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	Echinacea by Rebecca Brents
Astrology, Tarot, and Self Improvement for the New Age.

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Echinacea
by Rebecca Brents

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Several years ago, as the interest in holistic health, natural medicines, and herbal treatments gained popular momentum in this country, there was a lot of information bouncing around about the health benefits of this herb, derived from a plant related to the sunflower, particularly as a way to stay healthy during cold season.

There are people who swear by Echinacea, apparently with good reason. It is evidently a natural antibiotic, and was known for its infection fighting powers by Native American healers for centuries. The Plains Indians in particular used it as an antiseptic, a pain killer, and for the treatment of toothache, herpes, insect stings, and snakebites. It was also a common fixture in household medicine cabinets right up to the development of pharmaceutical antibiotics in the early to mid-1900's.

In a way, its renewed popularity represents a "return to basics" -- and perhaps a tacit admission that old-fashioned folk remedies can still have a place in modern health care. According to published information, Echinacea can fight infections that are yet beyond even the reach of modern drugs, with no risk of resistance or the sometimes significant and unpleasant side effects that can leave the informed patient (someone who actually read the cautions that come with the prescription pills) wondering if the cure is worth the documented hazards.

Echinacea's most common use is in treating the infamous common cold (which is not just one, but perhaps hundreds of different diseases caused by different viral strains which produce similar symptoms ... which is one reason why a medical "cure" has been so elusive) and the lingering, annoying respiratory infections that accompany "it."

Echinacea apparently works, at least in part, not by attacking, weakening, or killing the infectious agent, but by boosting the body's natural immune system. This is a philosophical approach well known in Oriental medicine ... restoring health, not by poisoning the invader, but rather creating an environment in which it cannot exist. It is a most interesting subtlety.

True, Echinacea contains a chemical called echinacoside, which, like penicillin, is lethal to a variety of infectious organisms, but it also fortifies the chemical shield that surrounds the body's cells and helps them repel invaders.

It also increases key immune system elements called microphages and boosts the body's production of defensive T-cells (whose depletion is a key factor in the lethal effects of the AIDS virus, and whose presence play a vital part in the containment and reduction of tumors in cancer. The use of Echinacea is not) recommended in cases of AIDS or cancer, however.)

Taking Echinacea at the first sign of a cold can help reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. Stories of personal experience here at Enchanted Spirit suggest that a matter of hours can make a difference, so don't delay. If taken early enough, when symptoms are putting in their first appearance, Echinacea can even prevent a cold from getting a foothold and eliminate symptoms overnight. In combination with Goldenseal (a common blend in most health food stores and natural pharmacies), the effects can be almost miraculous.

Echinacea can also help prevent yeast infections by stimulating the body's white blood cells to control the over-production of the naturally occurring fungi that normally inhabit the body without ill effect. Oral doses of Echinacea along with several servings a day of live-culture yogurt provide even more protection for women prone to this problem, as the bacteria in yogurt also help reinstate the body's natural chemistry, making it harder for yeast cells to flourish.

The same chemical that protects cells from infection can also help keep joints lubricated and relieve the pain and stiffness that goes with arthritis. Echinacea reportedly makes the joint cartilage more slippery, reducing friction and inflammation, and helps remove irritating debris from sore joints.

Echinacea applied to the skin as a wash has benefits for healing wounds and treating burns, sores, and rashes. It heals by stimulating tissue-producing cells called fibroblasts.

Echinacea can be taken preventatively if you anticipate being exposed to colds and flu, but only for a maximum of two to six weeks at a time interspersed with periods of no dosage, to maintain its maximum effectiveness.

Pregnant or nursing mothers should consult their health care provider before using this product. Those with kidney disease should restrict its usage to no more than a week at a time. Those with hay fever and sensitivity to ragweed may suffer allergic reactions to this herb.

Rebecca Brents writes on a wide variety of spiritual and occult subjects, including astrology, tarot, metaphysics, and self-improvement. She publishes the extensive online new age Ezine, The Enchanted Sprite on her website: Enchanted Spirit. Rebecca is also available for personal astrology and tarot readings and consultations.

If you're going to tell people the truth,
make them laugh, or they'll kill you.
~ Billy Wilder ~
Born June 22, 1906

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	PO Box 1080 Sandia Park · NM · 87047

Enchanted Spirit is a non-denominational spiritual center of healing, support, self-improvement, personal guidance, education and writing. We publish multi-media works of New Age thought and information to encourage serenity and growth in individual life choices, advance the universal search for life's meaning, and promote tolerance for positive ideas from all philosophies and religious traditions, believing as we do that truth is where you find it.

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Last updated April 1st, 2004

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Romancing the Shadow
By
Connie Zweig, Steven Wolf