Echinacea is a native plant with beautiful purple flowers found in North America. For hundreds of years it has been used as an alternative medicine. The North American plain Indians were very familiar with the healing properties of Echinacea. It is of the same family as Ragweed and is also known as the purple cone flower.

The roots of Echinacea contain healing properties and have anti-biotic, anti-viral and immunity enhancing effects. Echinacea boosts the immune system and stimulates phagocytosis that is most often used to fight cold and flu. If you feel that you are going to get a cold, start taking Echinacea at once. This may prevent you from getting the cold or if you do get a cold it would not be so severe.

Echinacea is also shown to be of benefits for other health complaints. It can help to treat illnesses and inflammation brought on by infectious bacteria and viruses such as arthritis, measles, smallpox and mumps. Echinacea is also useful in healing wounds and relieving swellings or pains. It is also often used as a mouthwash to give relief to painful teeth and gums.

You can buy Echinacea in health food stores, pharmacies and supermarkets. Echinacea is available as tablets, capsules, tincture, tea bags and tea leaves. If you are allergic to Ragweed avoid taking Echinacea. One can get rid of fungus that causes athletes foot from the body by drinking Echinacea tea everyday.

You can get relief from gastro-intestinal problems by sipping Echinacea tea. It boosts your immunities so that your body builds up resistance to diseases and infections. Drinking Echinacea tea can help you stay healthy. It is more potent when used together with licorice for the prevention of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Echinacea is still one of the most popular herbs in Western countries such as Europe, Australia and US today. It is best known as a natural remedy for colds and flu. The true healing potentials of Echinacea to fight infections and viruses are not fully understood and more studies are needed.