Purple Coneflower: Uses, Medicinal, Synonyms, Effects

The purple coneflower is native to the entire American continent, from North to South America, and was formerly imported from wild collections. The purple coneflower is now cultivated worldwide.

Medicinal use

The plant’s fresh or dried aerial parts (Echinacea purpureae herba) are primarily used medicinally. In addition, the new plant sap is obtained from the flowering above-ground parts, and more rarely, the root (Echinacea purpureae radix) is used.

 

Purple coneflowers: typical characteristics

Purple Coneflower is a perennial plant up to 180 cm tall with erect, branching stems. The basal leaves are broad and ovate; the stems are rough and roughly serrated on both sides. The striking, elongated, pink ray florets sit on long stalks; the pollen is yellow.

Purple Echinacea as a medicine

Purple coneflower herb is a relatively heterogeneous mixture of the flowering dried or fresh parts of the plant. The mix contains 10-25 cm long leaf fragments with clearly recognizable leaf veins, leaf stalks, stem leaves including the hairs and individual old rose-coloured flower parts.

 

The smell and taste of Purple Coneflower

Purple coneflower herb smells faintly aromatic. The taste of the spice is sour and slightly numbing (local anaesthetic) due to the alkamides it contains.

Dosage of Purple Coneflower

Echinacea is primarily offered in juices, tinctures, tablets, coated tablets, capsules, drops, lozenges and other dosage forms. For external use, semi-solid preparations are used.

In addition to oral intake and external use, there is also the possibility of parenteral administration, i.e. bypassing the intestine by injecting it into the vascular system.

 

Average daily dose

Unless otherwise prescribed, the average daily dose is 6-9 ml of pressed juice. When used parenterally, the daily amount depends on the type and severity of the disease and must be determined individually by a doctor.

Treatment should not last eight weeks when taken orally and applied externally and no longer than three weeks when administered parenterally.

Purple Coneflower: Prepared as a tea

To make a tea from echinacea, pour boiling water over about 1.2 g of the cut herb (1 teaspoon equals 2.5 g) and strain it through a tea strainer after 10 minutes.

To strengthen the immune system and for colds, a cup of freshly prepared tea can be drunk warm several times daily, preferably between meals. However, consuming echinacea in the form of tea is rare.

 

Contraindications to use

There are no contraindications for external use. Internally, purple echinacea should be used for systemic diseases such as tuberculosis, leukoses and multiple sclerosis not be applied. Parenteral administration is contraindicated in pregnant women, people with diabetes and people prone to allergies.

In the case of long-term infections with persistent symptoms, shortness of breath, fever and purulent or bloody sputum, you should see a doctor.

Purple coneflower herb should be stored dry and protected from light.

Purple Coneflower – Synonyms

German plant name: Purple coneflower

German synonyms of the plant: Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, Red Coneflower, Red Sunflower, Purple Coneflower, Purple Hedgehog’s Head, Echinacea, Rudbeckia

Latin plant name: Echinacea purpurea L.

Latin synonyms of the plant: Echinacea purpurea L. MOENCH, Echinacea intermedia, Echinacea species, Rudbeckia hispid, Rudbeckia serotina, Rudbeckia purpurea L., Brauneria purpurea

German drug name: Purple coneflower herb

German synonyms of the drug: Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower

Latin drug name: Echinaceae purpureae herba

English name: Purple Coneflower herb, Red sunflower herb, Comb flower herb (Droge); Coneflower, Eastern purple coneflower, Purple coneflower, Echinacea, Echinacea purpurea (Pflanze)

Plant family Latin: Asteraceae

Plant family German: Korbblütler

 

Purple Coneflower – Effect

The alkamides they contain, in particular, influence the immune system, for example, by increasing the production of T helper cells and white blood cells and blocking inflammatory messenger substances.

Purple coneflower – effect on wound healing

The promotion of wound healing, when used externally, is probably achieved through local stimulation of cells of the skin’s immune system (macrophages and granulocytes). These then fight off germs to an increased extent and strengthen the immune response.

The so-called fibroblasts, essential for wound healing, are also increasingly activated. Purple echinacea has antipyretic, germ-inhibiting, antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects through these and other molecular mechanisms.

 

Purple coneflower: What side effects are there?

Side effects are currently not known when taken orally and externally. With parenteral administration, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting may occur. The occurrence of allergic reactions is also possible.

Interactions with other agents are currently not known.

Apply purple coneflower

Red echinacea has a germ-repellent effect and is, therefore, often used internally to support chronic and recurring (recurrent) infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts. The herb can also be used internally for colds and flu and to increase the body’s immune system.

 

Use in cancer?

Experimental studies and application observations have also shown a positive effect of purple echinacea on cancer. However, the plant should only be used as a support (adjuvant) together with other forms of therapy.

External use of the purple coneflower

Echinacea can be applied externally to poorly healing, superficial wounds, minor injuries, ulcers and skin inflammations, which accelerates wound healing. According to observations and experimental studies, the herb is also effective against Herpes Simplex.

 

Use in folk medicine and homoeopathy.

Folk medicine also uses echinacea to treat infections and colds and to strengthen the immune system.

In homoeopathy, the fresh, above-ground parts of the flowering plant are used to support the treatment of severe and febrile infections.

Ingredients of the purple coneflower

Cichoric acid and various polysaccharides, including 4-O-methylglucuronoarabinoxylan and acidic arabinorhamnogalactan, are essential to determining effectiveness. There are also alkamides, polyacytylenes, flavonoids and up to 0.32% essential oil.

Purple Coneflower: Indication

Possible areas of application are:

• respiratory infections
• Infections of the urinary tract
• a cold
• Flu
• Increase in defences
• wounds
• ulcers
• skin inflammation
• Herpes