Purple Coneflower: Good for What Ails You
As part of an ongoing effort to provide usable information to my readers on the topic of surviving, especially in difficult times, I have been very interested in the study of plants and herbs for food and medicine. In the case of societal disturbances, high unemployment, or high inflation, going to a doctor may become difficult or even impossible. How can you fix problems without the aid of a doctor. The same way that people did throughout the ages–with the help of Mother Nature. In my studies, I have realized that no matter where you live, plants are all around. I live in a high desert area–and even here in the desert, plants proliferate.
For instance, I was looking at my wife’s flower garden the other day and realized that one of Nature’s most potent weapons against cold and flu’s resides here in our very own yard. Purple coneflower, also known as Echinacea purpurea can be found across the United States. You may have heard of it as a supplement–Echinacea. Well, you don’t have to go down to the local drug store or grocery store anymore if you are looking to heal a wound or to cure a cold. Here is a short list of what Purple Coneflower is known to treat:
- spider bites
- snake bites
- cancers
- toothaches
- burns
- hard to heal sores or wounds
- cold
- flu
The American Indians would just chew the root of the Purple Coneflower or make an herbal tea with it. You can make an herbal tea by chopping up some of the root and pouring boiling water over it. Let the water sit on the chopped root for about fifteen minutes and then strain out the root bits. Voila–a cure for a toothache or a mild cold or flu. And, aside from your time and effort, it was free–no copay, no bill.
Scientific studies have confirmed that the Purple Coneflower does have some immuno-stimulant as well as insecticidal effects. In Europe, the Purple Coneflower is used to treat cankers, throat infections, and many types of wounds and sores. They make the Purple Coneflower into salves, extracts and various tinctures for the treatment of these type of problems.
I am starting a new section on my blog called Mother Nature’s Pantry: Food and Remedies. In this section, I will put various posts about plants and their benefit as food, remedies, or both. I will also include a few articles about how to prepare various plants. Hopefully, over time and should the need arise, you will learn how to provide for you and your family–both food and medicine.
NOTE: I AM NOT A DOCTOR–please consult a professional before consuming anything that you read about on my blog. Serious complications can arise if you have allergies.
Tags: herbs, purple coneflower
