I have grown some lovely echinacea purpurea in the garden this year. They are really pretty, attract our lovely bees and are great as mid height boarder plants. They have added great colour to my boarders just as all my lovely lavender is beginning to fade – another great flower to attract the bees, they have added lots of colour to the garden.
As a therapist, I am always interested in flowers that I know have therapeutic benefits. I have taken echinacea in the past when I have started to get cold symptoms and have been impressed with the way it has helped relieve my cold. It is a herbal remedy that has been used for centuries as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections and some inflammatory conditions. We are usually advised to take echinacea as a short course for 7 to 10 days as soon a symptoms begin to show. It is known to support the immune system and has a direct anti-viral action against colds and viral bronchitis.
The parts of the plant that are used are the roots and the flowering tops. Herbalists recommend not to take echinacea if you are taking medicines known to affect your liver, so it’s always best to get advice from your pharmacist before taking these herbal tablets.
Have you ever taken this herbal remedy? If so, maybe you could tell me what you think on my Body and Sole by Heather face book page. In the mean time, I’m going to enjoy looking at these lovely flowers and using their seed heads in my dried floral arrangements this coming Winter. I think I will try taking this remedy if I feel a cold coming on. I love to use supplements that help strengthen my immune system as i am sure you know!
25 August 2020
