Some quick notes on individual herbs....
ECHINACEA
This is one of the few herbs that has been afforded some respect by the new medical sciences.
Unfortunately, it is not quite the magic bullet that is suggested by it's 'press'.
Echinacea's health providing properties are profound but quite narrow rather than wide.
Being a native of the North Americas it has not been in western materia's for very long, comparatively, but has created quite a lot of attention in it's short inclusion into our bag of tricks.
All parts of the plant do contain the polysaccharides PSI and PSII, Caffeic acid derivitives and lipophilic polyacetylenes such as echinaceine, but, the greatest concentration resides in the roots. By comparison, the quantities of fatty acids in Echinacea root, exceed those in Evening Primrose Seeds.
Echinacea is classified as an immunostimulant which is really quite a descriptive tag.
Echinacea acts by raising the leucocyte count in the blood, which is basically what the body does itself when faced with infection, so you can be quite aware of the therapeutic action of Echinacea in your body by the presence of pus or phlegm.
Echinacea is also a supplier of inulin (a muscle sugar) to the system creating a more consistent supply of blood sugar resulting in more sustained energy.
A word of warning regarding the use of Echinacea at home. Do not make a tea of any of the plant. Apart from the fact that it does taste bitter and almost impossible to tolerate, there is nothing useful that can be extracted from the plant in water. Alcohol extraction, if performed well, is the only way to use the plant. The other way, of course is homeopathically.
ROOT: Adult dosage. HERBAL MATERIA MEDICA (5th edition) by MICHAEL MOORE
Fresh Plant Tincture [1:2] 30-100 drops.
Dry Plant Tincture 1-2 teaspoons to 5 times a day.
HOMEOPATHIC description by Dr. William Boericke
We are indebted to the Eclectic school for this remarkable medicine as a "corrector of blood dyscrasia".Acute auto-infection. Symptoms of blood poisoning, septic conditions generally. Diarrhœa in typhoid. Gonorrhœa. Boils.
Erysipelas and foul ulcers. Gangrene. Goitre with exophthalmic symptoms; full doses, also injecting 5-10 drops into thyroid gland. Tendency to malignancy in acute and subacute disorders. Last stages of cancer to ease pain. Venom infection. Cerebro-spinal meningitis. Puerperal infections.
Tired feeling. Piles. Pustules. Acts on vermiform appendix thus has been used for appendicitis, but remember it promotes suppuration and a neglected appendicitis with pus formation would probably rupture sooner under its use.
Lymphatic inflammation; crushing injuries. Snake bites and bites and stings generally. Foul discharges with emaciation and great debility.
Head. Confused, depressed. Aches with a peculiar periodical flushing of the face, even to the neck; dizziness and profound prostration.
Nose. Foul-smelling discharge, membranous formations protruding. Post-nasal catarrh with ulceration and fetor. Nose feels stuffed up. Right nostril raw, bleeding.
Mouth. Canker; gums recede and bleed easily; corners of mouth and lips crack; tongue dry and swollen; sores; dirty brownish. Tongue, lips, and fauces tingle, with sense of fear about heart (Acon). White coating of tongue, with red edges. Promotes the flow of saliva.
Throat. Tonsils purple or black, gray exudation extending to posterior nares and air-passages. Ulcerated sore throat.
Stomach. Sour belching and heartburn. Nausea; better lying down.
Chest.--Pain as of a lump in chest and under sternum. Pain in pectoral muscles (Aristolochia).
Urine. Albuminous, scanty, frequent, and involuntary.
Female. Puerperal septicæmia; discharges suppressed; abdomen sensitive and tympanitic; offensive, excoriating leucorrhœa.
Extremities. Aching in limbs and general lassitude.
Skin. Recurring boils. Carbuncles. Irritations from insect bites and poisonous plants. Lymphatics enlarged. Old tibial ulcers. Gangrene.
Fever. Chilliness, with nausea. Cold flashes all over back. Malarial fever.
Relationship. Compare: Cenchris contortrix; Bothrops; Ars; Laches; Baptis; Rhus; Cistus; Hepar; Calendula.
Dose.--Tincture, one to ten drops, every two hours, and larger doses.
Locally, as a cleansing and antiseptic wash.