Hunter's Moon at Dusk 2010

Hunter's Moon at Dusk 2010
View of Hunter's Moon Spectacular

Friday, April 17, 2009

Essential Herbal Remedy for the Holistic Lifestyle -Echinacea

Veterinarians have long known about the benefits of Echinacea as an herbal remedy. A formerly abundant flower growing wild in massive sprays Echinacea has all but disappeared from its native habitat. Veterinarians have long used Echinacea as an herbal remedy for livestock. The whole plant flower, leaf, root, and stem went in with the usual feed ingredients. For humans, this herbal remedy is quite effective, too. Of course, it won’t be in a feedbag, but this herbal remedy really works.

Over harvesting has changed the volunteer status of these wildflowers, but not to worry. Now that people are aware of Echinacea’s worth as an herbal remedy, it is being cultivated all around the world. In certain soils it is actually invasive.

Echinacea is known for its power to fight off virus, stomach problems, and infections. In general, Echinacea can be used as an herbal remedy for getting rid of flu, colds, and skin problems, rheumatic fever. The fact that it can handle a virus is one thing it’s got over antibiotics.

At first, this unusual flower was harvested for its roots. Now the whole plant including leaves and flowers goes into the healing mix for making the herbal remedy. After harvesting, it is hung upside down to air dry. Then it is pulverized and made into capsules, or conjoined with other beneficial herbs.

Growing to about two feet tall, the two potent varieties of Echinacea are the purple, and the white. Also known as coneflower, it grows thin petals similar to a daisy drooping out of a cone shaped center.

Echinacea, an essential herbal remedy – How to grow and process

Nurseries sell Echinacea flower starts, as it has become popular for its unusual ascetic appeal in a flower garden. Cultivating it for medicinal herbal remedies would be one way to make sure it’s the real McCoy, since substitutes are being sold under the name of Echinacea.

The best time to harvest is right before the bloom completely opens. Starting out with the stems tied together in a bundle, hang the bundle upside down in a dry place. Let it get started with open-air drying, and then cover it with a paper bag to finish the process.

After it’s completely dry, pick the leaves off and save the flower heads. Run it through an herb grinder, an electric coffee mill, or a food processor with good sharp blades.

Herbal remedy plants that you grow for yourself enable you to be proactive about your own health. For people who don’t have health insurance, these essential herbal remedies will contribute to well being through self-sufficient means.