home Audience 6 Beneficial properties of Echinacea. How to prepare a healing tincture of echinacea at home. Healing plant for women's health

Beneficial properties of Echinacea. How to prepare a healing tincture of echinacea at home. Healing plant for women's health

Echinacea purpurea is a tall plant with large attractive flowers is very popular among summer residents. Echinacea not only decorates flower beds, but also has beneficial medicinal properties.

Description and chemical composition of Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea - perennial herbaceous plant from the aster family. The rhizome of the plant is short with numerous thin roots. The stems are straight, branched up to 120 cm high. The basal leaves are oval on long petioles, and the stem leaves are lanceolate and arranged in an alternate order. The leaves, like the stems, are rough to the touch. Inflorescences are large single baskets up to 15 cm in diameter, dark red and purple. Echinacea blooms from July until autumn frosts.

All parts of the plant are used as medicinal raw materials - root, stem, leaves and inflorescences. The root is harvested in early spring or late autumn. It is dug up, thoroughly washed, crushed and dried. Flower baskets, leaves and stems are collected during flowering and dried in the shade.

Echinacea contains many nutrients, beneficial for the human body. All parts of the plant are rich in microelements - magnesium, manganese, calcium, silicon, selenium, iron, vitamins A, C and E. Echinacea contains antioxidants - echinocin and echinolone, organic acids, tannins, polysaccharides, resins, essential oil.

Inulin, glucose, betaine, and phenolcarboxylic acids were found in the roots. All these unique substances included in this wonderful plant increase immunity and defenses of the body, improve blood composition, cleanse the human circulatory and lymphatic systems, strengthen bones, promote fast healing wounds and tissue restoration after operations.

Medicinal properties and uses of Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea is one of the most popular medicinal plants all over the world. Many people believe that echinacea is superior to ginseng in its healing properties and can heal many various diseases.

Echinacea has antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral properties and is used to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases - sore throat, tonsillitis, influenza, typhoid fever, diphtheria, cerebral meningitis, peptic ulcer.

Echinacea preparations can speed up the healing process purulent wounds, burns, eczema, skin rashes, take off painful sensations, protect the body from viruses, fungi and bacteria, reduce warts on the body, prevent the proliferation of E. coli, coccal infections, and the herpes virus.

This plant is a strong immunomodulator and is recommended for depression, physical and mental fatigue. Echinacea preparations strengthen immune system, help increase the body’s defenses, they are used for poisoning of the body toxic substances, medications, radiation, radiation sickness.

Echinacea purpurea is used for oncological diseases, since the substances contained in its composition alleviate the condition after a course of chemotherapy and contribute to faster rehabilitation and restoration of the body.

Infusions and decoctions from this plant have a therapeutic effect for hepatitis, cystitis, nephritis, and are used to treat gynecological inflammatory processes, diseases of the male genital area - prostatitis and adenoma.

In pharmacology, medicines, tablets, ointments, tinctures, extracts are made based on echinacea. herbal teas, biologically active additives.

IN folk medicine for treatment large quantity For diseases, teas, infusions and decoctions, alcohol tinctures, oil, juice are used, which are taken orally and used externally as lotions, rinses, medicinal baths, and compresses. Roots, leaves, and flowers are used to prepare preparations.

Contraindications for use

Echinacea purpurea is an excellent medicinal plant and has healing effect for many ailments, but Echinacea should be used for treatment only after consultation with your doctor and you should definitely familiarize yourself with the contraindications for use.

This wonderful plant, just like any medicine, has contraindications that must be taken into account so as not to harm your health.

Recommended doses should be taken; higher doses have a negative effect on nervous system, cause insomnia, increased excitability, nausea and vomiting. It is not recommended to take Echinacea preparations for more than two weeks.

Echinacea preparations improve immunity, but it should be remembered that an overdose of the drug leads to the opposite effect, to a decrease in immunity, so you need to take only the recommended dose.

The main contraindications to the use of Echinacea are:

The alcohol tincture is not recommended for children under 12 years of age, and echinacea infusions and decoctions should be used to treat children only after consultation with a pediatrician.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are contraindicated to use echinacea for treatment.

Attention! Young men should not take echinacea tincture to strengthen the immune system because alcohol tincture affects sperm motility, which leads to difficulty in fertilization.

