Herbal Highlight- Echinacea

Herbal Highlight: Echinacea – Winter’s Immune Ally

As the cold winds and rains roll in and we’re called inward to rest and restore, nature offers us a powerful herbal ally to help guard our health and vitality—Echinacea, a striking purple coneflower with deep roots in traditional medicine.

A Little Plant Lore

Echinacea holds a sacred place in the history of traditional healing, especially among Native American Nations, who were the first to discover and honour its remarkable medicinal power. Tribes such as the Lakota, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Comanche used different parts of the plant—root, flower, and seed—for a wide range of purposes: from infectious conditions, toothaches, snake and insect bites, to soothing fevers and boosting general resilience.

This ancestral knowledge forms the foundation of how herbalists today work with Echinacea. It was used not only as a physical medicine but often as a plant of protection, helping strengthen one’s life force. The teachings passed down through oral tradition and direct experience were later observed and adopted by settlers and Eclectic physicians in the 1800s, who helped bring Echinacea into Western herbal medicine. But its true roots, and the wisdom of how to work with it, come from the land and the First Peoples who walked it.

Herbal Actions

Echinacea is most commonly known as an immune stimulant and modulator, helping to strengthen the body’s natural defences, particularly when we feel run down or exposed to winter bugs. It’s also an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and lymphatic, meaning it helps shift congestion and supports the body’s detox processes during illness.

Key Constituents

Echinacea’s actions come from a rich synergy of compounds, each playing a role in supporting immune and tissue health. Some of the key active constituents include:

Alkamides – help modulate immune response and reduce inflammation
Polysaccharides – support immune activity and help protect mucous membranes
Caffeic acid derivatives (like echinacoside) – offer antioxidant and antimicrobial properties
Flavonoids – strengthen tissues and act as natural anti-inflammatories
Volatile oils – contribute to antimicrobial action and lymphatic movement

These components work together to support both short-term immune response and longer-term immune resilience when used correctly and respectfully.

Winter Wellness Uses

Echinacea is most effective when taken at the first sign of illness—think tickle in the throat, swollen glands, or fatigue. It’s also beautiful in:

Immune blends for cold and flu season
Throat sprays or gargles for scratchy throats
Tincture blends to support lymphatic drainage
Pet-friendly formulas to help with immune response in dogs (under practitioner guidance)

Find our blends for pets and people in the Apothecary!

Energetics & Symbolism

Echinacea carries a cooling and drying energy, useful when the body is hot and inflamed. Spiritually, it’s thought to offer energetic shielding—a beautiful plant for those who tend to ‘catch’ others’ energy or feel energetically vulnerable during the darker months.

How to Use

Tincture: 2–5ml, 2–3 times a day at the onset of symptoms
Tea: Less common due to its strong flavour, but can be used in blends
Topical: In creams or washes for infected wounds or boils

Always best used in short bursts rather than long-term to prevent immune overstimulation.

Cautions

While Echinacea is generally considered very safe, there are a few important notes to keep in mind:

Not suitable for long-term daily use unless under professional guidance—best used in acute phases or short-term support.
May not be appropriate for those with autoimmune conditions, as it stimulates immune activity.
Rarely, some people may experience allergic reactions, especially if allergic to plants in the daisy (Asteraceae) family.
If pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, it’s always wise to consult your herbalist or healthcare provider.

For pets, use only in low, practitioner-advised doses, and avoid use in animals with autoimmune disorders unless directed.

Blends Well With...

Elderberry and thyme for cold and flu blends
Calendula and cleavers for lymphatic support
Licorice and marshmallow to soothe inflamed mucosa
Astragalus for ongoing immune resilience (post-illness)

DIY Winter Immune Elixir

A soothing, immune-supportive syrup to keep on hand during the colder months

Purpose:
To support the immune system at the first signs of illness, calm inflammation, and ease symptoms like sore throats and swollen glands. This blend brings together warming, antimicrobial, and immune-stimulating herbs—perfect for the whole family (with a few tweaks for kids and pets).

Ingredients:

30g dried Echinacea root (or 45g fresh if available)
20g dried Elderberries
10g dried Ginger root (sliced or chopped)
1 stick of Cinnamon
Zest of ½ a lemon (organic if possible)
500ml water
200ml raw honey (or glycerine for alcohol-free or pet-friendly versions)
Optional: splash of brandy (as a preservative and warming tonic)

Method:

Add the Echinacea, elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and lemon zest to a small saucepan with the water.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer gently (covered) for 30–40 minutes until reduced by about half.
Strain the liquid while warm using a fine mesh strainer or muslin cloth.
While still warm—but not hot—stir in the honey (or glycerine).
If using brandy, add 1–2 tablespoons to help preserve.
Bottle in a sterilised jar or amber glass bottle and store in the fridge for up to 6 weeks.

Dosage (Adults):

1 teaspoon 2–3 times a day at the first signs of illness
Can also be used daily for a few days following exposure to bugs (e.g. after travel or being around unwell people)

For children: halve the dose.

Ritual Tip:
Take this elixir with intention—pause, breathe in the warmth, and imagine your immune system awakening with the strength of the purple coneflower. A gentle way to honour the shift of season and the body’s wisdom.

A Note on Pets 🐾
Echinacea can also be used in low, calculated doses for dogs, especially to help with viral infections, kennel cough, or low immunity. Always check suitability for your animal and consult with a practitioner before use.

In the Clinic
At Inner Peace Holistic Herbal Therapy, Echinacea features in several winter wellness and immune blends for both humans and pets. It’s often combined with supportive herbs to create powerful seasonal tonics, available in our online store or by prescription after consultation.

Find them here

Final Thoughts
Echinacea reminds us to honour our body’s signals and strengthen our inner defences—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As the earth turns inward this season, let this bold purple bloom be a symbol of inner strength, ancestral wisdom, and protection.

📚 References

Bone, K., & Mills, S. (2013). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.
Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.
Weed, S. S. (1989). Healing Wise. Ash Tree Publishing.
Tilgner, S. (2009). Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth. Wise Acres Publishing.
Moerman, D. E. (1998). Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press.
Chevallier, A. (2001). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Dorling Kindersley.
Barret, B. (2003). Medicinal Properties of Echinacea: A Critical Review. Phytomedicine, 10(1), 66–86.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2020). Echinacea – Research Overview.