Echinacea, a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly among Native American tribes and later in Western herbal practice. Traditionally, Echinacea was employed to support the immune system and to treat a wide variety of infections and inflammatory conditions, including those involving swollen lymph nodes (adenitis). The rationale for its use in adenitis stems from its perceived immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, which practitioners hoped would aid the body in fighting off underlying infections causing lymph node swelling.

However, modern scientific evidence supporting Echinacea’s effectiveness specifically for adenitis is lacking. While some studies have examined Echinacea’s general impact on immune function and its potential to reduce the duration or severity of upper respiratory tract infections, there are no robust clinical trials directly evaluating its benefit for adenitis. Contemporary herbal literature and some traditional texts may recommend Echinacea for swollen glands, but this is primarily based on historical precedent rather than scientific validation. Thus, its use for adenitis remains rooted in tradition, with only limited anecdotal or indirect evidence supporting its application.