Flu Immune 500

Every one of us will suffer a bout of the common cold from time to time in our lives. A cold is a virus and is spread from person to person as we congregate indoors, which is why we are more likely to get a cold in the winter months. There is no cure for the common cold; the best we can do is boost our immune system to resist getting one and to reduce the duration once we have one. Echinacea has received a lot of attention recently as a “miracle” herb to fight the common cold because of its immune boosting properties.

WHAT ECHINACEA IS

Echinacea is a flower with pale purple petals and a reddish-brown center, similar to the look of a daisy. Echinacea grows to a height of approximately 3 feet and in clusters also similar to the daisy. The horticulturists among us will be interested to know that Echinacea is part of the Aster family, and there are actually nine different species of Echinacea. Of these nine different species, three are cultivated most often in North America, Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea and E. pallida. For the lay person however, it still a small purple flower, our importance of familiarizing ourselves with these botanical names is only relevant to note, that different species of Echinacea have different degrees of potency.

HISTORY OF ECHINACEA

Native Americans referred to Echinacea as the “sacred herb”, which reflects their belief in it as natures cure all. For centuries it was used to treat minor aliments such as fever, sore throats and headaches. Interestingly it became commonly known as “Missouri Snakeroot” because it was frequently used to treat snakebites. It would be ground into a paste and applied to the skin. They believed it prevented infection. Other common names include Purple Coneflower, Sampson Root and Red Sunflower.

HOW ECHINACEA CAN HELP FIGHT A COLD

In Western Society Echinacea is most often cultivated and processed into capsules, liquid drops, tinctures and teas. The whole plant can be used for its therapeutic effects, the roots, leaves, flowers and seeds are all cultivated and processed in different ways. It is important to know that each part of the plant has a slightly different “shelf life” ranging from six months to two years.

Echinacea is thought to be an immune system stimulant, thereby, kicking our natural immune system into high gear. By increasing our white blood cells, thought of as our “infection fighting army” and increasing our anti-inflammatory response, we can increase