The Purple Coneflower
The fabulous pink/purple daisy looking flowers are in profuse bloom now. They are a mainstay in the garden, since they are perennial and quite hardy. They are fabulous as a cut flower, too. I can hardly imagine a garden without them. Bees and butterflies and birds are all about them. They are bold enough to make a strong statement in garden design. The growth habit is about 3 feet tall. They are wonderful interspersed with other tall flowering plants, like bee balm, sunflowers or tansy. New varieties are available in nurseries with various colors, like white, yellow, red, and orange. It is the old-fashioned pink/purple one that is the most medicinal.
THE HERB
Echinacea is considered an alternative, or blood cleansing herb. It helps assimilate nutrients in the system, and helps eliminate wastes. It has long been used by the Native American peoples for snakebite and for toothache. It is the 2-3 year old root that is the most anti-biotic part of the plant. The roots are harvested with a very sharp knife, leaving a large portion of the plant intact to continue growing. The roots will need to be sliced small enough to actually dry out. The taste is pretty sour, so the form most often used is either tincture or decoction. Tinctures are liquid extractions in alcohol, using a few drops in tea or water. Decoctions are slow simmered brews that are taken like tea or by the tablespoon. Echinacea is best used at the first sign of cold or flu, then taken for several days, as symptoms abate.
THE ESSENCE
While the herb of Echinacea purifies our blood, the essence of Echinacea purifies our thoughts and fears. Since the mind is not separate from the body, working on our attitudes can have a benefit to our immune response and our health. When we purify our thoughts, we can let go of attitudes of lack, limitation, anger, and separation from our true selves. With pure thoughts we can see our life as it truly is. The essence of Echinacea is used to balance the Crown Chakra where we learn to balance our physical reality with our spiritual ideals. The gift is Illumination. This chakra reigns over the physical aspect of meditation, the mental aspect of consciousness, the emotional aspect of being, and the spiritual aspect of inner wisdom. It is located at the top of the head.