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Echinacea: healing properties
Original Post here: http://www.womens-health-symmetry.com/echinacea.html

Echinacea

We owe Native Americans a debt of gratitude for introducing the rest of the world to the wonders of the purple cone-flower plant.

Indians of the Great Plains first used this herb as a remedy for snakebites and other skin wounds.

They also applied the root of this plant directly to the mouth for toothaches and sore throats.

Word of echinacea's healing properties traveled back to Europe, where it has become one of the most sought after herbs and one of the better researched.

There is renewed interest in echinacea today in the United States because of this herb's demonstrated positive effect on the immune system.

Many studies have shown that echinacea inhibits the enzyme called hyaluronidase, which in turn helps maintain a natural barrier between healthy tissue and unwanted pathogenic organisms.

Thus, echinacea helps the body maintain its line of defense against unwanted invaders, and acids in tissue regeneration.

Echinacea's antimicrobial activities are widely demonstrated.

In 1972, a study appeared in the Journal of the Medical Chemistry showing that an echinacea extract inhibited tumor growth in rats.

Echinacea was shown to increase white blood cell counts..

Several European studies show that echinacea appears to lessen the severity of colds and flu, and helps speed recovery.

Echinacea has also been used successfully to control candida, an annoying and persistent fungal infection.

In fact, patients who used an antifungal cream and echinacea extract were less likely to suffer a recurrence than those treated solely with the antifungal cream.

Other studies show that topical echinacea has been used successfully to control psoriasis and eczema.