And for men over 50 years of age, it is useful to take echinacea for the prevention and treatment of prostate adenoma.

Although Echinacea is considered safe drug, but in people with hypersensitivity to this plant it can cause allergic reactions in the form of rash, itching, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure and dizziness.

Traditional methods of treatment with Echinacea

In folk medicine, Echinacea is used to treat various diseases. Decoctions, infusions, teas, and alcohol tinctures are prepared from stems, leaves, flowers and roots.

Decoctions, infusions and tea from Echinacea improve appetite, elevate mood, normalize blood pressure, improve vision, cleanse the body of toxins and waste, slow down the aging process, restore strength after physical activity, after operations.

Teas, infusions and decoctions are drunk for swelling and insomnia, for inflammatory processes And chronic fatigue, for colds and flu, for skin diseases– eczema, boils, abscesses.

Water decoctions are used to treat stomach ulcers, headaches and joint pain.

Fresh echinacea juice can lighten freckles and age spots, treat small wounds and cuts, lubricate purulent pimples on the face. Fresh Juice leaves relieves itching and swelling from bee, wasp, and mosquito bites.

This article provides simple folk recipes that will help improve health, relieve pain, and improve well-being.

Echinacea leaf decoction

Pour one tablespoon of dry or fresh crushed leaves with a glass of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes in a water bath, leave, strain. Take 100 ml three times a day before meals.

Infusion of Echinacea leaves and flowers

Pour a tablespoon of dry raw material into half a liter of boiling water into a thermos. Leave overnight, drink 100-150 ml three times a day half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 10 days, a five-day break and repeat the course again, then you still need a five-day break and again drink echinacea infusion for 10 days. This infusion cures stomach diseases, relieves joint pain and swelling, reduces appetite, cravings for sweets and alcohol.

Infusion for the treatment of colds and flu

To prepare the infusion, you need to grind the dry root and dry leaves to a powder. Take one teaspoon of roots and one teaspoon of leaves and three dried flowers, pour two glasses of boiling water. Leave for forty minutes. Strain and drink for prevention colds one glass of infusion per day, and for treatment three times a day, a glass - morning, afternoon and evening.

Echinacea flower tea

Three fresh flower or 2 teaspoons of dried flowers, pour 0.5 ml of boiling water. Infuse, strain and drink a glass three times a day during a cold.

Alcohol tincture recipe

Pour 50 grams of dry herbs and flowers or 200 grams of fresh flowers into one liter of vodka. Leave for 20 days in a dark place, shaking the container periodically. Strain and take the tincture three times a day, 20-30 drops, half an hour before meals. Drink the tincture for 10 days, take a three-day break, drink again for 10 days and again take a three-day break, and again treat for 10 days.

Purple Echinacea - medicinal plant, which has immunomodulatory properties. Thanks to it, our body quickly copes with a variety of ailments, such as acute respiratory viral infections and influenza.

A variety of medicines are made from Echinacea, but best effect has raw materials prepared independently, since it will be free and you can be sure of freshness collected funds.

Echinacea for diseases

Purple coneflower is a plant that came from North America. Each part of it has healing properties. The roots, leaves, and flowers contain immune-stimulating substances that can destroy viruses, fungi, and bacteria.

For many years, Indians used echinacea to treat colds, diphtheria, malaria, blood poisoning and more. This plant has a lot of beneficial properties, but there are also contraindications.

Description of the plant

Echinacea purpurea is a plant from the Asteraceae genus. Almost until the mid-twentieth century, the flower was used in folk medicine, and then began to be grown as a garden crop. Since 1938 it began to be used in official medicine. Dr. Madaus conducted the study purple echinacea, after which he began to use the plant for sore throats, tonsillitis, inflammation internal organs. The list of diseases that the plant helps with is constantly growing. Later, Echinacea was officially included in the pharmacopoeias of many foreign countries, and also began to be used as medicinal raw materials in the production of various pharmaceuticals.

Chemical composition

The above-ground part of Echinacea contains many different useful elements. There are mucilages, resins, polysaccharides, essential oils, hydroxycinnamic acids, saponins, polyamides, echinacin, echinacoside, enzymes, vitamins, phytosterols, palmitic and linoleic acids.

