About Echinacea

There are nine species of Echinacea. They are endemic to eastern and central North America, where they are found growing in moist to dry prairies and open wooded areas. They have large, showy heads of composite flowers, blooming from early to late summer. Echinacea grows up to 140 cm in height. The leaves are normally hairy with a rough texture, having uniseriate trichomes but sometimes they lack hairs. This flower also have medicinal effects. Marketed and studied medicinal products contain different species, different organs and different preparations. Their chemical composition is very different. This flower was widely used by the North American Plains Indians for its general medicinal qualities. Echinacea was one of the basic antimicrobial herbs of eclectic medicine from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, and its use was documented for snakebite, anthrax, and for relief of pain. In the 1930s echinacea became popular in both Europe Romania and America as a herbal medicine.