Gender: Male
Element: Earth
Planet: Mars
Zodiac Sign: Pisces, Scorpio
Celtic Zodiac/ Date: N/A
Lunar Month: N/A
Tarot: Temperance
Rune: N/A
Ogham: N/A
Crystal: N/A
Deities: Athena, Venus, Cerridwen
Associated Festival: N/A
Chakras: Solar Plexus, Heart, and Root
Birth Month: N/A
Meaning: Healing, Strengthening Spells
Type: Perennial flower
Grows in Zone: 5-8
Plant for Bees?: Yes
Natural pesticide?: No
Poisonous/ Toxic: No
Known to witches and herbalists as the purple Coneflower, Samson Root, Black Sampson, Hedgehog, Indian Head, Kansas snakeroot, Scurvy root, Snakeroot, and Comb Flower, Echinacea is a perennial plant, meaning it lasts for many years. It is approximately 1-2 feet tall when mature. It is slightly spiky and has large purple to pink flowers, depending on the species. The center of the flower has a seed head (cone), which is also spiky and dark brown to red in color. Echinacea is a Perennial plant from the daisy family, Asteraceae, and can be found primarily in Eastern and Central North America. The name Echinacea comes from the Greek word echinos, which describes a sea urchin or hedgehog, which are similar in appearance to Echinacea’s spiked seed head.
Native Americans used Echinacea for hundreds of years before the arrival of European explorers, settlers, and colonizers. The North American Plains Indians used it extensively for general medical purposes. It is endemic to eastern and central North America and thrives in moist to dry prairies and open woodlands.
The Plains Native Americans used Echinacea more than any other herb. They would smoke the plant and use it to make themselves resistant to heat. Native Americans used Echinacea to treat snake bites.
By the early 1800s Echinacea became a popular herbal remedy for those who had settled in the United States. Early settlers would mix Echinacea into horse or cow feed to help improve the animal’s health and appetite if it was having a hard time eating and soon became commonly used in Europe as well. It became much more popular after research on it was carried out in Germany in the 1920s. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Echinacea became hugely popular in Europe and North America as an herbal medication.
Echinacea was first used as a treatment for the common cold when a Swiss supplement maker mistakenly understood that it could prevent colds, and that Native American tribes in South Dakota used it for that purpose.
Native American Indians did not commonly use Echinacea for the treatment or prevention of colds, though it was by some. Some, like the Kiowa and the Cheyenne, used it for sore throats and coughs, while the Pawnee said it was useful for headaches. The Lakȟóta said it was an excellent painkiller.
Native Americans say that humans learned to use Echinacea by watching elk seeking out the herb and eating it whenever they were wounded or sick. They named it the “elk root.”
Echinacea is one of the least well studied as far as medicinal properties as it is more often cultivated for its flower than for medicine in today’s modern world. However, there has been very promising scientific research in the last 10 years towards this very healing plant.
Studies suggest that Echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Professional herbalists may recommend Echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, ear infections, athlete’s foot, sinusitis, hay fever, as well as slow-healing wounds. It also could help provide some relief from indigestion, ADHD, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Echinacea balances and strengthens the immune system. This Native American plant is a natural immunity enhancer. It stabilizes the histamine producing cells and keeps white blood cells within the normal range. The root, leaves, or whole plant may be used in tonics or teas. Prevention is better than a cure. Ideally, it is best to use herbal remedies as a preventative measure for hay fever in the months running up to spring and summer, rather than just as a treatment. A cup of Echinacea a day boosts the immune system for hay fever season.
Echinacea strengthens the immune system and can shorten the length of a bout of cold or flu. Drink a cup of Echinacea tea every day from the start of winter as a preventative measure. Scientists from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy reviewed over a dozen studies on the effects of Echinacea on people’s risk of catching a cold. A review of 14 studies found that taking Echinacea may lower the risk of developing colds by more than 58%. Research has also shown that taking Echinacea at the first sign of a cold can decrease the duration and intensity, reducing the length of time a cold lasts by 1.4 days.
