Echinacea

Probably one of the most talked about and widely known herbal remedies today is Echinacea. It is often said to be the “end all, cure all” way for boosting the immune system. It is time for skeptics to take a close look at what modern science has to say about the benefits of this wonder herb.

According to recent scientific studies, Echinacea has been known to help heal wounds when applied topically and when ingested it is suggested to give the immune system an extra boost to help ward off infection.What exactly is Echinacea?As stated, Echinacea is a one of the most popular, widely known herbal remedies in the world today. While there are scientific studies that support the claims of healing and immune system boosting, it is still unclear exactly how far-reaching the benefits and uses are.

We do know that Echinacea has been used for hundreds of years by numerous cultures worldwide. Some people may also know Echinacea by its other name, coneflower. That is because this herb is a wildflower that grows freely in meadows and wet valleys typically in the Midwest region of the United States. While the medicinal benefits have been talked about, it also has a superficial value in gardens thanks to the beautiful purple blossoms that it has.

Benefits
Echinacea works in the body by boosting the immune system through white blood cell stimulation. The white blood cells are the agents in the body that fight against infection or illness. Echinacea is being heavily researched at the moment to see how it can help people that are fighting AIDS and cancer. This is because we still do not know the full effect the immune system has on combating these terrible diseases.
Echinacea has also been suggested to be very effective in treating respiratory ailments such as the common cold. There have been some studies that have also shown that there is a medicinal benefit when using Echinacea as an antifungal or antiviral agent. Studies are still ongoing to see just how effective Echinacea is when used for these purposes.
There are some parts of Europe where they are using Echinacea as an IV supplement treatment to help combat some forms of cancer. There are other medical professionals in Europe that also deliver Echinacea via injection to help treat urinary tract infections.
If you suffer from psoriasis or eczema, applying Echinacea topically can help relieve itching and promote healing, which is music to the ears of sufferers who know how itchy and embarrassing these conditions can be.

How to Take Echinacea
One way to get the health benefits of Echinacea is by making a tea: simply put 1-2 teaspoons of Echinacea in a cup of water then heat slowly until it comes to a boil. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. There are also tablet supplement forms of Echinacea that you can buy in the health food section of many grocery stores or vitamin outlets (as well as on the internet).

If you are looking to feel better quicker or simply avoid getting sick all together consider taking Echinacea daily.