Echinacea: For First Signs of Sickness
The primary plant I call on at the first true signs of sickness (fever/achines/scratchy throat) is Echinacea Angustofolia Root Extract. This is where botanical names become important. There are many varieties of echinacea (coneflower), but the primary two used in health care are echinacea purpurea and echinacea angustofolia. Purpurea is easier to grow and establish as a garden perennial. It’s not a fussy plant, however its medicinal value is slightly inferior to echinacea angustofolia. Angustofolia is more difficult to sprout from seed and establish in the garden.
Our Echinacea Extract acts as an anti infective and immune system stimulant. It’s often called an herbal antibiotic, but it’s important to recognize how the antibiotic properties of our Echinacea Extract differ from antibiotics like Amoxicillin, commonly prescribed by a medical doctor. Amoxicillin works by preventing bacteria from growing, and killing existing gut bacteria. Our Echinacea Extract works by rapidly building white blood cells that target and fight infection. These are distinctively different actions.
I very rarely buy capsules of herbs because I do not really know what is in them. Best to buy a bulk bag of one single herb, so I’m confident it’s the plant I want.
Roots and Berries hold their medicinal properties well thru the drying process-so your and I can easily buy dried echinacea root by the pound and extract it at home.
Making your own Echinacea Extract is a simple process:
I divide one pound of Echinacea Angustofolia Root between three half gallon glass jars and put about 150 grams of root in each jar and poor 100 proof vodka on top. Seal the jar and put a label with botanical name, hundred proof and the date poured.
The desirable alkaloids found in our Extract will continued to increase in strength for a year as our echinacea roots soak in the 100 proof vodka, so it’s best to make a big batch of extract to be prepared.
Our Echinacea Root Extract is indicated for internal and external use in cases of strep and staph bacteria, sore throat, colds, flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, Urinary tract infections, tooth and gum infections, cuts and wounds, mastitis, and infections of the sinuses, lungs or blood. I frequently use our echinacea extract topically on cuts and wounds that look red and inflamed.
The standard dose of our Echinacea Extract is one dropper full per 50 pounds of body weight. One dropper full has an average of 25 drops, so we could also say the dose is one drop of echinacea extract for every two pounds of body weight.
If you’re like me, and you rely on echinacea to keep your family’s immune system on track, then buying dried root and pouring your own extract will be financially well worth the effort—or if you’re feeling ill now and need the remedy quickly, then deep gratitude is shared with the herbalists who keep high quality extracts available as items of commerce.
Cheers to the ongoing proliferation of apothecaries and home herbalists.🌿
