Healing echinacea

Certain echinacea constituents have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase, 5-lipoxygenase, and hyaluronidase may be involved. In animals, application of Epurpurea prior to application of a topical irritant reduced both paw and ear edema. Despite these laboratory findings, randomized, controlled clinical trials involving echinacea for wound healing have not been performed in humans. 

Echinacea Echinacea species (E angustifolia E pallida purpurea) Roots and seeds from the echinacea plant Immune stimulant treatment of colds and upper respiratory tract infections applied topically to promote wound healing... 

Foster, S. 1991. The species identification and distribution. In Echinacea, Nature s Immune Enhancer , pp. 107-115. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT. 

Echinacea has been used topically for wound-healing. The exact mechanism is unknown but is likely caused by antihyaluronidase activity of echinacoside. A study investigating this activity found that E. pallida, which is known to contain echinacoside, had more anti-inflammatory and woundhealing activity in rats after topical application. The effects were much greater with E. pallida compared with E. purpurea and control (22). 

Many over-the-counter treatments are herbal supplements popularized by the recent trend toward all things natural. In a grocery or department store, a shopper can buy a vast array of different herbal supplements, all reported to have some healing property or nutritional value. Ginseng, echinacea, ginger root, flaxseed oil, lavender oil, and shark cartilage are all examples of the things one can find, each with a different function that supposedly makes life better. 

Echinacea Immune stimulant that helps increase resistance to cold, influenza and other infections, wound healing... 

The wound-healing actions of Echinacea stem from two effects inhibition of hyaluronidase, an enzyme produced by bacteria that enables them to spread throughout a wound, and stimulation of fibroblasts to produce granulation tis-... 

Honey is one alternative less desirable choices include echinacea and St. John s wort for wound healing acceleration and to prevent scarring. 

Strep throat Direct contact with the tissue at the back of the throat with a tincture of echinacea liberally mixed with saliva is a certain remedy for cases of strep throat. Echinacea actively stimulates saliva and numbs the tissue it comes into contact with, making it perfect for this condition or for any infection causing a sore, swollen throat. I have found this reliably effective, again if treatment is assertive and consistent. In several cases (including a doubting physician), the throat had been positively cultured for Streptococcus healing generally occurs within 24 hours. 

Bergner, Paul. The Healing Power of Echinacea and Goldenseal. Rocklin, CA Prima Publishing, 1997. Multiple trials and studies listed. 

Echinaceae pupureae herba adjuvant treatment of recurrent respiratory and urinary tract infections (systemic use) healing of wounds (local use)... 

Echinacea preparations, especially oral (liquid extract), topical (ointment), and parenteral products of the firesh aboveground preparations of E. purpurea, and, to a lesser extent, the roots of E. angustifolia and E. pallida, are used in Germany for the external treatment of hard-to-heal wounds, eczema, burns, psoriasis, berpes simplex, and so on. As immu-nostimulants internally a prophylactic at the onset of cold and flu symptoms and for treatment of Candida albicans infections, chronic respiratory infections, prostatitis, polyarthritis (rheumatoid arthritis), and so on. ... 

S.Foster, Echinaceae—Nature s Immune Enhancer, Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT, 1991. 

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