Purple coneflowers can stand alone in clumps or be companion plants. If I got this correct and sure hope I did——-The picture above is that of Echinacea purpurea( larger leaves) and the one below is Echinacea – angustifolia <—–do not know why that is so little.
My grandmother was a wildcrafter and she tested the potentcy of a coneflower by it’s numbing behavior. She would taste a bit of the root or stem and depending on the numbness in her tongue, she would rate the plant. She found the Echinaceas of the plains region to be stronger than those in NC. She would proclaim it a very good Echinacea if her tongue was very numb.
She told me stories of how the Indians had used the root juices to make poultices for horses and humans. They would also hold the leaves against their teeth for toothaches.
If you would like to read more about the healing properties, you can visit this SITE. I found it full of useful information on Echinaceas. I don’t promote that site as I know nothing about it but did so much enjoy the article.
I read all day trying to find proof that coneflowers protect us against the cold and flu season. All I can tell you is that something new about this subject is discovered often and the only constant is that the Indians knew best how to use it. Ha! Always goes back to ancient history doesn’t it? We don’t discover new stuff we just learn how to use what we got already.
There are potency differences in the varieties of coneflowers and the way they are prepared. There are many variables and for any particular one to be effective; you must get it from a reliable source and take the concentration needed for your symptoms. Weak concentrations don’t seem to do any good. Brushing your teeth with coneflower paste won’t do much but give you pretty teeth. Ok, well maybe it will numb your gums a bit and aid those with sensitive teeth.
Ok–so here is one theory, supposedly Echinacea helps the body produce more interferon. The interferon signals the attack cells to reproduce themselves in great numbers so they can seek and destroy viruses or infection before the virus makes you miserably sick.
In layman’s terms, it would be like hiring more firefighters so they could go out and destroy sparks before they became fires.
Now before you start taking lots of coneflower juice and powders, there are things you need to know. Don’t take it consistently cause some studies have shown that it can cause a weakening of your immune system in larger or more consistent doses.
Seems like the most beneficial times to take it are when your symptoms first appear or when you think someone around you has been exposed thus–exposing you as well.
This article is not written as a professional piece of advice. I have no claim to authority on the subject. I’m just a curios person who goes on a internet search to see what’s new on whatever topic crosses my path of curiosity for the day. Today, it was coneflowers.
I did find an interesting article about bovines and Echinacea. Seems that this flower will accelerate the mitosis process of cells in bovines. I’m sure that will come in handy next time we take a cow to the moon–just kidding. All knowledge is good. That joke is a take on how knowledge was perceived back in the 60’s and I was in elementary school. The NASA program was being pushed like crazy and everything from the drink Tang to plastic was being credited with the discoveries made in our zeal to reach the moon.