Echinacea
 
Echinacea angustifolia
 
Echinacea is a wonderful herb that has proven useful for many things including prevention of and help with common colds and flus, boosting the immune system and helping to dry a thick, wet cough. These are just a few of the many things that echinacea can do to support us. 
 
I want to make a note right away that echinacea has been known to cause tingling in the mouth for some people. This is due to the presence of xanthoxylin, a naturally occurring crystalline compound found in some plants. 
 
At Community Nourishment, we mostly work with the flowers of echinacea for general immune support to prevent illness or to get ahead of a cold once someone starts to develop one, but the whole plant, including the root, has much to offer for a variety of ailments. 
 
Due to Echinacea's ability to increase white blood cell count, it is important to be careful not to use it in excess as too many white blood cells can lead to complications. 
 
If working with echinacea for general immune support for adults or for children, we recommend working with it 6 days on and then 6 days off. 
 
Here are some of our recommended doses for specific purposes: 
 
For general immune support: 
 
Adults - 1 full dropper in 1 oz of water 3x a day for 6 days on and 6 days off. 
Children 7 years or older - 1 full dropper in an oz of water 2-3x a day for 6 days on and 6 days off 
Children 4-6 years old - 10-15 drops in an oz of water for 6 days on and 6 days off 
Children under the age of 4 - 1 drop per 4lb the child weighs in an oz of water 2x a day for 6 days on and 6 days off. 
 
For example - if your child weighs 32 lb, you will divide 32 by 4 and give them 8 drops in an oz of water.  
 
For acute conditions: 
 
If you are tuned in to your body and are able to detect the moment you begin to develop a cold, echinacea can be very helpful in hindering its progression. If you do not notice and get ahead of the cold in time, we recommend working with yarrow or elder flowers to help your body combat it. 
 
Dosage: 
 
Adults - 1 full dropper in an oz of water every 30 minutes to an hour for 2-3 days 
Children 7 years or older - 1 full dropper in an oz of water every 1 ½ - 2 hours for 2 days 
Children 4-6 years old - 10-15 drops in an oz of water every 2 hours for 2 days 
Children under the age of 4 - 1 drop per 4 lb that they weigh in an oz of water every 3 hours for 1-2 days
 
Please remember that you know your body and your children better than anyone else does so I highly encourage you to work with this remedy and dose as you feel fit. Many people I know dose heavier for themselves and their children than what I have recommended here. 
Echinacea is a generally safe herb with little risk of side effects. 
Do not use it if there is a known allergy to echinacea. 
 
There is so much more to know about this versatile herb and we always encourage you to dive in and learn about the herbs as you work with them! You can find some of our favorite herbal references by visiting our “Resources” page! 
 
If you have any questions please email communitynourishment@gmail.com or call / text (904)-295-7384
 
Remember,
When you support Community Nourishment,
You nourish your Community!
 
***RECLAIMER***
 
This blog is intended to provide information on this herb/remedy that I use regularly in my life. This blog is for educational purposes only, mainly for people who work with me or my remedies and are looking for information on how and why I use them and information on the ingredients. There is much more research and information on each herb and I always encourage everyone to ask lots of questions and dive into research for themselves as well as consulting with a professional. Visit our "resources" tab at the top for a list of SOME of our favorite books/teachers/videos.
Thank you!