Echinacea can be considered a truly magical flower. Its amazing healing properties have been known to folk healers since ancient times. Echinacea came to Europe from America, where it was widely used by Indians who used the plant to treat the most serious diseases. Together with the Spanish mariners, the flower "swam" the ocean. Here, in Europe, he got his current name, which means “hedgehog” in Greek.
Echinacea is well understood today. Its useful properties have found their application in medicine and cosmetology. Various preparations are made from the plant, but the most popular of them is Echinacea tincture. Doctors' reviews confirm that this drug cures many diseases and takes one of the first places among similar medicines.
Chemical composition
Echinacea tincture is a water extract from the rhizomes and fruits of Echinacea purpurea. This herbal medicine has diverse effects and belongs to the category of immunomodulators and adaptogens.
Scientific studies have determined that Echinacea purpurea contains in its composition a huge amount of substances vital to the human body. Among them are magnesium and molybdenum, copper and zinc, silver and calcium, aluminum and iron, potassium and selenium.
In the rhizomes of the plant there are many vegetable oils, betaine, polysaccharides, palmitic, citric and linolenic acid. The composition of Echinacea flowers is also noteworthy . They contain a large percentage of essential oils. All these substances allow us to consider the plant a full-fledged pharmacy.
A drug called Immunal is available. This should be considered when buying a medicinal product. Instructions are included in each package of tincture. It should be carefully studied before using the drug. Consultation with a specialist, which should be visited before taking the drug, will also help.
Therapeutic action
The components that make up the drug contribute to the manifestation of those positive effects that Echinacea purpurea has (tincture). Reviews of experts highly appreciate the work of fatty polyunsaturated and organic acids, which are contained in the composition of the fruits and rhizomes of the plant. These substances prevent the oxidation of lipids in the human body, which inhibits the action of free radicals aimed at the destruction of cell walls.
The polysaccharides and inulin contained in echinacea have a direct immunomodulatory effect. Due to the glycosides contained in the tincture of the healing plant, the drug stimulates the work of the heart muscle and normalizes its rhythm.
Strengthening the body's defenses
Most often, tincture of echinacea for immunity is recommended. Doctors' reviews confirm its stimulating effect, aimed at enhancing the body's defenses. Moreover, the effect of herbal medicine extends to all parts of the immune system, whose work becomes more focused.
Often, a tincture of echinacea for immunity is used as a prophylactic. Reviews from both doctors and patients confirm that its use reduces the risk of infectious diseases. This is also indicated by clinical trials. At the same time, a positive effect on immunity allows the tincture of echinacea to have an antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effect.
Indications for use
Fully indicates what pathologies can be used echinacea (tincture), instructions. Reviews of experts confirm the high effectiveness of the drug with:
- chronic and acute diseases of the respiratory system (sinusitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis and laryngitis, asthma and tuberculosis);
- pathologies of the heart and blood vessels (hypertension, ischemia, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia);
- deficiency of the immune system;
- gastrointestinal diseases (gastritis and colitis, as well as ulcerative processes in the stomach and duodenum);
- diseases of the central nervous system (neurasthenia, neurosis, chronic fatigue syndrome);
- pathologies of the kidneys and urinary tract (pyelonephritis, urethritis, cystitis);
- pathologies of peripheral NS;
- diseases of the genital area of a chronic nature (candidiasis, inflammation of the appendages and ovaries);
- metabolic disorders in the body (diabetes and obesity);
- long-term healing wounds and trophic ulcers.
But it should be borne in mind that for all these diseases, Echinacea purpurea (tincture) should not be taken as the main drug at all. Reviews of doctors convincingly prove its effectiveness only as an additional component of the therapeutic course. In the form of an independent tool, the drug can be used in the initial stages of the disease.
Mode of application
How is echinacea tincture used for immunity? Reviews of doctors and the instructions attached to the drug indicate that the dosage of the herbal remedy depends on the nature of the patient's disease.
Apply tincture of echinacea both inside (orally) and externally. In the second case, the drug is included in lotions and applications. These procedures are recommended for wounds that do not heal for a long time. Such lotions also help with trophic ulcers.
How is tincture of echinacea for immunity taken? The instruction for the drug states that its use in its pure form is prohibited. The drug is used only after preliminary dilution with water. Thus prepared tincture should be consumed on an empty stomach, before eating.
Application for pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system
Patients suffering from such ailments will help restore health tincture of Echinacea for immunity. Reviews of experts confirm the effectiveness of this drug as an additional tool to the main treatment.
When using it, it is recommended to dilute forty drops of tincture in water and take this volume in the morning on an empty stomach. After the remedy is applied every two hours. The dosage should be reduced to twenty drops. Starting from the second day, tincture should be taken only three times during the day. A single dose should be 20 drops.
Use for respiratory ailments
Reception of echinacea tincture for these diseases is made in the amount of 5-15 drops. At the same time, it should be consumed three times a day. If it is necessary to improve the therapeutic effect, the frequency of administration is recommended to be increased. In this case, the drug in the first three days of the course is taken up to six times during the day.
Help vessels and heart
How to give strength to all the arteries of the body? How to strengthen the heart muscle? For this, the preparation of echinacea is recommended at a dose of 30 drops, consumed at least two to three times during the day.
Supporting the body's defenses
Most often, to strengthen immunity, tincture of echinacea is used. Reviews of doctors and patients confirm the positive effect of the drug on the elimination of chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as to strengthen the immune system. In these cases, tincture is recommended at a dose of thirty drops once a day after morning awakening.
The instruction for the drug indicates that all of the above dosages should be applied to adults as well as children who are already 12 years old. For small patients, the amount of the drug should be reduced to avoid overdose. A single dose is recommended to them in the amount of 5-10 drops, two to three times a day. In this case, the course of treatment should not exceed eight weeks.
Side effects
Describes some side effects from the use of such a remedy as echinacea (tincture), instructions. The reviews say: in very rare cases, patients may experience abdominal pain and nausea, allergies and vomiting, as well as chills. It should be borne in mind that such side effects often give tincture, prepared independently at home.
You can take Echinacea tincture without fear to those who drive vehicles, as well as engage in activities related to the need for increased concentration of attention.
Contraindications
Instructions for use of the drug indicate that tincture of echinacea can not always be used to increase immunity. Limitations relate to cases when the patient has an individual intolerance to one of the components of the drug. You can not take this herbal remedy for children under the age of three years, as well as for pregnant and breast-feeding women.