Health And Fitness News 

Traditional Uses Of Echinacea In History

Echinacea augustifolia was used traditionally by the American Indians and Eclectic herbalists in the 1800's and early 1900's. The following are extracts from Nature's Healing, by Samuel Thompson (ref Thompsonian medicine):

Antiseptic Enemas

In all conditions where an internal antiseptic is indicated, Tincture of Echinacea is the best. If this is to be reinforced, then Tincture of Myrrh may be added. As already mentioned, Potassium Permanganate is also a splendid antiseptic but in large doses is a poison. Plain water should at no time be employed as an enema as it is weakening.

Echinacea Angustifolia
Brauneria pallida-Rudbeckia pattida

Irrespective of all that has been said, written and printed anent Echinacea, the true Physio-Medicalist has found it to be the one supreme and dependable remedy to combat morbidity in the blood. Neither toxins nor serums have the potency in this direction that Echinacea has, and it leaves neither weakening nor deteriorating influence in the blood-stream.

"Echinacea is a corrector of the depravations of the body fluids," wrote Dr. Niederkorn in 1910, and this whether the morbific changes of the fluids of the body are internal, or caused by external introductions. Its use is indicated in septic infections, septicemia in its various forms, blood poisoning, ady-namic fevers, typhoid fever, cellular abscesses, salpingitis, carbuncles, cancerous cachexia, and in fevers or conditions where there is a bluish discoloration of the mucous membranes, tongue brownish or almost black, or when discharges are foul-in fact, in any or all conditions which point to sepsis.

Discriminating physicians of all schools have found it invaluable in infections, both internal and external, strumous conditions where an alternative is indicated, peritonitis, acute fevers, syphilitic conditions, puerperal infection, infections with tendency to abscess, bites and stings of poisonous insects and reptiles, in typhoid infections, blood perversions, toxemia with and without fever, septicemia, erysipelas, acute infections, gangrenous conditions, diphtheria, wherever there is a formation of pus, suppurations as in tonsilitis, infected sores and wounds (with Myrrh).

There is no morbid condition in which Echinacea is not indicated and its greatest benefit is made manifest, in typhoid fever.

When there is extreme morbidity, Myrrh, equal parts, should be combined with it. For internal use in these conditions, 5 drops Myrrh to every 10 drops of Echinacea, is the correct proportion. Echinacea is the one true alternative. In acute and dangerous conditions, Echinacea should be used hypo-dermically.

Dose: 5 to 30 drops every one to five hours, according tc the severity of the case. For external application always add Myrrh. As a gargle for sore throat, even in diphtheria, equal parts Echinacea and Myrrh.

A more modern understanding of echinacea can be found here.