Echinacea belongs to the Astrov family and it came to us from North America. The plant has long straight stems, and reaches a height of one and a half meters. The flowers are quite large: elongated narrow petals are located near the convex dark brown core. Echinacea is purple, red or yellow. The leaves are oval, serrated at the edges. This flower is among the ten most popular plants in the world. But for medicinal purposes use its purple appearance. Even the ancient North American Indians noticed the beneficial properties of Echinacea and successfully used it to treat many diseases.
Echinacea. Chemical composition
The chemical composition of the plant has been thoroughly studied. The composition of the flower includes flavonoids, polysaccharides, echinacoside, resins, betaine, echinacin, linoleic, palmintic, zirotinic acids, as well as trace elements, magnesium, aluminum, potassium and iron. So what are the beneficial properties of echinacea? In the treatment of which diseases is this plant used?
Echinacea purpurea: beneficial properties
This plant is widely used not only in traditional medicine, but also in the official one. Many different medicines have been created, which include extracts, extracts and other components of this flower. Echinacea is used in the treatment of long non-healing wounds, bedsores, burns. It should be noted that during therapy of the latter it not only heals, but also anesthetizes. The beneficial properties of echinacea are confirmed by modern scientists. The immunostimulating property of a flower is proved. It manifests itself not only in adults, but also in children with immature immunity. Due to this property, echinacea extract is widely used not only in medicine, but also in the food industry. It is added to various drinks, tea blends, sweets. An extract from a plant contributes to the treatment of nervous disorders and allergies. This flower also helps the body recover faster after chemotherapy, radiation exposure. Teas, tinctures from Echinacea are drunk in various inflammatory processes, as this plant has antiviral, antibacterial and antimycotic properties. Its extract inhibits the growth of viruses such as streptococcus, herpes, influenza virus, staphylococcus, and also Escherichia coli. You can prepare medicinal tea or oil tincture yourself, or you can buy it in a pharmacy.
Echinacea: beneficial properties and contraindications
Cold tea
For prevention, as well as for the treatment of colds, make tea from echinacea. To do this, pour a tablespoon of dried flowers into a mug and pour boiling water. Let it brew for about an hour and can take instead of regular tea.
Oil tincture for the treatment of stomach ulcers
Mix in a ratio of 1: 1 echinacea oil solution and sea buckthorn oil. Use two tablespoons the night before bedtime. To prepare an oil tincture, use this recipe. Pour two kilograms of dried flowers with ten liters of fresh sunflower oil. Insist for forty days. Strain. Once again emphasizing the useful properties of echinacea, I want to say about contraindications. So, this herb is not recommended only to people who have intolerance to the individual components that make up the plant. Be always healthy!