The root contains a lot of inulin, polysaccharides, and resins. It also contains essential oil, phenol carbonic acids, betaine, echinacoside and echinacin, vitamins, enzymes and other useful elements.

Contains a lot essential oil.

Plant properties

The uses of Echinacea purpurea are very wide. This plant helps cope with many diseases, but primarily the plant is used as an immunostimulant. Pharmacological companies produce tinctures of Echinacea purpurea. It is already ready to use. The drug is made from the extract of purple echinacea or from the juice of the plant.

The herb has antibacterial, fungicidal, virusostatic and anti-inflammatory properties. Echinacea preparations are strong activators of macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes. In this way, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated: the plant gently stimulates the adrenal cortex and increases the production of hormones. Also, the medicinal preparations contained in the plant have antiallergic and antirheumatic properties.

The instructions for using Echinacea purpurea say that this plant helps with depression, ARVI, inflammatory pathologies, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, cystitis, prostatitis, as well as for wounds and ulcers, burns.

In folk medicine, decoctions, extracts, and infusions are used. The drugs are taken as antiseptic, to remove warts, during physical fatigue. Echinacea-based products show good results after treatment with antibiotics, radiation therapy and the use of cytostatics.

Echinacea can be brewed as tea to strengthen and boost the immune system. To do this, just pour boiling water over a teaspoon of raw materials in a teapot. The tea is infused for ten minutes. Take a cup once a day, but not longer than a week. It is better to alternate such teas with other remedies, taking echinacea once a week, and on other days - other vitamin teas that can strengthen the immune system.

Contraindications

The instructions for use of Echinacea purpurea say that this plant should not be used during pregnancy and lactation. The plant should not be used for leukemia, tuberculosis or in case of individual intolerance. In any case, the drug should be taken only after consulting a doctor.

Dosage of tablets and solution

Pharmacological companies produce echinacea in the form of tablets and solutions. According to the instructions, Echinacea purpurea in tablet form can be used by children over the age of twelve and adults, one tablet three times a day. For children aged six to twelve years, the drug is prescribed in a dosage of 1 tablet 1-2 times a day. Children aged four to six years are prescribed the drug one tablet once a day.

The oral solution is used three times a day in the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Be sure to dilute the solution with water before use.

The duration of treatment is no more than eight weeks.

Side effects

Echinacea - herbal remedy, which may cause side effects. Sometimes on plant preparations it happens allergic reaction in the form of itching, rash, bronchospasm. In isolated cases, anaphylactic shock occurs.

At long-term use Echinacea may cause leukopenia.

The use of echinacea during pregnancy and lactation

Scientists cannot say what effect Echinacea has on pregnancy, since such experiments have not been conducted. Because of this, it is not recommended to use the plant during pregnancy and lactation.

Echinacea alcohol tincture

The tincture can be bought at a pharmacy, or you can make it yourself at home. All parts of the plant are used for it, including rhizomes.

To prepare the tincture, you need to take fifty grams of crushed raw materials, place them in a dark glass container and fill them with alcohol (0.25 l). The product is infused for two weeks, shaken periodically. After the composition has infused, it is filtered.

Alcohol tincture is used to treat a variety of ailments. It can be used for rubbing on sore joints and making night compresses with it.

Alcohol is good for treating purulent wounds. To do this, dilute a tablespoon of tincture with a spoon of water. The resulting product is used to treat the wound.

For radiculitis and myositis, compresses are indicated. For them you will need to take a piece of cloth, moisten it with tincture and apply it to the sore spot. The top is covered with polyethylene and a scarf.

Plant infusion

Flowers are used to prepare the infusion. A teaspoon of raw material is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for two hours. Then the product is filtered. The finished infusion is used for emotional stress, as well as for chronic stress. For this purpose, a glass of the drug is drunk in small sips throughout the day.

For colds, take half a glass three times a day.

Taking an infusion to enhance potency shows good results: for this purpose, drink a glass of the infusion twice a day.

For obesity, in order to reduce cravings for sweets, it is recommended to drink half a glass of infusion before meals.

Oil

You can prepare the oil yourself, or you can buy it ready-made, especially since the price of Echinacea purpurea is low (a 50 ml tincture will cost 150 rubles).

