Echinacea has been known for centuries as an immune booster. In the winter, millions of people count on the curative powers of echinacea for relief from cold and flu and traditionally also for bacterial infections. Echinacea works by activating some of the body's immune cells. Studies have shown that echinacea can bolster resistance to colds and the flu, especially if taken with the onset of symptoms.
Common names for the herb echinacea include Purple or Prairie Coneflower, Black Sampson, or Rudbeckia. Echinacea angustifolia is the official species of which the dried root is used in herbal preparations. Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea pallida are other common types but are considered weaker in action than Echinacea angustifolia.
There is a "gotcha" however with echinacea. The immune-enhancing effects generally take several weeks to build up. However, you should generally not take echinacea for more than 8 consecutive weeks. Your body needs to have a rest period. It is not to be used for daily immune system support. It should be used only when needed. As it does affect the immune system, those with auto-immune disorders such as AIDS or lupus should probably avoid it all together or take only under a physician's supervision.
Echinacea can be purchased as a nutritional supplement or harvested. The fresh or dried roots of 3-year old plants are used in herbal medicine.
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