echinacea

[Guest guest]

Since echinacea is so commonly used by our patients to self treat for

prevention and cure of colds, it seems an important herb to understand.

I recall tierra classifying this substance as clear heat and toxin, the

same category as jin yin hua and lian qiao. My favorite source for

extensive precise descriptions of western herb actions is Felter's

Eclectic Materia Medica. This source seems to concur with this

assessment to cover part of echinacea's actions, indicating it for

gangrene, ulcers, boils, abscesses. However, it is also indicated

especially in asthenic conditions, meaning essentially conditions where

the pathogen is lodged and lingering with elements of vacuity present.

Debility and emaciation with foul discharges are often present and

catarrh, an old word for phlegm, is often present.

 

It is noted that the source of the pathology is often rooted in a

disturbed balance of fluids from autoinfection, resulting in tissue

alteration. It is indeed indicated in acute infectious diseases of the

sinuses, throat and intestines. But is also indicated for foul

leucorhhea. Its effects on foul catarrh and discharge suggest it also

has a component of transforming phlegm and damp. It is specifically

said to ease expectoration. It does have a spicy quality which would

correlate with this transformative function. Its use in fermentative

dyspepsia and indigestion also lend credence to this transformative

function also extending to the qi. However, the repeated emphasis on

its use in debility suggests it is quite well indicated for chronic damp

and phlegm with heat and toxin, not just acute. It does not seem well

indicated for acute wind cold invasions, but could be a part of a

formula for windheat. However, by itself or with vitamin C, another

likely cooling medicinal, it could be problematic in an acute illness.

In TCM, acute wind heat invasions should be treated by both releasing

the exterior and clearing heat. To merely clear heat may often be

ineffective. While it does seem to have a spicy transforming property,

it does not seem to be surface relieving.

 

While it is used in debility, it also does not seem to be a qi

supplement. Perhaps the fact that it is indicated in debility does not

mean that it actually supplements vacuity, but rather is safe to use in

vacuity. This might be because its spicy transforming quality protects

the spleen against the cooling effects, so it clears heat without

injuring the postnatal root. However, it still should probably not be

used long term (more than three months) because its spiciness may

perhaps eventually deplete qi and dry up yin.

 

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Chinese Herbal Medicine