Echinacea Benefits + How to Make Echinacea Tincture | Herbs for Immune System

There are so many echinacea benefits! And yes, while echinacea tincture is an excellent herb for the immune system, that’s just one of echinacea’s many gifts! In this episode, you’ll learn the best ways to work with Echinacea, including my favorite method (which is totally underrated). And I’ll show you how to make a potent echinacea tincture!
After listening in, you’ll know:
► Safety considerations - what you have to know before working with this plant.
► Why it’s so important to either grow this plant yourself or only buy from cultivated sources
► The most important considerations when deciding which echinacea species to work with medicinally
► How to strengthen your immune system
► How often and in what quantity to take echinacea tincture for the best results when treating an acute infection
Show snippet:
“Echinacea is a powerful plant that deserves more than simply being the “cold and flu herb”. It’s an immunomodulator, amazing for clearing bacterial infections, and can even address venomous bites.” (Timestamp: 16:09)
-- LINKS --
► Get instant access to your recipe card by clicking here: www.herbalremediesadvice.org/...
► Get FREE access to the Herbal Jumpstart course plus Rosalee’s best herbal tips by joining her weekly newsletter: bit.ly/3EtBEqe
► Are you looking for high quality dried herbs and herbal products? My recommendation is Mountain Rose Herbs. Dried echinacea root, dried echinacea leaf, echinacea root extract, throat spray, seeds, and more are all available. Click here to check them out: bit.ly/3ms3vQ2
► Alchemy of Herbs: Transform Everyday Ingredients into Foods and Remedies That Heal:amzn.to/3uhNwXA
► Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods and Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine:amzn.to/2RguodP
-- DISCLOSURE --
I’m a huge fan of Mountain Rose Herbs and will often share referral links to buy herbs or herbal supplies at their online herbal apothecary.
By viewer request, I’ve also linked to my books on Amazon. You can also find my books at your local book seller or anywhere books are sold.
By using the above affiliate links, you help support this channel. Thanks!
If you’re looking for local places to buy herbs, check out my listing of herb farms in the U.S. and Canada. www.herbalremediesadvice.org/...
-- TIMESTAMPS --
00:00 - Introduction to echinacea
02:44 - Types of echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida)
04:07 - Echinacea energetics
06:32 - Echinacea for infections
08:13 - Echinacea for venomous bites and stings
11:24 - Echinacea for colds and the flu
13:49 - How does echinacea work?
14:44 - How to identify echinacea
16:07 - Echinacea safety
17:55 - How to make echinacea tincture
23:07 - Echinacea Fun Fact
-- SWEATER PATTERN --
Yes, I did knit my sweater! Pattern is: Open Edge Tee by Jessie Maed Designs, knitted with 100% linen
-- DISCLAIMER --
The herbal and plant information in this video is for educational purposes only. The information contained is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other medical professional. If you have or suspect that you have a serious health problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Always consult with a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a medical condition.

[@MollyWang-gb5xy]

I came across an article where a guy out west used echinacea on a rattlesnake bite. It had bitten his horse in the face. The horse had a grapefruit-sized necrotic mass from the bite. He gave the horse echinacea every 15 minutes the first hour; then every hour for a day. By the next day, the swelling was down 90% and the necrotic part was gone. He has recommended for others to give it to their dogs when bitten as well. He said most people don't listen. I will definitely keep this in an emergency kit.

[@wendylynnb.1415]

My echinacea tincture (plus ginger) fights off any sniffle and sore throat I come down with. During the pandemic, there was a time when I could not get into any vet (even emergency) and my cat had gotten bit quite badly by (I think) a poisonous spider. The wound was a horrible huge infected site, she was lethargic, in pain and could hardly move, and I thought i would lose my kitty. After searching thru my herbal books, I saw that echinacea is safe for cats,and fortunately I had a tincture macerating that was almost ready. I started dosing my cat with drops on some wet food. She started showing some positive signs after a dose or two, and after a few days was so much better, back to her normal self and the wound was quickly healing. I have no idea why she took this horrible tasting medicine but she must have known it would help her! Very powerful medicine!

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

So glad your kitty is okay! Thank you for sharing!

[@primrozie]

I truly appreciate the herbal wisdom you share with us. I'm working on a tincture medicine chest and growing all I am able to.

[@dianad1846]

Love, love, love watching your videos. Please keep sharing, your wonderful experience, expertise, and and study- backed information. I really feel properly and accurately informed after each video. I already own 2 of your books and plan on buying 'Wild Remedies' next. You are a beautiful person, inside and out! May God bless you!

[@Thankful_.]

This is the most informative video! Thank u!

[@danielvogt341]

such a comprehensive, in depth presentatioin! A must watch for every aspiring herbalist! Thank you very much!

[@leessa65]

I so look forward to your videos and everything else you share! I finally got Echinacea purpurea in my wildflower garden this past year..after several years of trying. And I'm even happier to say that I grew them from seed! Thank you for sharing your love and knowledge with us 💜

[@radiclelife]

Nice! I’ve been wanting to grow this plant for a while now due to all the great health benefits, as well as how pretty it is. Will reference this video once I have some going 😊

[@elenadelany1369]

Thank you Wonderful information

[@mariem5990]

Love your videos, thank you.

[@fredsnyder3063]

Thank you for being a Teacher

[@GmamaGrowz]

Thanks for explaining the different varieties of echinacea 🤩!

[@candiwallace6605]

Thanks for sharing 🥰

[@lwhowell4387]

excellent video. thank you!

