ECHINACEA – Fertility, power, success, strengthening of spells, money, healing, defensive magic, protection, purification, persistence, inner strength, motivation.
Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in America today and it has been used for centuries as a natural, homeopathic pain killer. Today, echinacea is used to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu and to reduce the symptoms, such as sore throat, cough, and fever.
If you ever taste fresh Echinacea (flowers, roots, stems, or leaves), it has a very floral, but bitter taste, but you’ll also experience the numbing of the throat and tongue called the “Echinacea zing” and it will actually stimulate your saliva glands.
The easiest way to get the benefits of Echinacea is by ingesting it in a tincture or a tea,
Medicinal uses:
Native Americans started using echinacea as a painkiller thousands of years ago as a “cure-all” to treat infections and wounds. It was thought to alleviate toothache, stomach aches, sore throats, headaches, and many more.
Throughout history echinacea has been used to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria.
Echinacea contains antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is used to treat and prevent the common cold and flu as well as other respiratory problems.
It promotes the flow of lymph to address swollen lymphatic glands.
It has been used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, typhoid, vaginal yeast, malaria, herpes, and much more.
Because Echinacea stimulates the immune system function, herbalist may prescribe it as a supplement to boost the immune system.·
Much like other herbal teas, echinacea tea can reduce anxiety and stress.
Echinacea can also help control blood sugar levels. Echinacea prevents blood sugar levels from spiking in diabetic patients and prevents it from dropping in hypoglycemic people.
It can help lower blood pressure and reduce hypertension symptoms.·
Its antioxidant contents help promote new cells growth and prevent cancer.
Some scientists even think that it may be used to combat cancer in the future.
Dosing -There are a couple of considerations when dosing Echinacea:
·Echinacea tincture can be taken at the first sign of acute conditions, such as cold or flu, upper respiratory infections, taking small, frequent doses (hourly, or every other hour) to equal 30-60 drops of tincture per day works best.
To boost the immune system before and during travel take echinacea tincture 3 times a day, to equal 30-60 drops of tincture per day, but not for more than 10 days
The tincture can be taken straight; however, echinacea has a tingly, numbing effect and some people prefer to take it diluted with water.·
Instead of the tincture you can try a very strong brew of echinacea tea 4-6 times a day. Because it will be very floral and quite bitter you may want to add honey or stevia to dilute the bitterness. but don’t add milk as it may cause additional mucus.
When treating skin conditions, such as minor wounds, acne, boils, bug bites, etc, it’s best to apply internally and externally. Externally you can dilute the tincture with witch hazel or create a tea, soak a cloth in the decoction and apply to the effected area like a compress. It works best if the liquid is warmed first.
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Diluted, it can also be used as a mouthwash for toothaches or swollen gums.
Smudge and aromatic benefits:
·A powerful herb to add strength to any intent. It’s particularly powerful for healing purposes. Providing the user with strength, determination, and good luck, it also invites money into the user’s life.
Persistence, Inner Strength, motivation, Protection.
Magic - Essence:
·To the Ute people, echinacea’s traditionally called “elk root” due to the belief that injured elk sought out these plants to use medicinally. ·
Some green witches use echinacea to increase the power of their spells.
Some believe that placing a single echinacea flower on one’s brow can enhance psychic abilities. ·
Hanging a sachet of echinacea over the bed is said to act as a fertility charm.
Fertility - Add the seeds of this flower to a fertility spell to clear spiritual blockages that sometimes inhibit success, or add the fresh flowers to a ritual bath for fertility.
Culinary uses of Echinacea:
·Echinacea leaves, flowers, and roots can be used to make tea and tincture. This herbal tea has a very strong floral flavor that’s somewhat bitter. It’s a flavor that takes a while to get used to. ·
You can make echinacea tea more palatable by adding honey, stevia, and milk can improve the taste greatly.
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