Echinacea - medicinal properties and application in folk medicine, recipes

A frequent visitor in color compositions on personal plots is echinacea, the healing properties of which people learned in ancient times. It is important to know how to properly harvest raw materials and then use it to get only benefit and to exclude possible harm.

Echinacea - what is it?

A widespread flower culture decorates many flower beds. It is characterized by narrow oval leaves with small denticles. The stem is rough and straight, and on its cleavage the inflorescence is formed in the form of a basket, the diameter of which can reach up to 15 cm. Echinacea is a plant that blooms with red or brown flowers with pink or purple tongues. Watch this beauty can be in the period from the end of June and until the first frost.

Procurement of Echinacea

In the recipes of folk medicine, flowers and leaves are more often used, but the rhizomes of the plant also benefit. It is important to know what is useful for Echinacea, when to collect for drying and how to conduct the process itself.

  1. Leaf preparation . In the first year after planting, it is already possible to harvest leaves and do it better in the autumn. Before drying, it is recommended to crush the raw materials, and then decompose it in the shade. In fresh form, the leaves can be put in salads.
  2. Stocking flowers . The ideal time for collecting is the period when the buds have not yet opened, since they are of maximum benefit. You should consider how to dry echinacea, and it is also recommended to do in the shade, avoiding the use of an oven and dryer.
  3. Harvesting of rhizomes . It is recommended to conduct the procedure in the autumn. It is necessary to carefully dig a plant, shake off the ground and rinse the roots, and then grind them. In this case, it is better to use the oven to control the temperature, because the undried root can become moldy. The optimum temperature is 40-60 ° C.

Echinacea - treatment with folk remedies

The plant is used in numerous recipes of traditional medicine, which are effective for allergies, rheumatism and various inflammatory processes. Echinacea is an herb that helps with blood infection , liver and digestive problems. Decoctions and infusions are used to get rid of staphylococcal and streptococcal rods. A plant is recommended for the normalization of sugar values, which prevents diabetes.

Echinacea for immunity

One of the main uses of this healing plant is the stimulation of the immune system. Echinacea, causes macrophages and lymphocytes to produce more useful substances, which helps to increase the protective functions of the body. There are several ways how to drink Echinacea for raising immunity:

  1. The simplest version is phytotea, which can be purchased at a pharmacy in special filter bags. You can drink a drink, as well as in prevention, and when developing ARVI and other diseases.
  2. Useful is the tincture of Echinacea , for which you can use both fresh and dried flowers of the plant. Raw materials are placed in a container of dark glass and fill it with 50% alcohol. Take the ingredients in equal proportions. Close the container and put it in a cool place for two weeks. After filter and store in the refrigerator. You should know how to drink tincture of Echinacea, so take for immunity 1 teaspoon three times a day. To improve the taste, you can dilute the tincture with water.

Tincture of echinacea with lymph nodes

With various diseases, inflammation of the lymph nodes is observed. Reduce the manifestation of this symptom will help Echinacea, which fights bacteria, increases the number and quality of leukocytes. The rich composition of the plant promotes rapid healing of the lymph nodes and has an analgesic effect. There is a special drug "Lymphonorm", which uses echinacea with hawthorn for lymph nodes. To get the result you need to take the capsule 2-3 times a day during meals. Duration of treatment - a month.

With inflammation of the lymph nodes you can make compresses using a tincture that is sold in the pharmacy or it is easy to make by yourself (the recipe above). It must be diluted with warm water in equal proportions. In the finished solution, moisten the bandage, folded in several layers. Apply the compress to the inflamed nodes at night. For oral administration, dilute in 0.5 tbsp. water 25-40 drops of tincture. Take this medicine three times a day.

Echinacea for colds

It has already been mentioned that the flower is a powerful immunomodulator. Thanks to the presence of phytosterols, essential oil and polysaccharides, the plant copes with inflammatory processes and bacteria. Infusion of echinacea, the medicinal properties of which are extensive, should be taken when the first symptoms of cold appear, in order to achieve maximum results.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. It is important to know how to brew Echinacea, so fill the raw material with hot water and leave for an hour.
  2. It will stop cooling, drain and can be taken. Drink infusion three times a day for 1-2 tbsp. spoons in 30 minutes. before meals.

