Drinking Echinacea tea is said to be effective against the flu, strep throat, sinusitis and whooping cough. Taking the herb in capsule form is more effective against severe issues like tuberculosis.
It Helps Promote Regular Bowel Movement
The inclusion of fiber-rich foods in the diet and the intake of plenty of water help normalize bowel movement. Those who are having a bout of constipation may also take Echinacea tea in order to help manage the condition as well as its accompanying symptoms like gas and bloating. It is not a good idea to take more than a couple of cups of Echinacea tea per day in battling constipation.
