Table of contents:
- What is echinacea?
- What are the benefits of echinacea flowers?
- 1. Help prevent cancer
- 2. Strengthen the body's immune system
- 3. Pain relief
- 4. As a natural laxative
- 5. Anti-inflammatory drugs
The echinacea flower is a type of flower from the daisy family that is widely used as a health supplement. Usually this flower is used as a medicine to help fight colds and flu. What are the benefits of throwing away echinacea that are good for health?
What is echinacea?
Echinacea is a flower which is also known as designation coneflower in America. This flower herb is usually available at drugstores, pharmacies, or supermarkets in pill form, dry herb, or even tea.
This flower has a complex mixture of active substances, some of which are called antimicrobials. While other ingredients are believed to have an effect on the human immune system.
What are the benefits of echinacea flowers?
All echinacea species contain compounds called phenolic substances. Phenolic substances are active substances that control the activity of various enzymes and cell receptors in the body. Other benefits can also protect the body from infection and damage to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Phenols are also known to have antioxidant properties that are good for human health.
In addition, echinacea plants also contain alkylamides or alkalis, which have an effect on the immune system, as well as polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and caffeic acid derivatives.
Other benefits of the echinacea plant for body health are:
1. Help prevent cancer
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that this flower can be useful for preventing cancer cells. The phytochemical content in it is useful for fighting tumors that will develop into cancer.
However, the use of this plant is only limited to being a companion drug. Still needed surgery and chemotherapy to treat cancer directly.
2. Strengthen the body's immune system
According to a research report published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases at the University of Connecticut, this plant is able to produce a stronger immune effect.
The study, which has conducted 14 studies, also determined that this flower from the daisy family was able to prevent flu attacks by about 58% and reduce the duration of flu healing by almost one and a half days faster than other medicinal plants.
3. Pain relief
Apart from being a preventative for cancer and flu attacks, this plant is also effective as a painkiller. According to the Indian Great Plains, there are several types of pain that can be relieved by this plant, namely:
- Stomach ache
- Pain associated with headaches
- Pain related to HSV (herpes)
- Pain associated with gonorrhea
- Pain associated with measles
- Snakebite
- Sore throat
- Stomach ache
- Tonsillitis
- Tooth ache
There are several common ways to use this herb as a pain reliever. Among other things, you can use it by brewing it as a tea. You can also use echinacea that has been dried and pounded and then mixed in food menus such as pasta sauce.
4. As a natural laxative
Like many other herbal plants, this flower can be a laxative for your digestive problems. According to Medical Herbalism, this flower apart from being a laxative, can also have a calming effect on digestion.
You can use echinacea as a laxative by brewing dry echinacea like tea. For more chronic conditions, a daily cup of echinacea tea can help loosen congestion, aka constipation.
5. Anti-inflammatory drugs
Inflammation in the body is one of the root causes of poor health conditions. However, the University of British Columbia states, consuming echinacea regularly can effectively cure and relieve various types of inflammation in the body, including inflammation caused by stress, toxins in food, or due to lack of rest.