To prepare the oil, the roots are taken, thoroughly washed and passed through a meat grinder. Then one hundred grams of the resulting slurry is poured into 0.5 liters sunflower oil and infuse in a cool, dark place for three weeks. After this, the product is filtered. Finished product stored in the refrigerator.

The oil is good for ulcers duodenum or stomach, a teaspoon of oil is mixed with the same amount sea buckthorn oil and taken orally once a day on an empty stomach. Therapy lasts two weeks.

For bronchitis, the oil is used three times a day. Be sure to drink water.

Good results are obtained from the use of echinacea products for the treatment of dermatological diseases. The oil helps with eczema and dermatitis. For treatment, it is applied to the affected areas several times a day.

For jams, lubricate the corners of the mouth every three hours for two weeks.

Echinacea decoctions

You can make decoctions from Echinacea. Flowers and leaves are used for them. Dry, crushed raw materials are poured with water and put on fire. The product is boiled for five minutes, then cooled and filtered.

The decoction helps to cope with loss of strength: to do this, drink a glass of the product, dividing it into four doses. For kidney diseases, take a decoction of one hundred milliliters three times a day.

You can use echinacea to cleanse wounds.

The plant shows good results for rashes: to cope with it, lotions are used.

Growing Echinacea

Grow echinacea on your own garden plot very simple. This plant reproduces by seeds and division of the bush. The latter method allows you to quickly obtain large plants with a powerful root system. It is best to plant Echinacea purpurea in the spring. With bush division, you can collect raw materials already in the first year.

When sowing seeds in the first year there will be no flowering. The plant actively grows its root mass and blooms in the second year. Flowering begins in mid-July and lasts until frost.

The plant is planted on sunny areas. Although it grows well in the shade. If you compare a bush in the sun and in the shade, then when grown in the shade the bushes are more powerful, with large leaves and huge flowers. There are no other differences.

Caring for Echinacea purpurea is very simple. The plant must be watered abundantly. This plant loves moisture, so it is watered very abundantly. Reacts well to fertilization. During the entire growing season, the plant is fed twice per season. At the end of September the stems are cut off.

After flowering, the seeds ripen. To get new plants, you just need to scatter them where you want to get new bushes. Next year they will sprout on their own, and a year later they will delight with abundant flowering and big amount medicinal material.

How to collect

All parts of the plant are used to treat ailments. It is collected in dry sunny weather, immediately after morning dew. When collecting rhizomes, weather conditions do not play a role.

Leaves from young plants of the first year of life are collected in the fall. In plants of the second and subsequent years of life, the leaves are cut off in the spring, as soon as they bloom. You cannot completely remove the foliage, as in this case the bush will not bloom.

The resulting greens are dried in a ventilated area. Sun rays have a detrimental effect on the workpiece, so you need to carefully choose a place for drying raw materials.

The inflorescences of the plant are collected at the very beginning of their flowering. At this time they contain a lot useful substances. After cutting, Echinacea blooms again in about three weeks.

The inflorescences are dried in the same way as the leaves. This video shows a method for brewing flowers.

Rhizomes are collected either in early spring or late autumn, after pruning the above-ground part of the plant.

All prepared raw materials are stored in glass containers or in fabric bags. Raw materials are used not only to treat diseases, but also as prophylactic agents against various ailments.

Botanical characteristics of Echinacea

Echinacea is a low perennial plant with a short rhizome with many thin roots. The stems of the plant are leafy, simple, but highly branched. The stems contain rough, alternately arranged leaves that become smaller towards the top of the stem. At the top of the Echinacea stem there is a flower basket with a ball-shaped receptacle. The flower basket consists of reed flowers, ranging in color from pink to purple. Summer is the period when Echinacea blooms and beautiful bright flowers appear on the stems. In the center of the basket there are tubular flowers - they are the ones that bear fruit.

Echinacea is distributed throughout Russia, the North Caucasus and Ukraine. It prefers to grow in full sun, fertile and at least slightly drained soil.

Echinacea propagation

Echinacea grows well in sunny areas and does not tolerate shade. It is resistant to cold and drought. Echinacea is a plant that is undemanding to soil. However, Echinacea will not grow well in light sandy soil. Echinacea is propagated in two ways: by seeds and by dividing the bush.

