Echinacea is an herb. Several species of the echinacea plant are used to make medicine from its leaves, flowers, and root. Echinacea is widely used to fight infections, especially the common cold and other upper respiratory infections.  Some people take echinacea at the first sign of a cold, hoping they will be able to keep the cold from developing.  Other people take echinacea after cold symptoms have started, hoping they can make symptoms less severe. 

Research to date shows that echinacea can help treat a cold, but can't prevent one. 

Echinacea is also used against many other infections including the flu, urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, genital herpes, bloodstream infections, septicemia, gum disease, tonsillitis, streptococcus infections, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, and diphtheria.  

Some others uses are chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatism, migraines, acid indigestion, pain, dizziness, rattlesnake bites, and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.
  

Echinacea species are native to North America and were used as traditional herbal remedies by the Great Plains Native American tribes.  Later, settlers followed their example and began using echinacea for medicinal purposes as well.

Echinacea seems to activate chemicals in the body that  decrease inflammation, which can help reduce a wide array of symptoms. 

   

That said, bugs are stronger today than ever and killing bugs is a good thing. Antibiotics, on rare occasions, can be necessary. But in the end -- and in particular with serious diseases and cancer -- it is not drugs but your strength and immune power that dictate your success over infection and disease, even your survival. I use proper nutrition to enhance immune system power. Even after the microbes are killed with antimicrobial treatments, the immune system is left to "mop up the mess". Even with the common cold, aside from antimicrobials, you must bolster your immune system. Any treatment without adequate nutritional therapy for the immune system will always be incomplete.

 

Many people come to me with different issues, but most have to do with the immune system. When a person comes to me who believes they have Lyme disease, I have learned to question this. Yes I do find that the immune system is compromised, but it may not be Lyme. So I work with the immune system, supporting it. After a few weeks I begin to see the real pattern and then work on that. It doesn't really matter what the presenting complaint is; you just need to support the immune system and things will change.

 

A long time ago I studied with Dr. John Christopher who at a young age was living in a wheelchair. While in his chair he was able to observe how animals would go over to a plant and eat it, and then either throw up or sleep. While observing this he began to take note of these plants and he started to experiment with them. What he observed was that certain plants are diaphoretics, which means they make you sweat.

 

This is how he came up with his cold sheet treatment. He would have a person who was sick, maybe with a fever, go into a tepid bath and drink a diaphoretic tea, then get out of the tub get into a clean cotton bed. They would wrap themselves in a cold wet sheet, drink more tea, and sweat. The result would be that the body's temperature would rise, the immune system would kick into high gear, and the fever would burn up the toxins. At the end, the sheet would be dry and there would be dark material (toxins) on the sheet.

 

When a person didn't interfere with the process of the body, a supported immune system could do its job. And the person would get stronger. Dr. Christopher got himself out of his wheel chair. He used to teach me to forage for plants and identify them. I can still remember looking for the herbs, then coming back and making either tinctures, salves, or decoctions of these plant materials. This was before supplements were prepared by large companies.

 

These days we want everything fast. We don't have time to be sick, so we take an aspirin, antibiotics, antihistamines, sleep aids, anything to help us feel better. Is this the right way? I don't believe so. We are suppressing our immune systems this way, and when we really need it, it will not be able to come to our aid and do its job.

 

It's not too late to change this, that is one of the miracles of the human body! In the fall we should build up our bodies, in spring we should cleanse it. Eat well and avoid sugars, caffeine, wheat, white breads, and any processed foods. Repair the intestinal lining (the leaky gut) and rebuild the good flora with pre- or probiotics. Open the small intestine so that you can absorb what you eat. Get plenty of rest and exercise. These are the key factors of building a strong and vital immune system.

 

Watch as your body responds to the change in daily habits. Many times a patient of mine will want me to help them feel better, but all I can do is teach them how to live and to treat their body correctly. Sometimes they want the supplements to do all the work, but they have to do the work of changing to healthier habits. If they do, they see wonderful results, and if they can maintain that new lifestyle, they will enjoy good health and experience life to its fullest.