Medicinal herb spotlight … Introducing echinacea

It’s not just a pretty face!

A powerful and beautiful plant bearing medicinal properties within its roots, leaves and flower heads. One to keep in mind as we transition between seasons and notice a rise in niggly colds and flus.

You’ll see echinacea often on the ingredient list of natural medicines supporting healthy immune function and building resistance to infections. Echinacea has been the subject of countless studies proving its ability to prime the immune system and sustain its “staying power”. Not due to one constituent of the plant, but a sum of multiple mechanisms - once again nature’s perfect equation at play. It’s anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, an antioxidant - flower power at its finest!

Something that’s important to remember with taking a plant medicine like echinacea…while taking a loading dose can certainly provide relief of acute symptoms during sickness, it doesn’t necessarily address the underlying patterns that exist in the first place. Remembering chronic suppression of acute symptoms leads to chronic disease. Addressing foundational level interventions is what will support your health in the long term - nutrient dense foods, hydration, rest, breath, sunlight + taking echinacea as a preventative tool and building a more resilient baseline constitution.