What part of the echinacea plant do you use for tincture?
Echinacea: Echinacea leaves, flowers, roots, and stems are all of medicinal benefit. Thus, all of them shall go into our tincture. This time of year, I’ll be utilizing all but the roots, as I’d like the plants to stay alive and give for the months ahead. All parts of the plant can be used for health-supporting purposes, including the seed, leaf, flower, and root. Echinacea angustifolia, also known as narrow leaf echinacea, is another commonly used species and offers similar immune-supporting benefits to Echinacea purpurea.Do I Use the Leaf or Root? In most herb catalogs you are likely to find both dried leaf and dried root of echinacea. Traditional use of the plant focused on root preparations, but we have come to understand that all parts of the plant contain the necessary chemicals to support our immune system.The most easily cultivated of the three is E. Most preparations of the Echinaceas are made from the roots of the plant.Echinacea seems to activate chemicals in the body that decrease inflammation. It might also increase the body’s immune system. Echinacea is most commonly used for the common cold and other infections, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.It is an herb of balance and protection. Echinacea is often used in spells for prosperity, drawing in money, and in defensive magic. It also has the power of amplification, enhancing the magical energies of others herbs, as well as magical tools used for spells and rituals. The Sacred Number of Echinacea is 141.
How do you make echinacea tincture?
Combine the echinacea root, flowers and spirits in a pint size jar (canning jars work great! Cover the jar with a lid and shake well to mix. Put jar in a cool and dark place to infuse for 4-6 weeks shaking jar occasionally to mix up the tincture. When ready to use, strain out the herbs using a fine-mesh sieve. Cover the herbs with the alcohol, give it a shake and close the jar tightly. Label the jar with the date and ingredients. Leave to macerate in a cool and dark spot for 2-4 weeks, shaking daily for the first week at least. Strain your tincture using the mesh strainer and place the liquid into your glass bottle.Preparation Instructions Mix the herb with alcohol or cider vinegar in a canning or preserving jar with a tight-fitting lid (mason jars are recommended). Keep the tincture in a tightly closed jar in a cool, dark place for approximately two weeks. Gently shake the tincture two to three times per day.
What parts of echinacea do you use?
Echinacea tea can be made from the echinacea root or flowers of your garden plant. You can use fresh flowers, leaves, stems, and roots, or dry a batch to always have some on hand. Echinacea is most commonly used as a tea, but you can also make oils and tinctures (more on this in part 2). All parts of the plant can be used – petals, leaves and roots – but because I want to keep my plant as an ornamental in my garden, I’m only going to use the flowers and leaves.The petals, roots, and leaves are edible and are commonly dried and steeped into teas, or they are infused into juices, tinctures, and salves. The plant roots are believed to have the highest concentration of active ingredients and are customarily ground into a powder for tea.
How to harvest echinacea for tinctures?
Select a good sized clump of Echinacea Purpurea that’s older than 2 years and in peak bloom ie: leaves and flowers are looking lush and vibrant. Using a sharp spade, slice off a section of the clump that has a couple of flowers and a goodly bit of root. You don’t need loads! It was found that Rudbeckia extract had a stronger effect than did the extracts from the two Echinacea species.Using the whole plant, both the roots and aerial portions can make Echinacea more effective.Harvesting Stems, Leaves, and Flowers To harvest only the leaves and the flowers: With sharp pruning shears or scissors, cut the stem above the lowest leaves. Take care to cut above the node, a small protrusion from where the echinacea leaves grow from.
Which part of echinacea is not used in herbalism?
Understanding that every part of the echinacea plant contains valuable active compounds, our herbalists utilize the whole plant – from flower to root – ensuring you receive a high-quality dose of plant medicine. All members of the Echinacea genus are perennials that bloom with both disk and ray flowers. Store in a cool, dark cabinet. Echinacea tincture is best used within one to two years. For routine use, take one dropperful a day straight or in hot tea. It can be taken more intensively (as often as every hour) if you have been exposed to an illness or are experiencing symptoms.Echinacea has no known severe interactions with other drugs. Serious Interactions of Echinacea include: Beclomethasone, inhaled.Alcoholic tincture is the best way to take echinacea because the immune-stimulating activity of the roots is best absorbed through the mucus membranes in the mouth and with a tincture you can swirl it around the mouth to allow absorption.Most brands say you should avoid taking echinacea on an empty stomach. They recommend taking it with food or a large glass of water. Don’t take echinacea for more than a few weeks. The long-term safety has not been studied thoroughly.
How to take echinacea tincture?
Echinacea Liquid Extracts If you’ve never used a liquid extract before, it’s easy. Simply use the dropper to put 40-60 drops in a small amount of water. Drink four to six times daily between meals. We recommend taking it for two to four days. Using echinacea for longer than 8 weeks at a time might damage your liver or suppress your immune system. Herbalists recommend not to take echinacea if you are taking medicines known to affect your liver. Check with your doctor first if you are having any other drugs, herbs, or supplements.