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Micah7-8]

Well…I absolutely love all the information being shared. And I so want to dive into all of this but I know it takes time. Right now I’m getting a little perplexed just trying to obtain the books I’d like to get. Trying to figure out in purchasing which ones and which ones may be similar and or completely different 🤦‍♀️ wowie! I appreciate you sharing the difference between this flower for echinacea. I know that I’ve seen different ones that look similar, but never knew the differences with them. Fascinating to see the factors between the leaves and roots alone.

[@donaciannaasebedo646]

I will definitely add more echinacea to more garden. Thank you for great education.

[@danakrueger7833]

Great video. Your sweater is amazing, too!

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

Oh thank you!

[@melindachristensen3175]

Thank you!

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

You're welcome!

[@gardenstatesowandsew]

It sounds wonderful. I do have autoimmune disease and I was wondering why it’s not a good idea to take it?

[@crofterlass3459]

Delighted to have found you..Wonderful ❤..Tk you..I now have 3 Wonderful herbalist to follow ..

[@tiarianamanna973]

After i became deadly ill due to lyme and years of intense mold exposure, echinacea is probably one of the things that have saved my life (quite a few time) 👍

[@vickypeterson2352]

Hi, thanks for your excellent videos! I grow echinacea but have a problem with aster yellows disease. I can't find information anywhere that says if it's okay to use the roots. Do you have any experience with this? Thanks again!

[@BRANDYHAMILTONS]

Rosalee don't forget in case you didn't know, THE AMAZING PRAYING MANTIS that echinacea brings in❤ they were all over mine this last fall and I love them! ❤️ 😊

[@marcikentch1023]

Thank you for your very informative videos! I am wanting to make an echinacea tincture from echinacea roots. I watched this video and was wondering if I have to dry the roots first to make the tincture or if I can use fresh roots? Thank you very much as I love all of your videos😊

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

Hi, you can use fresh root for E. angustifolia. Use the whole herb (fresh) if you are using E. purpurea. Cheers, Karin Rose

[@MarcelCramer]

I see Echinacea Purpurea as my heart's plant. I don't even know how long I have been growing it. And the original plant keeps making babies so that is great. The plant is also a great companion plant for all the vegetables I grow. I love to sit and see the bumblebees have fun, the butterflies going crazy and there are so many other helpful insects that love it. I will start making tincture this year. Wondering if it is best to use dried Purpurea or fresh flowers and leaves. What is the advise @Rosalee?

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

Yay for Echinacea! I do answer this question in the video (I think!). It's best to use fresh purpurea. Enjoy!

[@valerieschoenfelder2866]

I have a similar, but slightly different, question to Rachel Pruett’s question. I planted both types only two years ago, so was not yet able yet to harvest roots. Therefore, this summer I started a tincture made with flowers, stems and leaves. I will harvest from the roots for the first time this autumn. IF the medicinal value is much higher from the root (Rachel’s question) is it best for me to begin a new tincture OR to strain the tincture, then add to the roots essentially making a whole plant tincture? I love your videos and books!!!

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

See what I responded to Rachel. I would add to that for you to taste what you've made so far to see how strong you think it might be. If you've never tasted Echinacea tincture before then it would be worth buying some from a reputable company (like Herb Pharm) to test the difference. Taste can truly tell us so much! You could re-use that alcohol with the roots but there's this concept of how "empty" the alcohol may be. If it's already mostly full with the flowers then it may not have a lot of pizazz to further extract a lot from the roots. You could start fresh with the roots and then compare them. You also might be interested in my Rooted Medicine Circle course which enrolls in January. It's all about how to make herbal medicines.

[@Fartunmo]

Hi can I make tea echinacea I get one plant this year

[@catey62]

How much tincture do you take at a time? just a few drops, or a teaspoonful?

[@rachelpruett5984]

I made a tincture last year with the flowering tops. Do you know if the flowers contain medicinal value as well as the roots ?

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

The flowers of E. purpurea are often used in a tincture (often combined with the seeds). The tricky part is making sure you have a potent enough ratio. If you filled a jar with some whole flowers and then added alcohol then it may not be very strong. If you chopped the flowers very finely, weighed out the flowers and did a 1:2 ratio of herbs to alcohol AND the end product tastes strong, then you're probably good to go.

[@rachelpruett5984]

@@HerbsWithRosalee Thank you. I didn’t chop the flowers. Next time I will

[@juliasamson5123]

That was my question too. I finely chopped the fresh flower heads, stems and a few leaves. Then filled a quart jar 3/4 full of the chopped herb (pressing it down) before adding 80 proof vodka to within 1/8 of the top. I will test it in 5 weeks for potency, correct? @@rachelpruett5984

[@claudettemonty4077]

When you said to use it locally, is that with the tincture on the wounds or dry plants with oil on the wounds???

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

You can use it topically in many different ways depending on the situation. Water soaks, tinctures, poultices, fomentations, salves, etc.

[@09echols]

💓

[@brittneyrussell1766]

Is echinacea the same thing as purple coneflower? I assumed it was and bought some seeds labeled purple coneflower but I don't see any scientific name on the package so I wasn't sure.

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

That is a common name for Echinacea but since it doesn't have the scientific name you can't be sure if it is really Echinacea, or what variety it may be. I would look for seeds with a higher standard of quality. I love getting my seeds from places like Strictly Medicinals and Mountain Rose Herbs.

[@jamesgrosrenaudjr812]

That’s confidence to go to sleep with a rattlesnake bite .

[@KrusinTheSierra]

So tincture can’t be made with the flower?

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

More often the entire plant is used together. Flower, seeds, and root. (Echinacea purpurea)

[@MsFlipper1969]

Mines White!?

[@HerbsWithRosalee]

If your Echinacea is white then it's probably a hybrid of some kind. Hybrids don't necessarily have the same medicinal gifts as their wild cousins.

[@MsFlipper1969]

@@HerbsWithRosalee thank you. I'll look for a purple or pink one