Herb. No. 005 · Asteraceae
Prairie coneflower of the American Midwest. European fields grow it as a crop now.
Native · North America
Native Also grown
OpenGentleplant
Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Prairie coneflower taken at the first scratch of a cold — immune-modulating, not a daily tonic.
Several Echinacea species are used (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida). Aerial parts and root are both official. Research on preventing colds is mixed; the traditional North American Indigenous and Eclectic use was short-term at the onset of infection, not months of daily capsules.
Flavor
Tingling, numbing, and root-bitter — a buzz on the tongue is the signature.
Parts used
Root · Flowering tops
In favor
- Beautiful pollinator plant
- Reasonable safety for short courses
- Root tincture is straightforward to make
Against
- Asteraceae allergy
- Not for autoimmune disease without a clinician
- Quality of commercial products varies wildly