by If you even remotely pay attention to the natural health community, I'm sure you've heard that echinacea benefits your health in a variety of ways – including its healing powers associated with cancer, inflammation and pain. Not only has the flower garnered a lot of media attention lately, it has turned into quite the industry!
Echinacea Benefits Equal Big Business!
In fact, “Sales of herbal dietary supplements in the United States increased by 7.9% in 2013, reaching six billion dollars for the first time,” according to the American Botanical Council. (1) This is by far the largest increase since the 1990s and we’ve seen steady growth in herbal sales for the last 10+ years straight.
And echinacea, as you may have guessed, is leading that impressive growth – by a long shot. In fact, echinacea, more commonly known as the purple coneflower, is now a $28 million industry with sales increasing to 94.7 percent in 2013 alone. (2) But this growth is not surprising when you consider the amazing health benefits associated with this flower.
The Story Behind Echinacea Benefits
Native to North America, echinacea is a coneflower that has been used in natural medicine for more than 400 years. In fact, Native Americans from the Great Plains Indian tribes were known to use the flower for medicinal purposes. Although it’s technically an herb, medicine can be made from echinacea's roots, flowers and leaves.
Before the mass introduction of antibiotics during WWII, echinacea benefits were widely enjoyed by the medical community. But the famed herb lost the bulk of its esteem after antibiotics caused a massive shift in the medical world.
Surprisingly, the chemicals found in the root of echinacea differ greatly from those in the upper section of the flower. When the roots are analyzed, we can see elevated concentrations of essential oils. Contrast that with the polysaccharides contained in the parts of the plant that grow above ground, and you can see how the plant has real immune boosting powers.
source
Echinacea Benefits Equal Big Business!
In fact, “Sales of herbal dietary supplements in the United States increased by 7.9% in 2013, reaching six billion dollars for the first time,” according to the American Botanical Council. (1) This is by far the largest increase since the 1990s and we’ve seen steady growth in herbal sales for the last 10+ years straight.
And echinacea, as you may have guessed, is leading that impressive growth – by a long shot. In fact, echinacea, more commonly known as the purple coneflower, is now a $28 million industry with sales increasing to 94.7 percent in 2013 alone. (2) But this growth is not surprising when you consider the amazing health benefits associated with this flower.
The Story Behind Echinacea Benefits
Native to North America, echinacea is a coneflower that has been used in natural medicine for more than 400 years. In fact, Native Americans from the Great Plains Indian tribes were known to use the flower for medicinal purposes. Although it’s technically an herb, medicine can be made from echinacea's roots, flowers and leaves.
Before the mass introduction of antibiotics during WWII, echinacea benefits were widely enjoyed by the medical community. But the famed herb lost the bulk of its esteem after antibiotics caused a massive shift in the medical world.
Surprisingly, the chemicals found in the root of echinacea differ greatly from those in the upper section of the flower. When the roots are analyzed, we can see elevated concentrations of essential oils. Contrast that with the polysaccharides contained in the parts of the plant that grow above ground, and you can see how the plant has real immune boosting powers.
source
