Ayurvedic Herb

Echinacea

BotanicalEchinacea purpureaAlso calledPurple coneflower, Coneflower, American coneflower

The purple coneflower of North American prairies, a bitter, tingly herb sipped briefly at the turn of the season.

Echinacea, aerial parts

Echinacea is the purple coneflower, the tall daisy with drooping pink petals and a spiky orange-brown center that bees love. Native peoples of the North American plains used it long before it reached Europe. Chew a bit of the root or sip a strong tea and you will notice a tingling, slightly numbing feeling on the tongue.

It is not a classical Ayurvedic herb. Modern Ayurvedic teachers describe it as bitter, pungent and cooling. Traditionally it is used for short stretches, not every day all year, as a seasonal ally when the weather shifts.

Ayurvedic Properties

Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as bitter and pungent in taste and cooling, with a pungent post-digestive effect (Frawley and Lad, The Yoga of Herbs, and other modern Ayurvedic teachers).

RasaTastes
  • Bitter
  • Pungent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Pungent
AgniEffect on digestion
Neutral for agni

Little direct effect on digestion.

GunaQualities
  • Light
  • Dry
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: increases in excess
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Echinacea's bitter coolness suits pitta and its light, dry quality helps kapha. Vata types can blend it with warming ginger and a little honey, and keep use short.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support the body's natural defenses at the change of seasons.
  • Traditionally used to support a comfortable throat during the respiratory season.
  • Traditionally used to support kapha balance when the weather turns damp.

How People Use It

  • TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of the dried herb in a cup of just-boiled water for 10 to 15 minutes. It tastes earthy and a little bitter, with a tingle on the tongue.
  • HoneyA spoonful of raw honey, stirred in once the tea has cooled a little, softens the bitterness.
Try This

Change of Season Echinacea and Tulsi Tea

A short, simple ritual for the first chilly days of fall.

  • 1 teaspoon dried echinacea
  • 1 teaspoon dried tulsi
  • 2 thin slices fresh ginger
  • 2 cups just-boiled water
  • Raw honey to taste
  1. Place the echinacea, tulsi and ginger in a teapot and pour the water over them.
  2. Cover and steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
  3. Strain, let it cool to drinking warmth and stir in honey.
  4. Enjoy a cup now and then through the change of season rather than every day year round, and pair it with good sleep and warm, simple meals.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Echinacea is in the daisy family. Some people have allergic reactions to it, which can be severe, and the risk is higher if you are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies, or have asthma or allergies in general.
  • Do not use echinacea if you have an autoimmune condition, or if you take immune-suppressing medicines, unless your doctor approves.
  • Echinacea may interact with some medicines processed by the liver and with caffeine. Talk with your doctor if you take any medication.
  • Little is known about its safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Avoid it then unless your doctor approves.
  • Talk with a child's doctor before giving echinacea to children, since some have developed rashes.
  • The most common side effects are stomach upset, nausea and stomach pain.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using echinacea.

In Our Shop

Organic Echinacea

Organic Echinacea, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

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From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.