Facts about Echinacea

• Echinacea cuts the chances of catching a common cold by 58 percent.
• Echinacea reduces the duration of the common cold by almost one-and-a-half days.
• The mechanism behind echinaceas anti-microbial properties is its ability to ‘eat’ (or phagocytose) the bacteria to properly destroy and rid the body of the bacteria or virus. 

Medicinal Properties about Echinacea 

• Caffeic acid and derivatives 
• Antioxidant
• Regeneration
• Slows down or reverses inflammation 
• Some skin and body care companies add caffeic acid to products because of its antioxidant properties.
• Hexane Properties
• Cytotoxic - meaning it kills foreign body (viruses, abnormal cells)
• Polysaccharides 
• Enhances the signaling pathways between the immune system and organ tissues in the body 
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
• These are actually toxic to your liver!
• Echinacea has saturated bases, making them non-toxic, however, always talk to your trusted Naturopathic Physician regarding therapeutic safety guidelines
• Topical applications 
• Fibroblasts
• Connective tissue Regeneration
• Antihyaluronidase
• Resistance of spread of infection

Due to the strong immune properties and alkaloids, when taking Echinacea, take caution with Autoimmune disease, cancer, diseases involving the liver, if on immunosuppressive drugs, pregnancy.