In some gardens, parks and flower beds you can see a beautiful, pink-purple flower that resembles a daisy. This echinacea. Purple echinacea, a perennial plant, was imported from America for quite some time. And since that time it is used not only as an ornament, but also as a strong remedy. There is an opinion that even the Indians used it as raw material for making natural medicine from many diseases. They did not bypass this flower and animals. Deer in large quantities of it ate, so Echinacea was called "deer root".
Composition and useful properties of Echinacea
For medicinal purposes, all the greenery of this plant is used: both the inflorescence, and the stem, and even the roots. Echinacea is rich in content:
- bioactive substances (phenols, polyenes, inulin, betaine, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, etc.);
- mineral substances (chlorine, selenium, zinc, manganese, silver, iron, etc.);
- ethereal and oily oils.
The ideal combination of useful substances, gives the plant not only anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, but also makes it an excellent immunomodulator for viral diseases (herpes, flu, etc.).
Use echinacea to prepare extracts, broths, tinctures.
Liquid extract
Extract of echinacea purpurea is used for a huge number of diseases. Indications for the use of echinacea extract are diseases:
- respiratory system (bronchitis, laryngitis, sinusitis , etc.);
- nervous system (neurasthenia, hysterical conditions, manager's syndrome);
- gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, duodenal ulcer and stomach);
- genitourinary sphere (candidiasis, cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis, inflammation of the ovaries);
- secondary immunodeficiency (irradiation, prolonged treatment with antibiotics).
The ability of the liquid extract of echinacea to enhance the skin's ability to regenerate, allows using it as a means for external application in skin diseases such as:
- urticaria ;
- trophic ulcers;
- eczema;
- psoriasis;
- burns;
- boils, etc.
In addition, the extract of Echinacea must be taken to maintain immunity during the activation of seasonal diseases, as well as during the recovery period after diseases.
For preventive purposes, liquid extract of Echinacea take 10 drops three times a day. At the first symptoms of the disease, a single dose is increased to 30-40 drops, then after another two hours another 20 drops are taken. After that, the next day, go to a standard reception of 10 drops. This allows you to activate immunity and reduce the duration of the disease.
For external use, the liquid extract is used in the form of rinses (with diseases of the nasopharynx). In this case, 40-60 drops of extract are added to half a glass of water. For the washing of wounds and treatment of places with purulent contents a solution is prepared:
- In half a cup of boiled water (100-150 ml), dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Add 40-60 drops of liquid extract.
- Stir thoroughly.
To treat skin diseases apply the same solution, but without the addition of salt. In addition to washing, you can make applications. To do this, the woven material is abundantly wetted by the solution and applied to the affected area for 10-15 minutes.
Extract in tablets
Modern pharmaceuticals produce an extract of echinacea not only in liquid form, but also in the form of tablets or pastilles (for example, the preparation Immunel). This provides more convenient reception and a clear dosage. Basically, the tablet preparations have the same indications as the liquid extract of Echinacea.
Tablets with Echinacea extract are designed to dissolve 3-4 times a day. In this case, the reception, both tablets, and liquid extract of Echinacea should not exceed two months.