E is for ECHINACEA

     

      Welcome to lucky Round 13 of ABC Wednesday, the brainchild of the elegant and exquisite Denise who has appointed the earnest and educated Roger as her administrator. Thanks also to their eager and edifying team of assistants who visit everyone each week to give eternal and edifying praise to all the contributors. And now, on with my show:
     
     Echinacea is a very popular herb, especially for the treatment of flu and colds. It is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family - Asteraceae. It is also known as the American coneflower.  It was commonly used by Native Americans for hundreds of years before the arrival of European explorers, settlers and colonizers. It is common to eastern and central North America and thrives in moist to dry prairies and open woodlands.  By the early 1800s echinacea became a popular herbal remedy among those who had settled in the USA, and soon became commonly used in Europe as well. It became much more popular after research was carried out on it in Germany in the 1920s. (paraphrased from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252684.php)

     I have tried using echinacea when I get the first sign of a cold and I think it might help to relieve some of the symptoms.  However, I must admit I'm very cautious about combining herbal meds with the meds that my doctor has prescribed for me.  There can be dangerous side effects.  I also used another herbal remedy when I started going through menopause and was overpowered by hot flashes.  For example, when my friend and I ended up in Nice (France) one hot summer day, we had to stay in the hotel until about 6 pm because we were both overwhelmed by the heat.  When I returned home, the doctor put me on hormone replacement therapy but all it did was make me feel pregnant!  So I started on Evening Primrose, gradually increasing the dose until I took 3 tablets 3 times a day.  What a relief!!!

     The point is that some herbs can be very beneficial, but you must be careful with them and use them under a doctor's guidance.  When I discovered some echinacea flowers blooming in other people's gardens, I decided to get some for myself and now I love watching them develop.  There are so many different varieties and colours.  Some of my potted ones will be at my daughter's wedding next weekend - at her request!

     Echinacea may be helpful in some illnesses or diseases, but it certainly won't do anything for my dear Lorne right now.  He enters Vancouver General Hospital tomorrow, August 14th, for his liver operation.  Spots were found, some chemo has been administered, and now he gets about 2/3 of his liver removed.  (It does regenerate within 4-6 weeks, though.)  So rather than send him echinacea, please remember him in your thoughts and/or prayers.   Thanks and I hope you enjoy this very short slideshow of the echinacea in my garden.