Echinacea Tincture for Immune Support
Echinacea, also known as Purple Coneflower, is a beautiful flower that also touts powerful healing properties. It is native to North America and the leaves, roots, and flowers cann all be used for the medicinal qualities. Native Americans used it on wounds and infections, and to treat ailments like syphilis, scarlet fever, malaria, and blood poisoning. It can be used topically as well for eczema and psoriasis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Finally, it has been used to alleviate allergy symptoms and relieve pains alike toothaches and headaches in addition to its immune support. Its flowers boost the immune system by stimulating white blood cell production. If taken at the onset of symptoms, echinacea can cut a week long of symptoms in half or even down to just a day or two.
How do you take Echinacea?
Echinacea can be taken as a capsule, tincture, or topically as a cream. See below for a recipe on how to make your own echinacea tincture. Personally, my husband uses an echinacea tincture because it is easy to take, is tasteless if added to tea, and is extremely effective since the alcohol helps it to absorb into the body immediately.
Echinacea can be combined with other herbs such as goldenseal, astragalus, licorice, thyme, and plantain for a stronger immune response.
Echinacea Tincture for Immune Support
Equipment
- Glass jar and lid
- Strainer
- Amber-glass bottle with dropper lid
- Label with the name, date and its medicinal use
Ingredients
- Echinacea flowers or roots (purple coneflower, echinacea angustifolia or purpurea)
- 80 or 100-proof vodka
Instructions
- If harvesting your own echinacea flowers or roots, rinse with cold water after cutting, and then let air dry.
- Place your flowers, leaves or roots in a clean jar and cover with double the amount of alcohol to plant material. Tighten your lid and shake gently, then remove the lid and push all the flowers down so that they are entirely submerged in the alcohol. Recap the jar and let sit in a cool, dry place for 4-8 weeks. Make sure to label your jar. About every week or so, gently shake.
- After 6-8 weeks, strain your plant material out of the alcohol and place the tincture in a dark amber glass bottle with a dropper. Label your jar with the name of the recipe, the ingredients you used, the date you created it, and what the tincture is good for (optional, but very helpful for a last-minute rush to the medicine cabinet).
Dosage
For adults and children 12 years of age and older, take one dropper full (30 drops) at the first sign of sickness and then a few times a day (even up to every hour the first day) until symptoms subside. Alternatively, dilute the dropper full into water or tea three to four times daily at the onset of symptoms. Use after the first or second day of sickness is not recommended for echinacea.
Caution: Echinacea is immune-boosting and should not be taken by individuals with autoimmune issues unless specified by a doctor. Additionally, echinacea may stimulate blood clotting, therefore one should not use echinacea at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery. Consult with your doctor first.
