Echinacea for Wounds

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is extremely popular as a home remedy for boosting the immune system against colds and the flu. However, it has been overlooked for its benefit of helping wounds, both fresh and slow-healing.

One day when I was at home cooking dinner, I left the door open to one of my cabinets. As I was searching around my kitchen putting ingredients together for a dish, I turned around and the corner of the cabinet door made a very sharp impact when I walked into it hitting my forehead.

I tried to use well-known methods such as a band-aid, ointments, and the like, but the small wound still hurt very badly and it kept bleeding slowly. And although, those methods do work, I wanted to use an herbal method to see how it would work.

I remembered that I had a small packet of Echinacea powder stored away. I put about a teaspoon of it in a small bowl with just enough water to make a thick paste. Then, I spread a tiny amount over the wound on my forehead.

Intuitively, I decided to leave the paste on overnight. When I woke up the next morning and removed the paste with a warm wet washcloth I noticed that the bleeding had stopped completely, there was no more pain, and the wound was starting to heal very rapidly. Within two days, I could barely see the wound at all.

My personal findings on this phenomena led me to research it a bit further and this is what I found. A clinical study of 4500 patients with inflammatory skin conditions has shown that 85% were cured with a topical Echinacea salve (Wacker & Hilbig, 1978). Therefore, Echinacea may be wonderful for building up our immune systems, but it is also great for healing wounds and skin regeneration.

Recipe:

1 teaspoon Echinacea powder (can be found at herbal/natural stores)

small amount of water

Instructions: Add very small amounts of water to Echinacea powder mixing until there is a thick paste. Spread the desired amount of paste over the wound and allow it to stay on several hours or overnight. Wipe off with a wet warm cloth.

Keep in mind, all results of using this salve may vary depending upon the wound itself and the individual's reaction to the salve. This remedy is not 100% as clinical studies have shown, however, the results are so great in number that it is worth a try.