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Gosnell, J - Echinachea purpurea

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years ago
   
 
Echinacea purpurea is found in middle or eastern United States and it is cultivated in Europe. The distribution of Echinacea differs from rocky prairie sites to open, dry wooded regions. The natural community types are dry mesic prairies or mesic prairies. This plant extends eastward from the Great Plains bioregion from northeast Texas, Missouri, and Michigan. This herb is used for roadside beautification, prairie restoration, or home gardens.
           Echinacea, from the asteraceae family, grows one to three feet in height and it produces a woody rhizome. It grows easily and can flourish in even dry, windy sites. It grows in either full sun or light shade. Echinacea is grown in well-drained sandy soils. Echinacea purpurea is the most widely adaptable species for cultivation. The name of this plant, purple coneflower, is derived from the “cone” at the center of the flower. The flowers petals can vary from pink and/or purple. The seeds are produced in the cone, similar to a sunflower. Echinacea typically blooms may through June. 
          This herb is currently present in twenty-seven states. “It is not present in the extreme northeast and it becomes increasingly rare as its range extends westward, past Missouri,” according to www.plants.usda.gov. Out of the twenty-seven states this plant resides in, it is endangered in two: Michigan and Florida. In Florida it is considered endangered and in Michigan it is probably extirpated. Only naturally occurring species are tracked, even though many others are introduced, and the last in disputed wild populations have not been tracked since the late 1800s states the Michigan government website: (web4.msue.msu.edu)
Native Echinacea species are decreasing in the wild in resort to over-harvesting and loss of habitat.
         Before European settlement in the late 1870s the entire area of the United States was potential Echinacea habitat. Now with industrialization and agriculture Echinacea is pushed into certain untouched areas of the states. This includes along roadsides and railroads and abandoned pastureland. Echinacea purpurea is not as endangered as Echinacea angustifolia. Echinacea purpurea is threatened mostly in part to its medicinal properties. It is sold in health food stores and grocery stores for its immune boosting abilities. Many studies prove and disprove the theory of it helping with the common cold and flu. This plant is common but because of its popularity its demand is exceeding its cultivation. “Over harvest from the wild has drastically reduced plant numbers throughout much of its range,” affirms plants.usda.gov.
            Insects and deer do not create a problem with Echinacea. Gophers and moles can become a hazard because they eat the roots. Goldfinches are fond of their seeds in the fall; in a few days they can clear out an entire seed crop. Insects and butterflies and attracted to the coneflower when it is in bloom. Mostly this plant is endangered due to humans modernization. It barely has any natural habitat left and is in high demand by people to be consumed. The Native Americans first discovered this herb to have healing properties and now it has been picked up by alternative medicine.
            Out of the fourteen major habitat types Echinacea belongs to Temperate grasslands, savannas, and prairies. It also is part of the Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests and the Temperate coniferous forests. It lives in these areas because its habitat is in prairies and dry, wooded areas.
           The people of the United States need to help cultivate and preserve this herb or it will continue to diminish from our landscape. People should grow it themselves for its remedies instead of using the wild Echinacea. It would also help to start preserving the prairies and woods where it dwells. People should not be allowed to destroy Echinacea where the population is decreasing. The United States population needs to be more aware of what plants are endangered to help protect them.

    
    Echinacea Purpurea
Jennifer Gosnell
February 19 2008
                  Echinacea Purpurea is a miraculous herb. This plant has several healing properties and was discovered by the Native Americans. The Great Plains region were the first people to discover this herb and used it for to help with snake bites and other skin wounds. This particular group of Native Americans also applied the root of this plant directly to the mouth for sore throats and toothaches.
                 The reason why I picked this plant is because I am intrigued by the large amount of medicinal properties it has to offer. It is very well known to help aide the common cold and many other ailments. I take Echinacea as a dietary supplement when I sense the first sign of a cold and it has seemed to work for me. I thought it would be interesting and helpful to research this plant.
               There is no common name for this plant; the botanical name is Echinacea Purpurea L. moench. This plants habitat is middle or eastern United States and it is cultivated in Europe.   The life form of Echinacea is perennial. According to Bown (1995), “Nine species of hardy rhizomatous perennials make up this genus, which is native to eastern United States.”   This plant is common but because of its popularity its demand is exceeding its cultivation. Echinacea is native to the prairies from Texas to Southern Canada.
              Echinacea Purpureas medicinal parts include the roots, leaves, or the whole plant in various stages. Bremness (1994) states, “The rhizome is the most significant proven herbal immune system stimulant and is under investigation by AIDS researchers. Without toxicity it stimulates the body’s defenses against disease.” Currently in Western medicine it is considered the most effective detoxicant for the lymphatic, circulatory, and respiratory systems and it has been adopted by Ayurvedic practitioners. People who take Echinacea suffer less severe respiratory symptoms and get well faster than those who do not. The best part about taking Echinacea for a
cold is there are no side effects. The optimum time to take Echinacea is at the first sign of a cold or viral infection. 
                   In 1885, Dr. H. C. F. Meyer, who had learned of the plant’s therapeutic value from the Indians, attracted the attention of Lloyd Brothers of Cincinnati, a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Shortly thereafter, the firm introduced several Echinacea-based anti-infective agents. By 1920, Echinacea was the firm’s most popular drug plant. With the advent of new and more effective anti-invectives in the 1930s, however, Echinacea fee from popularity among drug companies. According to Mindell (1992), “A recent placebo-controlled double blind study conducted in Sweden showed that Echinacea can reduce at least twelve clinical symptoms of bad colds. Patients who took Echinacea suffered less severe respiratory symptoms and got well faster than those who did not.”
                     Echinacea has been one of the most researched and sought after herbs. Its popularity has proved that folk medicine can be as sustainable as pharmaceutical drugs. This herb has been known to boost the immune system, fight bacterial and viral infections, promote the healing of skin wounds, and shorten the duration of colds and flu. “Many studies have shown that Echinacea prevents the formation of an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which destroys a natural barrier between healthy tissue and unwanted pathogenic organisms. Thus, Echinacea helps the body maintain its line of defense against unwanted invaders, especially viruses,” in reference to Mindell (1992). Thereofore Echinacea purpurea is widely used and accepted in the Western world. Many studies have been conducted about the healing properties of this herb. The Native Americans were wise to use this herb regularly to help aide their ailments.
 
 
 
 Echinacea Purpurea (plants.usda.gov)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Distribution of Echinacea Purpurea (www.plants.usda.gov)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Close-up of Echinacea Purpurea (www.abnativeplants.com)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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