Echinacea purpurea

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Table of Contents

Other names for echinacea purpurea

Echinacea Extract
Echinacea purpurea Root or Aerial Parts
Standardized Echinacea

Synopsis of echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea, also known as purple coneflower, is one of the most widely used immune-stimulating herbs in Western herbal medicine. Native to North America, it is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. While several echinacea species are medicinal, Echinacea purpurea is the most commonly cultivated and studied, especially for its aerial parts and roots, which contain a wide array of immune-modulating and antimicrobial compounds.

Key active constituents include:

  • Alkamides, which modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation
  • Polysaccharides and glycoproteins, which enhance immune cell activity
  • Caffeic acid derivatives like echinacoside and chlorogenic acid, with antioxidant and antiviral properties
  • Essential oils and flavonoids

Echinacea purpurea is used primarily to:

  • Stimulate the immune system, especially during the early stages of infection
  • Reduce the severity and duration of colds, flu, and upper respiratory tract infections
  • Support white blood cell activity, particularly macrophages and natural killer cells
  • Provide anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial effects
  • Promote lymphatic drainage, helping to clear infections and tissue congestion

It is most effective when taken at the onset of illness, and is commonly used in tinctures, capsules, teas, and lozenges. While earlier studies showed mixed results, more recent research supports echinacea’s use in reducing the duration and severity of viral infections, particularly when standardized extracts are used.

Historical Use
Echinacea was traditionally used by Native American tribes, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Sioux, as a medicine for infections, snakebites, wounds, and respiratory ailments. It was considered a "blood purifier" and was used both internally and externally to treat:

  • Snake and insect bites
  • Coughs, colds, and fevers
  • Skin infections, boils, and wounds
  • Toothaches and sore throats

By the late 1800s, echinacea became a core remedy in Eclectic medicine, an American herbal medical tradition that relied on plant-based treatments. It was especially valued for its ability to treat septic conditions, respiratory infections, and inflammatory skin issues.

Though its use declined with the rise of antibiotics, echinacea experienced a major revival in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in Germany, where scientists extensively studied its immune-stimulating effects and helped reintroduce it to mainstream herbal medicine.

Today, Echinacea purpurea remains a staple in preventive immune care, acute cold/flu treatment, and natural wellness protocols, often paired with herbs like goldenseal, elderberry, and astragalus for synergistic effects.

Echinacea purpurea is used for these health conditions

Abscesses (Traditional)
Adenitis (Traditional)
Bites and Stings (Traditional)
Bladder Infection (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Colds (antiviral) (Scientific)
Colds (decongestant) (Scientific)
Colds (general) (Scientific)
Colds (prevention) (Scientific)
Congestion (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Conjunctivitis (Traditional)
Cuts (Traditional)
Epstein Barr Virus (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Glands (swollen lymph) (Traditional)
Herpes (Traditional)
Infection (Scientific)
Infection (bacterial) (Traditional)
Infection (viral) (Scientific)
Influenza (Scientific)
Lymph Nodes or Glands (swollen) (Traditional)
Mastitis (Traditional)
Sinus Infection (Traditional)
Skin (infections) (Traditional)
Sore Throat (Traditional)
Strep Throat (Traditional)
Urinary Tract Infections (Traditional)
Wounds and Sores (Traditional)

echinacea purpurea is used to support these body systems

Immune System (Scientific)
Lymphatics (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)