Echinacea from herpes

Since the plant has the ability to strengthen immunity , it can be effectively used during the treatment of viral diseases. Echinacea prevents the reproduction of infections and bacteria of all kinds. In addition, it contributes to the rapid healing of wounds, due to the acceleration of regeneration processes. If you take folk remedies inside, you can cope with inflammation. Echinacea against herpes is used in the form of compresses.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Grind vegetable raw materials and pour hot water. It is best to do this in a thermos.
  2. Insist for a couple of hours, and then strain and you can make cold compresses. Apply the lotions for 20 minutes. to problematic places.

Echinacea in gynecology

Vegetable raw materials have been used since ancient times to treat various female diseases. The curative properties of Echinacea are effective in infections that are transmitted sexually, and inflammation arising in the genitourinary system. There is evidence that different dosage forms of echinacea contribute to the successful treatment of tumorous tumors arising in the reproductive system. Echinacea, the medicinal properties of which are due to the rich chemical composition, is used in simple infusion.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Mix vegetable raw materials and take only 1 tbsp. spoon collection, which should be filled with boiling water.
  2. Leave it under the lid for an hour, and after steeping, strain. Take this medicine three times a day, drinking the prepared volume at a time.

Echinacea with mastopathy

Complex treatment is important for effective treatment. To maintain the immune system in mastopathy it is recommended to use folk recipes, which include medicinal echinacea. The best results are given by tincture, which can be bought in the store or made independently (the recipe was mentioned earlier). This drug helps to normalize the absorption of nutrients in the mammary glands, and it also improves the outflow of fluid. It remains to find out how to take the tincture of Echinacea, so it is drunk three times a day for 20 drops. Duration of treatment - two weeks.

Echinacea in Cosmetology

The presented plant has found its application and home cosmetology. More often echinacea is used to prepare broths and infusions that help to cope with different problems. Finding out how useful Echinacea in cosmetology, it is worth noting its powerful anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating properties. There are many ways how to use the presented vegetable raw materials for hair and skin care.

Echinacea for the face

This plant is unique, because it contains substances that protect against the destruction of hyaluronic acid. Thanks to this, it maintains the water balance of the skin and protects against pathogens. In addition, it is worth noting that the funds made on the basis of echinacea, are hypoallergenic. Echinacea is effective from acne and various inflammations, and it also strengthens the immune abilities of the skin.

The extract of this plant helps to restore tissue and protects from peeling and dehydration. Echinacea, the medicinal properties of which are confirmed by science, activates the lymphatic system, due to which the body is cleared of toxins and toxins. The flower has a rejuvenating effect and with its help it is possible to improve the complexion . There are several ways how you can use Echinacea:

  1. Effective from rashes and oily skin is a tincture, for the preparation of which you should mix 20 grams of Echinacea, chamomile and string. Fill the collected collection with alcohol 70%. Insist for 10 days away from sunlight. Remains strained and you can wipe your face twice a day, after cleaning it.
  2. To cope with the rash, reduce pigmentation and wrinkles, it is recommended to rub the skin with the juice of the plant twice a day. Still it can be frozen and in the mornings wipe the skin with ice cubes.

Echinacea for Hair

Useful decoctions and infusions will help make your hair sound and beautiful. With regular use, you can cope with brittleness and marked tips. Curls will become healthy, silky, shiny and obedient. In addition, echinacea helps to fight with loss and fragility. For those who are interested in how to use Echinacea, you should use the recipe given.

Ingredients:

Preparation:

  1. Plant the plant, and pour boiling water. Close the lid and insist until the liquid cools.
  2. It will remain only to strain and can be used to rinse ringlets after each wash.

Echinacea - contraindications

It should be borne in mind that in some cases, the presented plant can cause harm:

  1. Contraindications include the presence of autoimmune diseases, diabetes and leukemia. Abandon the use of funds with this plant should be at increased arterial pressure .
  2. Echinacea is a plant that is forbidden to women in the state and when breastfeeding.
  3. Do not use folk recipes in the presence of individual intolerance, which manifests itself in the form of an allergy.
  4. People with problems of the nervous system, for example, with insomnia, it is important to control the dosage.