When propagating echinacea by seed, the seeds are sown in open and closed ground. First, prepare a box of soil. Seeds are sown in a prepared box and sand is poured on top. Immediately after sowing, water the soil, but carefully. After 14–40 days, friendly plant shoots will appear. The main thing in growing Echination seedlings is to use watering sparingly and not to let the soil dry out. In May, seedlings are transplanted from boxes to open ground. After this, regularly loosen and water the soil.

If Echinacea seeds are sown immediately in open ground, then seedlings will appear in 14–30 days.

Echination is often propagated by dividing the bush. To do this, in the spring they divide the bushes and leave them in a special solution that stimulates root growth. When cuttings are planted in the soil, their root collars should be at soil level.

Now another type of propagation of Echinacea has become widespread - meristematic. Plants propagated in this way are tiny in size. They are planted in pots with fertile soil and watered regularly. After 30–45 days from the date of planting in the pot, the plant is transplanted to a permanent place.

Growing and caring for Echinacea

To grow echinacea, select a bright and fertile area. In recent autumn days you need to cut off the stems of the plant and mulch the root collar. If echinacea is created favorable conditions, then it will grow quickly and well. Powerful plants of this species grow in fertile areas. In the spring, namely during the period active growth, it is necessary to fertilize. When the plant begins to form buds, it is fed a second time - this is where the feeding ends.

In the first year of life, the plant only develops a rosette of leaves. And already in the second year the echinacea will bloom. Flowering lasts no more than three months. If the plant is infected with rot or another disease, then fungicides are used.

Beneficial properties of Echinacea

Echinacea has beneficial properties that help in the treatment of various diseases. With the help of echinacea, they increase immunity. The plant has antiviral properties: it prevents coccal infections, harmful bacteria and viruses from multiplying. Echinacea is used for herpes, and intestinal infections. This plant is often used as a remedy that has an anti-inflammatory effect. Echinacea has the ability to heal difficult ulcers and ulcers.

Echinacea is a good anti-cold remedy, which is why it is used for ARVI and influenza. The plant contains many medicinal elements and substances, betaine being especially important. It is what prevents the symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.

Uses of Echinacea

To treat various diseases, traditional medicine uses echinacea, which is at least two years old. Medicinal raw materials plants are flowers, stems, roots and leaves. It is recommended to use echinacea internally for colds, flu, blood poisoning or diseases Bladder. Except internal use, Echinacea is still successfully and quite often used externally in the treatment of burns, herpes and other skin diseases.

Echinacea is used when exposed to heavy metals and fungicides, liver diseases, etc. Preparations made from Echinacea have a depressing effect on streptococci present in the body, coli and influenza virus.

The plant showed good results in the treatment of prostatitis, rheumatism, osteomyelitis and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Echinacea decoction lotions are used for insect bites and as an antidote to snake bites. Echinacea decoction treats stomach ulcers and brings them back to normal arterial pressure and improve the condition of the body as a whole.

Echinacea decoction. Take fresh (dried) leaves of the plant and grind them. Now pour 1 teaspoon of crushed raw materials with a glass of boiling water. Put it all on water bath for 5–10 minutes. After removing from the water bath, the broth is allowed to brew. Take it 100 ml 3 times a day before meals.

Echinacea tincture for depression. To prepare it, you need to take 10 grams of plant roots and pour 100 ml of 70% alcohol into them. The product is left to infuse for a day. Take tincture 20 (30) drops three times a day.

Echinacea for headaches. We take all parts of the plant and make powder from them. Mix the finished powder with honey. For 100 grams of echinacea powder you will need 300 grams of honey. Mix all the contents thoroughly and take it with tea three times a day. This remedy helps normalize sleep, calms the nervous system and reduces stress.

Echinacea tea for colds and flu. Take the root of the plant and grind it. Now mix 1 teaspoon of the root and the same amount of echinacea leaves with three flowers of the plant. Pour two glasses of boiling water over the entire mixture and leave for 40 minutes. Tea is taken in the amount of three glasses per day for the treatment of the disease, and as a preventive measure - one glass per day.

