How Echinacea Helps Me Battle Colds and Flu

Have you stocked up on your cold remedies for the season, yet? Do reports of the H1N1 virus have you running scared? Or are you one of those involved in the heated debates about whether or not to accept the Swine Flu Vaccine? In any event, should you get the sniffles, become exposed to more germs (maybe from your child who recently returned to school), or if you are simply feeling a little run down from the increased activity and cooling weather of the season, you should know a little something about Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower. Echinacea could possibly be the single most important herb to have on hand in the battle against colds, and now is a good time to get your supply.

In the '90s, working as a temporary in an insurance office that dealt with Worker's Compensation claims, I was caught in a fit of uncontrollable coughing inside a tiny copy room with another occupant. Prior to accepting this temporary assignment, I had been laid low with the flu. Looking at the other lady making her copies, I thought to myself, "She must not be happy that I'm spreading my germs," so I apologized for all my coughing. She cheerfully told me, "Oh, I'm not worried about it." In amazement, I asked her, "You're not afraid of catching the flu?" And what she told me next set me on a course of action that I have never regretted.

"No," she began to explain, "I learned about Echinacea a few years ago, and I don't even get any colds, now." As my jaw very unprofessionally dropped to the floor, all I could stammer out was "You've got to be kidding me! No colds? How on earth is that possible?" (Cough! Cough! Cough!) She then began telling me what Echinacea is. She described it as an immune booster, and said that whenever she started feeling run down, had the sniffles, or thought a cold was trying to catch her, or even after being at the malls for holiday shopping, she would take 3 Echinacea capsules with each meal; breakfast, lunch & dinner, and she would begin to feel better. I was amazed. "Where do you get Echinacea? Do you have to go to a fancy health store to find it?" Her response was, "You can probably get it there, but I usually get mine at the drugstore. You can find it in the vitamin section." Next I asked her, "How do you spell that?" She spelled it for me, and I wrote down her "prescription," and told myself that I was going to try this Echinacea, and see what happened. She also warned me, "You don't want to take Echinacea like a vitamin, or it could lose its effectiveness. Only take it when you need it, and for no longer than 14 days in a row." We both agreed that if you were still suffering after 14 days, a visit to the doctor would be in order. Now, I'm all about finding natural ways to take care of my health, and a bottle of Echinacea was certainly healthier for my wallet than a visit to the doctor!

For 3 years afterwards, I didn't have a cold. It was incredible. And I felt absolutely no side effects, but lo and behold, I would feel better! Sniffles would go away. Nagging coughs stopped. I didn't even have the flu for 2 years! And I also noticed something else. Typically, when I felt the need to take Echinacea, I would usually only need it for a dose or two, and the symptoms would be gone. So I started the habit of checking myself at the next meal, to determine if I felt the need for another dose. Very rarely did I feel the need to take Echinacea for more than 2 days running, but most often I only need 1-2 doses, and I'm good. And it has been so effective, that I now tend to tell folks, "I don't get sick, really."

I am so thankful that I learned of Echinacea when I did! It's been a long time since that temporary assignment, and I can't remember the name of the lady who told me about it, but I have been thankful to her ever since. Now if I hear someone with the sniffles, I'll ask them, "Do you have a cold?" And then I have to tell them what I've learned about Echinacea. And yes, I always get asked, "How do you spell that?" I have told this story to quite a few people, and many times they come back to me afterwards, thanking me. And one day several years ago, as I was perusing a magazine, I saw that Martha Stewart, that scion of domesticity, was offering Echinacea in her travel kits. I thought to myself, now if that's not a stamp of approval, what is? Okay, she's not a doctor, I know. But still, I liked the price of a bottle of Echinacea over the cost of a pricier doctor's visit.

Now, I am not saying that Echinacea is for everyone, or should be used for every ailment. But it does seem effective with those germy ailments like coughs and colds. And believe it or not, there is one person who told me later that she can't take it...my sister. She has allergies to daisies. Have you ever heard of such a thing? Echinacea, or Purple Coneflower, is a member of the daisy family, and is a very lovely plant, stately and tall, with a gorgeous purple color. So, if you are someone who has allergies to daisies, I would suggest you give Echinacea a miss. Also, read the instructions on the bottle if you consider giving this to your children, as typically their body mass is a great deal less, and where 3 capsules may not affect a grown adult in any adverse manner, it is wise to pay particular attention to doses if you want to give some to a child. As for me, I am thankful that Echinacea is such a good assistant in keeping my health where it should be, and to the woman who brought it to my attention. Wherever you are, thank you.