Pages

Saturday, April 5, 2014

E is for Echinacea


A-Z Challenge
My theme is herbs
E is for Echinacea

Just about every
gardener grows
this plant in
their flower
garden. The
common name
for this perfect
bloom is
coneflower.
Most
gardeners
who have this
plant in their
garden, do
not realize it's medicinal value.

More than any other plant in the plains states,
American natives used Echinacea as a remedy
for colds, flu and as a blood purifier because of
it's ability to increase the body's immunity and
for it's antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and
antiviral properties.

This herb should be included in the daily diet
of people whose immune system is
compromised.


43 comments:

  1. Our friends in Scotland gave us a bottle of this to take home when I caught a cold. Hubby's never not had a bottle in the house since. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rosey
      Interesting. Same with my son. It's strange for as much as I tout herbs, echinacea has never been a favorite with me. I don't know why when everyone else knows about it and loves it. I'm weird. But I do have them growing in my garden.

      Delete
    2. I don't take it, but hubby does if he's getting sick. I found Zinc works pretty darn good if I feel a cold coming on. Though nothing worked this time, drat it!

      Delete
  2. Hi Manzanita .. echinacea is such a good value herbal remedy .. good to read more and know that the Plains' Indians were enthusiastic about it ..

    Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Most of the remedies we have in this part of the country came from the plains Indians. The early settlers owed their life to the indians herbs.

      Delete
  3. My husband starts taking echinacea whenever I get a cold. He hasn't gotten sick yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somber scribbler
      Smart man, your husband. Mine never wanted to take anything

      Delete
  4. I've used it, and I guess it works. I'm seldom ill from colds when everyone around me is down for the count.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. C Lee
      It seems to be the most popular herb for sure. Everyone's heard of it or uses it. I don't use it and my garden is full of it. Go figure, huh.

      Delete
  5. We've long had these growing in the yard. I've used it, but personally, I swear by zinc. I take it every day and I haven't had a cold or the flu in over 10 years years.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Never even heard of this one, will keep it in mind when germy people get around me haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat
      Keep those germy, wormy people far away. Ha

      Delete
  7. Awesome theme for the challenge, and echinacea is my friend when the cold sets in. New follower! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David
      Thank you for visiting and becoming a new friend. I shall visit your blog shortly.

      Delete
  8. I heard that you were only supposed to take echinacea while you were sick, and not as a preventive. Is that right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin
      Don't spread this around but I never use it. I did a few times but I never coud see that it helped me so I have other favorite herbs. I have it all over my garden and people rave about it and love it but it's just now for me. I'd have to look it up but most people start taking it when they first notice colds or sore throats.
      My son, for instance swears by it and only begins taking it with the onset of something. I just pick the pretty flowers for bouquets. Ha Oh, I have used the petals in my soap making.

      Delete
  9. I reach for the echinacea whenever any of the crew or me come down with a bug. I'd like to grow it, but each time I do, nothing happens. Maybe I should just give the seeds over to the Mama to try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susiee
      I wonder why because it's just a weed and I keep pulling it out of my garden. A little too invasive. Yes, Mama can grow anything.

      Delete
  10. Hi Manzanita! I find the medicinal knowledge that Native Americans and other groups used in the past fascinating. And how that knowledge is becoming more and more recognized and validated. Thanks for becoming the most recent follower of my blog! I am enjoying yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fundy Blue
      I grew up entirely with herbs. But of course it was before the chemical drugs came into use. When very young I was a psychiatric nurse and worked in a general hospital. At first I eagerly embraced the allopathic methods and wanted to shed the old-fashioned ways (young and foolish) It took me about 3 months to figure out the old ways actually healed and I returned and never looked back.

      Delete
  11. That's what I need to take today then!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Poor Julia.... are you getting sick? A lot of pollen floating around this time of the year too. I cleanse..... not constantly....... but very often throughout the year. I just spent a week with a huge toxin release time. It was great and I love it when that happens. I then realize my efforts are paying off. The sad thing is that when this happens, most people stop and say natural healing made them ill......it's so difficult for them to realize that it is the way your body clears out the poisons. I don't know why I'm telling you this.... if you use natural plants, you already know all of this. LOL
      Hope you feel better soon. Real soon

      Delete
    2. Thanks. No, I don't use natural plants, so I'm learning from you.
      No, it's not an allergy. Its some kind of viral infection. Sore throat, low grade fever, no energy.

      Delete
  12. There is so much we need to preserve of the old remedies -so much to learn and not forget!
    Thanks for sharing.
    http://mainelywrite.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna
      The old remedies were real gems of healing. I still use them.

      Delete
  13. I have often see articles about this plant but haven't tried it.
    Merle.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Merle
      People seem to swear by it..... I don't use it but I've just thought about that and the reason I do not is prob because I haven't had a real cold in 40 years. I do have the healing crisis but on those I don't try to stop it.... but want it to continue as long as it wants.

      Delete
  14. Ooh, ooh, my favorite herb and one I won't do with out. Great for preventing colds and flu when I have been exposed to a sickie and it s killer stopping cold sores. A true winner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patti
      I'm so happy this helps you. It's always great to have some "old stand-by" herbs to rely on. We gotta avoid the sickies.

      Delete
  15. seen it but never knew it's name

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adam
      Coneflower seems to be the easiest common name. I keep thinking Conehead. Haha

      Delete
  16. It is a pretty flower; I didn't realize it was known by more than one name, but I did know its medicinal benefits.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've heard quite a lot about this one. Several years ago when the first of the big flu scares came around, people everywhere were suddenly buying teas and high strength capsules to take in order to prevent them getting flu. It's still popular.

    ReplyDelete
  18. River
    I bet you have probably grown the plant, though, since you also like gardening. I had a young kid helping with some gardening tasks and I was surprised when he recognized the plant and started talking about it's merits.

    ReplyDelete
  19. River
    It is popular and I admire it alone for the pretty flower. I have a ton of work ahead of me. When I thought I would move from this old house (Many years ago), I had small river rocks put down on all the gardens thinking it would keep out the weeds. Perhaps it did for a couple of years but then the leaves, etc composed on top and put a layer of dirt over the whole thing. Now, I want the gardens back AND there is that old decaying (sort of) black plastic...way under the layer of dirt and stones.
    I had a guy pulling it up yesterday and he's to return today. Then I have to start picking those rocks by hand. The plastic was way too hard for me to do. I'm now mad at myself for ever putting rocks in the gardens, as it didn't keep the weeds out anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I used to grow Echinacea when we lived on acreage, but I forgot to dig it up and bring it here. No matter, I don't have a good spot for it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Terry
      A yard can have too much echinacea too, There is a front yard (a few blocks from me) that is entirely all E and it's a little over powering. I worked so hard yesterday I think I pulled a muscle in my upper pecs, whatever that is called.

      Delete
  21. What a pretty flower - amazing what it can do! Thanks for the info.
    P.S. How much is the duck? lol
    (new follower)
    Lexa Cain’s Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lexa
      It's nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you are enjoying the challenge.

      Delete
  22. I've tried this one before. I didn't get sick on it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Holy Ghost
      This is a popular one and many use it and seem to benefit from it. Glad you are still healthy.

      Delete
  23. Hi Manzanita, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's such a pretty flower and so useful as a medicine. I've heard it's not wise to take continuously, but for a couple of days at a time, it's supposed to work really well.

    MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
    Writing Tips
    Effectively Human
    Lots of Crochet Stitches


    ReplyDelete