Echinacea

December 20, 2004

I just wanted to clear the air a bit about Echinacea, I am in fact an herbalist,

and thought that since you metnioned a few things about the herb, and other

herbs, I would take this opportunity to also share a good immune system boosting

strategy.....

Echinacea can in fact be taken for up to eight weeks, with no side effects, so

you can take it longer term. You should go about a week, without taking it, and

then you can resume taking it.A good way to take this herb and to know if it is

strong is to take it in tincture. Taken this way it will make the lips and

tongue tingle. This is a good indication if you have bought a high quality

product. There are in fact 9 different species of echinacea. Only three are of

use medicinally, often times manufacturers will trick you if you buy a

commercial product as the other six are very cheap. Echinaea is in the daisy

family. The three are, and you should always look for these three if you buy

echinaea.... angustifolia, pallida and purpurea. This is very important. Here

is a better strategy though for overall boosting of the immune system, and what

I generally recommend to people I treat.Of course every case is different.

There are six herbs that are really good for boosting the immune

system. I recommend taking them on a three week rotation cycle. Three weeks

than move on to the next herb. I recommend taking them in this order. Licorice

root, then echinacea, cats's claw, astragalus. pau d'arco, and then golden seal.

There are many reasons for this cycle. We start off with licorice root to boost

the T-cell count, which is extremely important. Echinacea, boosts the cells

production of interferon, an innate virus fighting compound.Cat's claw not only

boosts the immumne system but inhibits inflammation., good to take for cancer,

arthritis, and many other things. Astragalus enhances the bodies overall

resistence to disease increasing stamina and vitality. Here is an interesting

fact about astragalus. A study revealed that is astragalus was taken within 36

hours of a heart attack it could strengthen the left ventricle of the heart

enabling the heart to pump more blood, and it was compared to a prescription

drug nifedipine, used to treat angina(chest pain) and ti won

hands down, being more effective. It has no side effects and can be taken

longer term. Pau d' arco is wonderful for vaginal yeast infections, you can use

it as a vaginal douche, and it is great against bronchitis. Golden seal among

many other things enhances the white cells in the body. Very beneficial!! It

will also kill warts, as will pau d'arco. Apply either of these two herbs

directly to the wart.

This herbal rotation is good to take during the winter months especially

when the body is mobilizing all it's forces to protect against cold an flu

virus. WITH LOVE MARK

Kathleen Pelley <kmpelley wrote:

I took a ten-month class in herbal medicine about 15 years ago. Ehinacea is an

immune booster, but you should not take it for longer than about two weeks. It

works best if you take large doses of it for short periods of time. It is also

most effective against viruses. When you develop a secondary infection, you

need to switch to another form of immune booster--I usually take an

echinacea/goldenseal mixture. I have had equally good luck with tinctures and

pills, but I have a good source of herbal pills in bulk at my local coop. Good

quality echinacea should be organically raised. Be careful about buying things

called " wild harvested " , because in the wild it is endangered--it is a native of

the United States and the native Americans originally introduced it to the

pioneers.

I just came from my son's wedding reception in which they very nicely had a

vegan plate with delicately flavored tofu and vegies with rice just prepared by

the caterer for me. I have a geat new daughter-in-law. The reception was held

on a ship that saled out of Berkeley, California and around San Francisco Bay

with a jazz band on board. These jazz musicians were all my son's friends who

put on quite a show. My son sat in periodically with his tenor sax. It was a

beautiful and magical day with perfect weather.

Kathleen

In San Mateo but usually hailing from Eureka CA

Morgan <baby.gabrielle wrote:Thanks, Laura - i will check it out

and see if

I can find echinacea in that form to take.

I have always just drank the tea - not the best

way to get the benefits of echinacia, i'm sure

~~Morgan~~

Gabrielle and Faith's momma

Pro-Life, Christian, Vegetarian

I will speak up for the little ones

www.fatspider.com

-

Laura Moore

Saturday, December 18, 2004 4:25 AM

Re: cancer fighters

Morgan,

sorry to hear about your health problems. I definitely recommend echinacea.

I'd also say take the tincture rather than the tablets. It is expensive but

worth it. The tincture works straight away and is a more pure form - or so i've

heard. I have also been told by a complementary therapy practitioner that you

cannot overdose on the stuff. It says you should take it and then have a break

but she told me its fine to take it every day. It doesn't have any harmful side

effects and you can't over do it. Obviously this is one POV and do check it out

but just thought i'd let you know what i was told.

Laura x

Win a castle for NYE with your mates and Messenger

October 19, 2005

Herbalists consider Echinacea one of the best blood purifiers and an effective antibiotic. It activates the body's immune system increasing the chances of fighting off any disease. This popular herb has been used to help ward off the common cold and to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. The Plains Indians used various species of echinacea to treat poisonous insect and snake bites, toothaches, sore throat, wounds, as well as mumps, smallpox, and measles. The settlers quickly adopted the therapeutic use of the plant, and since that time it has become one of the top selling herbs in the United States. Since the early 1900's hundreds of scientific articles have been written about echinacea. Most of the research during the past 10 years has focused on the immunostimulant properties of the plant.

The constituents of echinacea include essential oil, polysaccharides, polyacetylenes, betain, glycoside, sesquiterpenes and caryophylene. It also contains copper, iron, tannins, protein, fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. The most important immune-stimulating components are the large polysaccharides, such as inulin, that increase the production of T-cells and increase other natural killer cell activity. Fat-soluble alkylamides and a caffeic acid glycoside called echinacoside also contribute to the herb's immune empowering effects.

It has been shown in animal and human studies to improve the migration of white blood cells to attack foreign microorganisms and toxins in the bloodstream. Research suggests that echinacea's activity in the blood may have value in the defense of tumor cells.

Echinacea properties may offer benefit for nearly all infectious conditions. Studies show echinacea prevents the formation of an enzyme which destroys a natural barrier between healthy tissue and damaging organisms. Echinacea is considered an effective therapeutic agent in many infectious conditions including upper respiratory infections, the common cold and sinusitis. The herb is a mild antibiotic that is effective against staph and strep infections.

Echinacea aids in the production of interferon has increases antiviral activity against, influenza (flu), herpes, an inflammation of the skin and mouth. It may reduce the severity of symptoms such as runny nose and sore throat and reduce the duration of illness.

Echinacea's antibacterial properties can stimulate wound healing and are of benefit to skin conditions such as burns, insect bites, ulcers, psoriasis, acne and eczema. It's anti-inflammatory properties may relieve arthritis and lymphatic swelling.

It has also been used in homeopathy treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome, indigestion, gastroenteritis, and weight loss.

Part Used: Root, dried; also liquid extract and juice. Often used in combination with goldenseal or vitamin C.

Common Use: Echinacea products are used as a general nonspecific stimulant to the immune system, supporting and stabilizing cellular immunity and cleansing the blood, for the prevention and treatment of infections. There are no known side effects associated with it's use.

http://www.kcweb.com/herb/echin.htm