Echinacea tincture for constipation or gastritis. Take 20 grams of stems along with leaves and flowers and fill them with 200 ml of vodka. Leave to infuse for 14–20 days in a dark room. During the infusion period, it is necessary to periodically shake the contents. After filtering the finished tincture, it is taken three times a day, 20–30 drops before meals. The course of treatment is 1.5 weeks, after which they take a break for 3 days and again resume the course of treatment, and so on one more time. This tincture can treat diseases of the female genital organs, kidney or bladder diseases, vascular spasms, etc.

Echinacea tincture

Alcohol tincture of Echinacea has a powerful effect on the human immune system. Regular use of this drug significantly increases the number of leukocytes, activates the phagocytic response, and can also inhibit the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. During the cold season, taking such a healing tincture will lengthen the periods between episodes of viral infections, since it activates protective immune mechanisms. In addition, the unique components that make up Echinacea will help get rid of inflammatory processes in the bladder, kidneys and ureter. It should also be noted that this wonderful tincture can be used to treat wounds for speedy healing, as well as various boils and skin inflammations. It not only increases the action of histogenic phagocytes, but also promotes tissue restoration.

To strengthen the children's body, modern pediatricians recommend giving children this tincture. It is an excellent cold remedy natural origin. Side effects at long-term use Echinacea tinctures are very rare. As a rule, these can be different allergic rashes and dizziness. In these cases, taking the tincture should be stopped immediately.

How to take Echinacea? Experts prescribe this remedy before meals (20–30 minutes) at least three times a day. Note that at the very beginning of treatment, the exact dose should not exceed 40 drops for an adult per day. In the following days maximum dosage is 60 drops. Children over 12 years old can take the tincture diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3, 5-10 drops 2 times a day.

The appropriate duration of treatment is determined by the doctor depending on the specific characteristics of the course of the disease and its severity. If well tolerated, the drug can be used in prescribed doses until a stable therapeutic effect. However, the maximum duration should not exceed 8 weeks. For external use, it is recommended to prepare a special solution. 40 drops of tincture should be diluted in 100 ml of sodium chloride. This remedy is indicated as compresses, lotions, abdominal tampons and rinses.

Echinacea for immunity

The activity of this medicine proven many years ago. This immunomodulator stimulates the production special substances, which are capable of providing cell membranes with resistance to permeation pathogens. This unique property significantly slows down the spread of microbes throughout the body. Along with this, echinacea stimulates defense mechanisms that determine the body's resistance to infectious diseases. The unique microelements of this plant enhance the phagocytosis of leukocytes and macrophages. In addition, Echinacea helps produce an antitumor factor, which prevents the appearance of destructive malignant cells.

Echinacea for children

Healing echinacea is considered one of the mandatory medications V complex treatment acute respiratory diseases in children. Moreover, it can also be prescribed as an effective prophylactic agent, allowing, due to its unique properties stimulate the body's own defenses. This wonderful plant effective against macrophages and neutrophils. Due to this effect, prescribing echinacea at the first sign viral infection, you can significantly shorten the period of the disease. It should be noted that in almost all children this plant does not cause allergic reactions.

Echinacea extract

Echinacea extract has a powerful tonic effect on the entire nervous system. It gives a feeling of vigor and also perfectly restores performance. The amazing adaptogenic properties of the plant make the body immune to unfavorable factors external environment. Besides, regular use This product perfectly relieves stress and is excellent prophylactic drug against acute respiratory infections. The immunostimulating effect will help reduce the number of colds. As an external remedy, Echinacea extract is indicated for relieving pain and healing various wounds.

The dosage of the drug for adults is no more than 8 drops, for children - from 3 to 5 drops, depending on age. For kids, you can dissolve echinacea in a small amount of water or tea.

It should be borne in mind that when chronic hypertension and overexcitation, such a drug is strictly contraindicated.

Echinacea syrup

The healing syrup of this plant helps strengthen the defense mechanisms of the immune system. Echinacea also boasts its antioxidant properties. Echinacea syrup is prescribed for various oncological manifestations. In addition, such medicinal product increases resistance healthy cells to influence harmful microorganisms. It should also be noted that Echinacea syrup normalizes the work thyroid gland and metabolism.

Contraindications to the use of Echinacea

Children under two years of age should not use echination in any form. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and people with multiple sclerosis You should also be wary of preparations made from this plant. If a person has an acute sore throat, then Echinacea tincture is contraindicated for him. In any case, you should not take Echinacea for more than one month.

