Echinacea

Echinacea

(Echinacea angustifolia/E. pallida/E. purpurea)

A bee collecting nectar from a pink coneflower with a blurred green background.

Plant family

  • Asteraceae

Other significant names

  • Coneflower

  • Purple coneflower

Parts used

  • Herba (Herb)

  • Radix (Root)

  • Semen (Seeds) (occasionally)

Typical forms of prescription

  • Tincture

  • Capsules

Pink coneflowers with orange centers in a garden setting.

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/E. pallida/E. purpurea) - Clinical Snapshot

Primary Actions

  • Lymphatic

  • Immunomodulator

  • Anti-catarrhal

  • Depurative

  • Expectorant

  • Antitumor

  • Antibacterial

  • Antiviral

  • Vulnerary

Primary Indications

  • Upper respiratory tract infections

  • Coughs

  • Catarrh

  • Glandular inflammation

  • Treatment and prevention of infections

  • Enhanced immune response

  • Colds and flu

  • Laryngitis

  • Tonsillitis

  • Poorly healing wounds

  • Impetigo

  • Boils

⚠️ Cautions / Safety⚠️

  • Asteraceae allergy

  • Caution with immunosuppressive medications

  • Caution in children

  • Rare reports of leukopenia and erythema

Echinacea spp.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Alkamides

Chemical Class: Lipophilic isobutylamides
Action: Immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, analgesic
Use: Alkamides are among Echinacea’s most pharmacologically active compounds. They stimulate and modulate immune cell activity, especially macrophages and natural killer cells, and show cannabinoid receptor affinity, helping reduce pain and inflammation. A tingling sensation on the tongue is often used as a marker of alkamide potency.

Polysaccharides

Action: Immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, demulcent
Use: High-molecular-weight polysaccharides enhance non-specific immune response, stimulating white blood cell activity and cytokine production. They also contribute to a soothing and tissue-supportive action, especially useful in respiratory tract infections and irritated mucosa.

Glycoproteins

Action: Immunostimulant
Use: Glycoproteins work synergistically with polysaccharides to activate macrophages and immune signalling, adding depth to Echinacea’s ability to prime the body’s defences against viral and bacterial infections.

Caffeic Acid Derivatives

Includes: Cichoric acid, echinacoside, chlorogenic acid
Action: Antioxidant, immunostimulant, antiviral
Use: These polyphenols support the immune system by protecting cells from oxidative stress and enhancing phagocytosis immune cells engulfing pathogens). Cichoric acid is especially abundant in E. purpurea, while echinacoside is more concentrated in E. angustifolia and E. pallida.

Volatile Oils (in some species)

Action: Antimicrobial, aromatic, anti-inflammatory
Use: Present in smaller amounts, particularly in E. angustifolia, these contribute to Echinacea’s use in upper respiratory infections and enhance local antimicrobial effects in topical applications.

Close-up of purple coneflowers in a garden with a blurred green background.

Traditional use

Native American tribes, including Dakota, Cheyenne, and Niitsitapi, used the root for pain, toothache, and wounds. It was introduced to Britain in the 19th century by Eclectic physicians who used the root topically and internally for skin conditions.

Clinical Description

Echinacea is a key herb used in immune-boosting treatments by herbalists. It is used in prescriptions for those with weak immune systems, who always seem to catch colds and flu. It is also used for mild infections and wound healing.

Their effect on the tongue can assess the herbal quality of Echinacea products; higher alkyl amides cause a tingling and numbing sensation. The numbing makes it ideal for sore throat/gum sprays and mouthwashes. E. purpurea and E. pallida aerial parts are commonly found in over-the-counter supplements due to easier/cheaper cultivation and harvesting. It cannot be legally sold without consultation with children under 12 years. Seeds are milder but more nutritious for the immune system.

Cultivation/Harvesting

Easily cultivated. Collect roots in early Autumn.

A close-up of a bumblebee collecting nectar from a vibrant pink flower, with accompanying pollen and petal details.

Key Botanical Features of Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/E. pallida/ E. purpurea)

Growth

  • Type: Perennial herb.

  • Size: Typically 60–120 cm (2–4 feet) tall, depending on species.

  • Stem: Erect, branched, and covered with fine hairs. The stem is usually smooth or lightly pubescent (hairy).

Leaves

  • Type: Alternate, simple.

  • Shape:

    • Lower leaves: Broadly ovate (egg-shaped) with coarse teeth along the edges.

    • Upper leaves: Narrower and lanceolate (long and pointed).

  • Size: Lower leaves 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) long, upper leaves smaller.

  • Texture: Rough, with a hairy or slightly fuzzy surface.

  • Colour: Dark green with a slightly paler underside.

Flowers

  • Type: Composite flower head, typical of the Asteraceae family.

  • Size: 7–15 cm (2.5–6 inches) in diameter.

  • Flower Structure:

    • Ray florets: Petal-like, usually purple, pink, or white (depending on species).

    • Disk florets: Small, tubular, and clustered in a cone-shaped centre.

  • Colour: Commonly purple or pink, with a prominent central brownish or orange cone (the disk florets).

  • Blooming Period: Late summer to early fall, usually June to September.

  • Pollination: Attracted by bees, butterflies, and other insects.

Fruits & Seeds

  • Fruit Type: Achene (a small, dry, single-seed fruit).

  • Size: Small, about 3–5 mm (0.12–0.2 inches) in length.

  • Seed Dispersal: Primarily by wind and animals.

Roots

  • Type: Fibrous root system, sometimes with a prominent taproot.

  • Function: Stores nutrients and enables the plant to withstand drought. The root system is often medicinally valuable.

Habitat & Growth Conditions

  • Climate: Prefers temperate regions but can tolerate some drought conditions.

  • Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soils. It thrives in loamy or sandy soils but is adaptable to various soil types.

  • Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade.

  • Distribution: Native to North America, often found in prairies, open fields, and meadows. It has been widely cultivated and naturalised in many parts of the world.

Sustainability/Conservation

Close-up of three pink coneflowers with orange centers among green leaves.
Close-up of pink coneflowers with orange and brown centers and green background.
Close-up of a black and orange butterfly resting on a pink coneflower in a garden.
A bee sitting on a pink coneflower with a blurred background of other pink coneflowers and green foliage.
A butterfly with orange, black, and white wings perched on a pink coneflower surrounded by similar flowers and green foliage.
Cluster of pink coneflowers with orange and brown centers surrounded by green foliage.

Sources

Bartram, T. (1998). Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. Constable.

Fisher, C. (2009). Materia Medica of Western Herbs, (2018 edition). Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hedley, C & Shaw, N. (2020). A herbal book of making and taking. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Healing Arts Press.

McIntyre, A. (2019). The complete herbal tutor, revised and expanded edition. Finchley Road, London. Aeon Books.

Plants of the World Online | Kew Science. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. https://powo.science.kew.org/

Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified medical herbalist before using herbs, especially during pregnancy, when trying to conceive, while breastfeeding, for medical conditions, or with children.
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