Echinacea is a North American plant in the Asteraceae family, which
includes daisy, aster and sunflower. Native Americans of the Plains and
Pacific Northwest of North America called Echinacea “elk root” because
injured or sick elk would be observed searching for a consuming the
plant. Taking a cue from the animal, various Native American tribes used
the herb for centuries to address pain, inflammation and infections.
Echinacea root contains a complex variety of phytochemicals responsible
for its effects, including immunostimulating polysaccharides, alkamides,
glycoproteins and flavonoids.
