Is Echinacea Really Works on Immune System ?

Echinacea is the most popular herbal supplement in the United States. In 2004 Americans paid about $155 million for echinacea products. Echinacea is most effective when used in its fresh state. If you are buying dried roots chew a piece first, if there is no numbing sensation in the mouth then the roots are old or improperly dried.

Echinacea is a North American prairie native, abundant in the mid west and cultivated widely in ornamental and medicinal gardens. The purple-pink rays of the blossom droop downward from a brassy hued center cone composed of many small, tubular florets. Echinacea is an herbaceous perennial belonging to the Aster or Composite family and is a hardy perennial plant that grows 1-2 feet tall and has a spiny appearance from which it derived its name (echinos being Greek for sea urchin or hedgehog). It is a member of the daisy family and its flowers can resemble Black-eyed Susans with rich purple petals radiating from the center. Echinacea is a native North American plant with nine varieties.

Echinacea is also every effective in treating respiratory ailments like colds. Some research has found Echinacea to be effective as an antiviral or antifungal, which also helps it fight infection. For medicinal purposes, it is primarily the root that is harvested, although there may be a small market for foliage, and seed for propagation. Echinacea is a medicinal herb that some people take to boost their immune system. It has been considered especially helpful in cases of colds, flu, and chronic upper respiratory and urinary infections. Echinacea is a non-specific immune enhancer. Its effectiveness can therefore be enhanced by combining it with herbs which support the tissues which are most vulnerable to the particular condition being treated.