Expert editor: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna| Herbalist

Education: Diploma in General Medicine and Therapy received from the University named after N. I. Pirogov (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Herbal Medicine at the Moscow People's Friendship University (2008).

Instructions for use:

Echinacea purpurea is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. It is widespread in the eastern states of the United States (along sandy river banks and on the prairies), and in Russia it is cultivated in the Caucasus and the European part as a gardening, ornamental and medicinal plant.

IN medical purposes They use flower baskets, which are collected during the flowering period, and rhizomes with roots, which are collected in late autumn.

Chemical composition

All parts of Echinacea contain polysaccharides (arabinoramnogalactans and heteroxylans), enzymes, as well as macro- and microelements (calcium, potassium, cobalt, zinc, selenium, molybdenum, manganese, silver, etc.).

The plant contains essential oil: up to 0.5% in baskets, up to 0.35% in grass and up to 0.23% in roots and rhizomes. The main components of essential oil are non-cyclic sesquiterpenes.

The roots of Echinacea purpurea also contain the following substances: glucose (up to 7%), inulin (up to 6%), phytosterols, glycosides, phenolcarboxylic acids (coumaric, chicoric, caffeic, ferulic), organic acids (linoleic, palmitic, cerotic), resins (up to 2%), fixed oils, antioxidants (echinolone, echinocin), polyamides, betaine (0.1%), cis-8 pentadecadiene.

Beneficial features

Echinacea purpurea has the following beneficial properties:

Indications for use

In folk medicine, the plant is used for flu and colds, bronchitis and pneumonia, diseases of the ENT organs, diseases of the bladder and liver, blood poisoning, diabetes mellitus, polio, smallpox, exposure to fungicides and heavy metals, snake bites.

Lotions and compresses with Echinacea are used for burns, wounds and ulcers, herpes, urticaria and other skin diseases.

Plant-based preparations have an inhibitory effect on E. coli, streptococci and influenza viruses.

Recent research has shown that echinacea is one of the most powerful and effective herbal immune system stimulants and helps the body fight many diseases and infections.

Contraindications

Preparations based on Echinacea purpurea are contraindicated for the following diseases and conditions:

HIV infections, including AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome);
autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus;
multiple sclerosis;
tuberculosis;
leukemia;
atherosclerosis;
pregnancy period;
children under 3 years of age.

Home remedies from Echinacea purpurea

echinacea infusion: take 1 tablespoon of chopped herb, pour 2 cups of boiling water, leave in a thermos for one night, then strain. Take for stomach ulcers, edema, joint pain and herpes three times a day 30 minutes before meals. Single dose – 100–150 ml. The course of treatment is 10 days. You can spend two repeat courses with breaks of 5 days;
Echinacea decoction: take 1 teaspoon of crushed plant herb, pour 1 glass of boiling water, hold in a water bath for 15–20 minutes, leave to infuse for 30 minutes, then strain. Take to boost immunity, strengthen memory and attention, relieve stress and normalize vision three times a day before meals. Single dose – 1/3 cup. The course of treatment is 10 days. After a 5-day break, the course can be repeated;
Echinacea tea: take 2 teaspoons of crushed plant herbs, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes, then strain. Drink 1-2 cups daily. This tea stimulates the immune system, rejuvenates and cleanses the entire body, helps with flu and colds, ulcers, abscesses, eczema and various inflammatory processes, promotes rapid recovery after surgery or long-term illness;
Echinacea tincture: take 50 g of crushed herb, pour 1 liter of vodka and leave for 2-3 weeks in a dark place, shaking occasionally, then strain. Take for female and male infertility, prostate adenoma, to enhance potency, for female inflammatory processes, gastritis, stomach ulcers, obesity, vascular spasms three times a day 20–30 minutes before meals. Single dose – 20–30 drops. The course of treatment is 10 days. You can conduct two repeated courses with breaks of 3 days;
lotions and compresses: take 1.5 tablespoons of crushed plant herbs, pour 1 glass of boiling water and leave in a thermos for 2-3 hours, then strain. Use in the form of compresses and lotions for psoriasis, eczema, boils, ulcers, pimples, acne, herpes, urticaria, burns, wounds, warts, abscesses, to remove age spots and freckles, insect bites and streptococcal infections.

