Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is known for the many potential health benefits that it can provide. A member of the Asteraceae family, along with lettuce, artichokes, dandelion, and sunflower, echinacea has been used for over 400 years by Native Americans to ease infections, help wounds heal and as a “cure-all” for different illnesses.
•Helps fight off the common cold and flu. Drinking echinacea tea may help shorten the duration of cold and flu symptoms, and to reduce risk of complications, according to a study in Current Therapeutic Research, Clinical and Experimental journal.
In a meta-analysis published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the herb is found to reduce the risk of developing a cold by 58 percent and to shorten its duration by 1.4 days. Researchers noted, however, that these benefits may occur only with a high-quality echinacea supplement.
•May help control blood sugar levels. According to a 2017 study, prediabetics and diabetics can help manage both hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and high blood pressure by taking an echinacea extract. It also provides additional antioxidant properties.
•Promotes healthy cell growth. High-quality echinacea supplements and tea may help promote healthy cell growth in your body and eliminate free radicals that cause premature cell aging and damage.
•May help ease anxiety. The extract from the herb was found to have anti-anxiety properties by helping regulate the excitatory synaptic transmissions in the hippocampus, potentially lessening feelings of anxiety in your brain. Tea preparations may impart this benefit, too.
Click to read the original article by Dr. Mercola
Sources:
“Echinacea Tea’s Immune-Boosting Benefits” by Dr. Mercola
