Echinacea, also called purple coneflower, is one of the most popular herbs worldwide. It has been utilized for generations by Native Americans to cure a variety of diseases.
Today, it is widely used as an herb to cure a cold or flu. However, it is also used to treat other medical conditions including migraines, pain, and inflammation. A genus of flowering plants in the daisy family is referred to as echinacea. They naturally grow in grasslands and open, forested places in North America.
Altogether, this group has nine species, but only three are utilized as herbal supplements such as Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea Angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida
Both the plant’s upper parts and roots are used in Tinctures, tablet, extract, and teas. The incredible range of active substances found in echinacea plants includes caffeic acid, phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid, polyacetylenes, and many more.
Additionally, studies have connected echinacea and its constituents to a variety of health advantages, including lowered blood sugar levels, better immunity, and reduced inflammation.
High in antioxidants
Plants that act as antioxidants are abundant in echinacea plants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect your cells from oxidative stress, which has been related to chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and many others. The flavonoids, cichoric acid, and rosmarinic acid are a few of these antioxidants.
Compared to other plant parts, such as the leaves and roots, these antioxidants seem to be present in greater amounts in plant extracts from the fruit and flowers.
Alkamides, which are also present in echinacea plants, can further boost antioxidant action. Alkamides can replenish exhausted antioxidants and improve antioxidants' ability to interact with molecules prone to oxidative damage.
Positive effect on the immune system
Echinacea is best known for its beneficial effects on the immune system. Numerous studies have revealed that this plant may support your immune system's ability to fight viruses and infections, which may speed up your recovery from sickness.
In fact, a review of 14 research revealed that echinacea supplementation may reduce the likelihood of getting a cold by more than 50% and decrease its duration by 1.5 days.
May lower blood sugar levels
Serious health issues might increase your chance of having high blood sugar this including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a number of other chronic diseases.
Research in test tubes suggests that echinacea plants may aid in lowering blood sugar levels. An Echinacea purpurea extract was demonstrated in a test-tube investigation to inhibit enzymes that break down carbohydrates. If you ate this, it would lower the quantity of sugar that entered your blood. A risk factor for insulin resistance, excess blood fat is eliminated by this specific receptor. As a result, cells respond to insulin and sugar more quickly.
Anti-inflammatory properties
Your body naturally promotes healing and defends itself by inducing inflammation. Inflammation can occasionally go out of control and last longer than intended and required. This might increase your chance of developing chronic diseases and other health issues.
Echinacea has been found in several trials to help lessen overactive inflammation. Rat research found that Echinacea compounds reduced significant inflammatory markers and inflammation-related memory loss.
Adults with osteoarthritis who took a supplement containing echinacea extract for 30 days noticed a substantial decrease in swelling, chronic pain, and inflammation. Interestingly, echinacea extract-containing supplements were effective for these people even though they did not respond well to traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDS).