Our immunity is subject to serious pressure every day. Ecology, food, and a sedentary lifestyle cause a serious blow to health. To strengthen and increase the body's resistance, you should use natural materials.

The effect of echinacea on the body’s immune system is due to its composition:

The herb Echinacea has contraindications. To avoid its negative effects on the immune system and the body, you need to consult a therapist.

Beneficial features

The following components bring benefits:

Iron. Important element For circulatory system person. Thanks to it, red cells increase in size, hemoglobin binds more actively, and oxygen saturation of the brain improves.
Calcium. Beneficial features Echinacea is increasing. This microelement strengthens bones and nourishes cartilage tissue.
Silicon. Forms new cells in the body and actively affects their growth.
Selenium improves protective properties body, which is very important during periods of infections when you have to fight viruses and bacteria.
Inulin. Echinacea actively breaks down fats and removes harmful products metabolism from tissues, it has a positive effect on immunity and liver function.

In the instructions for use of Echinacea purpurea, its antiviral and antiseptic properties. The plant has an antibacterial effect and suppresses the development of coccal infections.

Another effect of the plant is its active suppression of inflammation, rheumatoid manifestations and allergic reactions.

Information: the roots of the plant are used to reduce pain from burns, stop prolonged bleeding, wound healing.

Echinacea tincture, along with expensive procedures, rejuvenates the body. The composition of the plant nourishes hair, skin and nails. The rejuvenating properties of echinacea are due to the removal of lymphatic system metabolic products.

The herb Echinacea purpurea helps men with prostatitis, inflammation of the reproductive and urinary systems, prostate tumors, and infections.

Echinacea purpurea tincture is used for malignant neoplasms reproductive and urinary systems. The carcinogenic effect of the drug is achieved by increasing the body's resistance, as well as quick disposal from harmful radicals.

Application for women

The plant will help heal:

Candidiasis.
Chlamydia.
Gonorrhea.
Syphilis.

A course of taking echinacea has a beneficial effect on the condition of women reproductive system– ovaries, uterus, as well as organs adjacent to them – kidneys and bladder.

Application for children

Defensive forces child's body more often than adults are exposed negative impact environment. This happens due to the need to be in a large group of children.

It is better to stop taking Echinacea purpurea tablets. A tincture or decoction would be suitable for this use.

Methods of application

Recipes for children:

Decoctions or tinctures are used in the form of drops to treat inflammation in the ears, gums and teeth. For insect bites, you can use cotton pads soaked in tincture. This method will reduce pain and swelling.
Inhalation with echinacea decoction will be useful for respiratory diseases - bronchitis, tracheitis, sore throat.
Baths. To prepare it, the extract is diluted in 200 milliliters of water. At the end of the procedure, you should wipe the baby dry and dress in warm cotton clothes. It is advisable to put warm socks on your feet and then put your baby to bed. Course duration is 10–14 days.
Aromatherapy. The dosage of echinacea is 3-5 drops of tincture or 1-2 drops of extract. This procedure is useful for the child, since it has a good effect on the body itself and disinfects the surrounding air, destroying pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

Contraindications and side effects

It is not recommended to use the product if you are prone to allergies.
For autoimmune diseases.
In case of problems connective tissue Echinacea should be used very carefully and for any side effects you should stop taking it.
It should not be used during pregnancy and lactation due to negative influence per child.

How to take it correctly

The form of release of Echinacea is different, but alcohol tincture is most often used. Correct technique The drug involves dissolving 1 milliliter of medication in half a glass of water. This drug should be taken on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before meals, three times a day. It is not recommended to take the medicine for more than two weeks.

The decoction is used in the same way as the tincture, and compresses are used as a warming and immunostimulating agent for diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Compresses will help with various skin diseases.

Echinacea purpurea extract in capsules is most convenient - it does not need to be prepared or diluted, just drink the capsule with water. It should be taken in the same way as the tincture.

Cooking at home

Take 30 grams of herb and place it in a glass container, bottle or jar, the main condition is a tight lid. For this amount of raw materials you need 450 grams of vodka or diluted alcohol. After three weeks, during which you need to shake the container periodically, the tincture is ready for use.

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