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Plant
Remedies
Echinacea
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea spp.
Early settlers of North America adopted this
plant as a remedy for colds and flu’s. During the past 50 years it has
achieved worldwide use for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal
properties. The root of the plant is generally used in tinctures and
powders for almost any type of infection. The flowers are rich purple and
it has a sweet aromatic smell, with a sweetish taste, leaving a tingling
sensation in the mouth.
Constituents
Volatile oil, glycosides, antibiotic polyacetylenes, inulin
Character
Chinese herbal medicine regards it as cool, dry and mainly pungent
Action
It can be used as an antibiotic, boils, erysipelas, cancer, immune
stimulant, lymphatic tonic
Application
Decoction This is traditionally used for
acute stages of infections in 10ml doses every 1-2 hours.
Tincture This is traditionally used every
2-3 hours for flu’s, chills and urinary tract infections during the
first couple of days of acute symptoms. It can be diluted up to 5ml in a
little hot water.
Capsules
Traditionally 200mg taken up to
three times a day for the onset of acute infections, such as cold
conditions, flu’s, kidney and urinary tract infections may be used.
Cautions
High doses can occasionally cause nausea and dizziness
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This page was last updated on 14 December 2006 22:59:48
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