Echinacea is a native North American coneflower that was discovered and used as a traditional herbal remedy for more than 400 years by the Great Plains Indian tribes. Technically classified as an herb, several species of the echinacea plant are used to make medicine from its flowers, leaves and roots.
 
Prior to 1950 and the introduction of antibiotics, echinacea held an esteemed medicinal status. As the health care industry shifted, antibiotics became the rage, and the now famed herb lost much of its esteem.
 
It’s become a popular plant to grow. Also called Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the pale purple coneflower, the echinacea plant is a favorite of gardeners and butterfly enthusiasts. An attractive flower that resemble daisies with mounded heads and rose, pink or purple petals, it grows on strong stems far above the foliage.
 
Most people don’t realize that the chemicals contained in the root differ significantly from those in the upper part of the plant. If we analyze the roots of the purple coneflower, we can see that they have high concentrations of volatile oils, while the parts that grow above the soil tend to contain more polysaccharides that are known to trigger immune function. Echinacea extract is essentially a tincture from this upper part of the plant. 
 
Many of echinacea’s chemical constituents are, in fact, powerful immunity stimulators and can provide a significant therapeutic value. A few that you’re probably familiar with are essential oils, flavonoids, inulin, polysaccharides and vitamin C. 
 
On top of reports of the plant’s highly nutritious extracts, we’ve learned that the portion of the plant that grows above ground is the most effective. Interestingly, in Germany, dietary herbs are regulated by the government, and above ground parts of the Echinacea purpurea species are actually approved as natural remedies for urinary tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, colds and slow-healing wounds.