Any herbal remedy or food that contains antioxidants can help repair your cells. Antioxidants destroy the toxins (free radicals) that age and damage the cells in our body prematurely. Because of the antioxidants in Echinacea, drinking Echinacea tea or taking a high-quality supplement can contribute to healthy cell growth in your body.
Echinacea has been shown to improve immunity, blood sugar, anxiety, inflammation and skin health. It may even have anti-cancer properties. However, human-based research on these benefits is often limited.
The antioxidant properties in Echinacea purpurea are unique. A 2017 study showed that Echinacea in your bloodstream can help keep your blood sugar from spiking if you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic. It can also keep your blood sugar from plummeting if you are hypoglycemic. It certainly isn’t a replacement for insulin therapy or other diabetes treatments, such as managing carbohydrates. But drinking Echinacea tea or consuming it in supplement form is one way that you can help control your blood sugar levels.
The research for Echinacea as a supplement to lower blood pressure is ongoing, but it’s also promising. It makes sense that an herb with high amounts of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds could help blood pressure levels. Anxiety also plays into high blood pressure, so the effects of Echinacea contribute to controlling blood pressure in additional ways.
Echinacea was tested as an antianxiety supplement and found to be effective. Echinacea extract helps regulate the synapses that aid communication between your body and brain. While it can’t turn off the “fear reflex” that people who have anxiety attacks experience, it can limit the physical effects of your fears and help you to feel calmer. Echinacea can be an excellent herb for those that battle with anxiety.
Because of its clinically demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, Echinacea has been suggested as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, and other conditions that are caused or worsened by inflammation. The biologically active compounds in Echinacea work with your body to keep its inflammation response down. This contributes to healing and relief for many inflammation-related issues.
The Native Americans traditionally used Echinacea to relieve aches and pains, and it is believed that Echinacea can help relieve the physical discomforts that usually follow surgery. Echinacea possesses germ killing and wound healing properties.
Witch Tip: Soak a damp cotton cloth in a solution containing 1 part Echinacea to 2 parts water and apply gently to the affected area. A compress can help to relieve swollen glands, inflammations of the veins, infected cuts, skin abrasions, burns, and inflamed insect bites.
Echinacea is available over the counter at pharmacies, health shops, and online as teas, liquid extracts, a dried herb, and as capsules or pills. Echinacea is also available as a dried herb from specialist supplies. Similarly, a cream containing Echinacea purpurea extract was shown to improve eczema symptoms and help repair the skin’s thin, protective outer layer.
There have been cases where people have allergic side effects to Echinacea but these have been primarily in people who have a floral allergy such as daisies, chrysanthemums, marigolds, ragweed, and more.
It is safe to use indefinitely, but loses potency if you use it too long, so it’s best to only use it during flu season or when you’re not feeling well and take a break the rest of the time. Continuous use is not advised. Some studies suggest that it is only effective up to 10 days before it loses its effect on your body.
Echinacea is often used to strengthen the power of spells. It was also used by the Native Americans not only to strengthen their spells, but as an offering to spirits. Echinacea root and petals can be used in a sachet and carried to draw energies of strength and stamina, and to be carried as a protective ward.
Witch Tip: Echinacea can be used to strengthen the power of charms, blends, or sachets and burned as incense. Including this herb in any spell or charm will increase its effectiveness.
Use it for strengthening your powers. Carry this herb to promote inner strength during trying times.
Witch Tip: Drink Echinacea tea to encourage psychic insight and amplify clairvoyant abilities. Keep Echinacea petals around your altar or sacred space to increase magical and psychic energies.
Grow it around your home or bring it in to your home to attract prosperity and protect your family from financial difficulties. It’s also an excellent root to use in money magic.
Echinacea seeds can be incorporated in fertility and abundance spells. Dress an orange or red candle with cinnamon oil, place Echinacea petals around the base, and light the candle for a spell to increase lust and male sexual potency.
Echinacea petals and root can be burned in cleansing and purification rituals. Take a spiritual cleansing bath infused with Echinacea petals and root.
Use level: Easy
Nothing on this website should be taken as medical or legal advice. Please use herbs responsibly. Always consult your doctor before using any kind of supplements.
From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,
