Hello My Name Is: Echinacea

Tell us About Yourself: Echinacea is a purple coneflower and is the best known herb for stimulating the immune system. Echinacea was used
frequently by Native American tribes for a wide variety of conditions. At least 14 tribes used echinacea for ailments such as coughs, colds,
sore throats and infections. It was even used by the Dakotas as a veterinary medicine for their horses. In 1887, echinacea was introduced into US medical practice, and has since grown in popularity globally.

What Do You Bring To The Plate: Thousands of Europeans and Americans use echinacea against colds, flu, minor infections and other major and minor ailments. It has been used to treat some of the following:

• Colds, coughs and flu and other upper respiratory conditions
• Enlarged lymph glands, sore throat
• Urinary tract infections
• Other minor infections
• May help combat herpes and candida
• Wounds, skin regeneration and skin infections (external use)
• Psoriasis, eczema and inflammatory skin conditions

Let’s Get Together: Echinacea is available in capsules containing a powder of the dried plant or root, and also as a tincture (an alcohol-based preparation). In some cases, people drink pressed juice from fresh plants. For treating skin conditions, special preparations containing pressed juice are used.

Soothing Nighttime/Immune Boosting Beverage

• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 teaspoon dried echinacea fresh edible flower (or roots)
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1 lemon, juice of, freshly squeezed
• 1 teaspoon honey (or more to taste)