Echinacea has become the icon of “alternative” cold and flu management.  It really is a stunningly beautiful and powerful flower.  Having a passion for edible flowers and for herbal medicine I have long been fascinated by echinacea.  I am fortunate that in my neighbourhood it is very popular to grow echinacea and it is possible to see the two most popular types growing nearby.  Of course our cold/flu remedies are made from the root of the plant.  Wild echinacea has been severely reduced and is in danger because of wildcrafting for medicine.  I try to make sure to take the herb when it is suited and not abuse it.  There are times when echinacea can be very effective but it does tend to be overused or misused so may be better replaced by a more appropriate or specific herb.  Here are some situations where echinacea can be particularly effective and some where I don’t bother.

At the onset of a cold or flu

Echinacea has been shown to increase phagocytosis and in this way can improve immunity and help our bodies fight off various infections.  Echinacea has been used to treat syphilis, topical infections and lesions more than it has traditionally been used for respiratory infections.  At the onset of symptoms of any infection echinacea can be effective.  I take it when there is something going on with my skin or when I start to feel a cold taking hold or I get a scratch outside and want to give myself an advantage.  Echinacea is antimicrobial (microbial modulating) and so works by directly kicking the bacteria out when they have overstayed their welcome and also by helping our immune systems to do this themselves.  Echinacea also encourages the development of our digestive mucosa, increasing digestive immunity, protection and the opportunity for the development of even more over time.  Echinacea is best when taken frequently throughout the day for a short number of days so if I find it is not working for me sometimes it is because I am not using it enough or frequently enough.  I enjoy it in teas however it can also be taken as a tincture making it more portable for use throughout the day.  The most desirable medicinal constituents are in fact alcohol soluble so the tea may not be effective for increasing immunity outside of the digestive system.

When there is lymphatic congestion

Echinacea can be very detoxifying because it helps to move lymphatic fluid.  Our lymphatic fluid is like the waste disposal system (the garbage trucks) of our bodies.  Our lymph carries cellular waste and other things that we don’t want in our blood any more.  The problem with “lymph” is that it doesn’t pump itself like our blood does.  Lymphatic fluid can be moved through muscular contraction like exercise or movement and can also be moved through massage!  We can pump our lymph through hot/cold alternating baths or therapy.  Echinacea can be very valuable for taking the burden off of our immune systems at the onset of a cold or flu by encouraging lymph flow so that our bodies can focus on fighting the flu more effectively, again, when taken regularly.

When there is warmth

Echinacea is a slightly cooling herb so is great paired with warming spices and herbs such as ginger or is great when there is excessive heat in the body.  This means that when I “feel cold” (kind of subjective I know) I don’t opt for the echinacea.

Now here are three more situations where I do not take echinacea.  As I spoke to above I feel this gorgeous and endangered flower is quite overused and I will opt for something else when doing so feels appropriate.

For the duration of the cold

I usually stop with the echinacea if the cold goes past the initial
battlefield stage.  This can be surprisingly difficult to do because it seems to be in everything!  When my body is finished with the fight I do like to move on to a more appropriate herb like goldenseal which actually dries the mucosa or sage which moistens and can help reduce spasms.  Something else might be right for you, really depends on the cold.

During times of normal health

Echinacea can be a very powerful herb and thus I do not take it as a 

preventative measure for anything.  There are some herbs that I don’t mind taking on a daily basis but echinacea is not one of them.

When it is wildcrafted

I prefer to purchase the cultivated rather than the wildcrafted echinacea because of the problems of over-foraging.  Many packages now state whether the echinacea in the products is farmed or found.  Of course I would like to grow my own.  If you have experience growing your own echinacea please let me know in the comments below.  If you have experience making gorgeous food goodies with it then even better!