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Sampson Root | | Name : | Sampson Root | | Synonyms : | SacredPlant (by Native Americans)
Blacksampson
Narrow-leavedpurple coneflower
Purpleconeflower
Redsunflower
Sampsonroot
| | Parts Used : | Roots and leaves | | Habitat : | E. angustifolia is found in prairies. Texas, western Oklahoma,western Kansas, Nebraska, west to east Colorado, eastern Montans,North Dakota, Man. and Sask. Canada.
E. Pallida is found in the prairies and glades of Arkansasto Wisconsin, Minnesota, eastern Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska.
E. Purpurea is found in open woods, thickets; cultivated ingardens. Michigan, Ohio to Louisiana, eastern Texas, Oklahoma. | | Description : | Aperennial, native to North America, Coneflower gets its common namefrom the arrangement of the florets of its showy, daisy-like flowersaround a prominent center or 'cone.' Sturdy branching stems 2-5ft tall with long, dark green leaves and showy daisy-like flowersup to 6-inches across, with drooping rays ranging fromwhite to purplish pink. Flowers in summer. Full sun in zones 3-10.Heat tolerant. It flowers almost all summer and tolerates droughtand poor soil. The coneflower is among the most beautiful of nativeNorth American plants. Plants from seed will take 2-3 yearsto flower. Set out in the spring, spaced 1-1/2 ft apart.Coneflower needs full sun and deep, light loamy soil. It can standdry conditions and does best with 2 or 3 applicationsof balanced fertilizer during the growing season. It's a good ideato mark the location of seedlings the first few years, since the plantdies back to the ground in the winter.
Both Angustifolia and Purpurea are equal in their effects, but theAngustifolia has long tap root, 6-20 in., leaves arelance-shaped, stiff-hairy flowers with prominent cone-shaped disksurrounded by pale to deep purple spreading rays, June-September raysare about as long as the width of disk (to 1 1/4 in.).
The Purpurea has a rootstock and does not penetrate quite so deeplyinto the earth. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea) is distinguishedfrom other purple coneflowers by its oval coarsely toothed leaves,flatter (less cone-shaped) disk, and the orange-tipped bristles onthe flowerheads. Flowers June-Sept. The leaves and root are used,especially in West German products, as stimulants to the immune system,for the treatment of colds, flu, and other common ailments.
Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Pallida) grows from 2-4 fttall. The showy purple ray flowers may be 4 in. long. Flowers May-Aug.The range of this purple coneflower is more eastern than that of itsclose relative (Angustifolia). Narrow-leafed Purple Coneflower (EchinaceaAngustifloria), long considered the most important medicinal speciesof the purple coneflower, E. angustifolia is smallerthan E. pallida; it grows to 20 in. tall.The ray petals are shorter, usually no longer than the width of thecone disk. This species occurs in the western prairies. Hybrids occurwhere the ranges of E. angustifolia and E. pallidameet. | | Constituents : | An essential oil containing the oncolytic hydrocarbon (z) -1, 8-Pentadecadiene;polysaccharide(a heteroxylan) containing arabinose, xylose, glucose and 4-0-methylgluronicacid; polysaccharide,(an arabinorhamnogalactic) containing rhamnose, arabinose, galactoseand glucutonic acid; echinacen (an isoabutylkylamide comprising0.01% of the dried root of E. angustifolia and 0.001%of the dried root of E. pallida; ecinolone (appolyacetylenecompound from E. angustifolia); echinacoside (a glycosidefound in E. angustifolia, at concentrations of 1% ofroot preparations; echinacin B; an unsaturated aliphaticsesquiterpene, betain; inulin; inuloid; fructose, sucrose; higherfatty acids; 6.9% protein in air dried roots of E. angustifolia,5.3% in E. purpurea; tannin; vitamin C;enzymes; an unidentified glycoside; resin; acids and thirteen polyacetylenecompounds. May also be used as carminitive, stimulant, vulnerary.
Alterative, antibacterial, antiviral, analgesic, digestive, tonic,antiseptic, depurative, febrifuge, sialagogue, diaphoretic | | Uses : | Echinacea stimulates the body's immune system against all infectiousand inflammatory conditions, counteracts pus, and stimulates digestion.It specifically strengthens the immune system against pathogenic infectionby stimulating phagocytosis, T-cell formation, and byinhibiting the hyalurinadase enzyme secreted by bacteria to effectthe breakdown of cell walls and the formation of pus. It is one ofthe most powerful and effective remedies against all kinds of bacterialand viral infections. It should be taken frequently, every hour ortwo during acute stages of inflammation, tapering off as symptomsimprove. There are no generally recognized side effects of Echinaceaoverdose, but some have noted a peculiar scratchy, tickling sensationin the throat from excessive use.
Root (chewed, or in tea) used for snakebites,spider bites, cancers,toothaches, wounds,external ulcers, bed sores,burns, boils,acne, eczema,hard-to-heal sores andwounds, flu, fever,and colds.
Blood poisoning, pelvicinflammatory disease (PID), lowersblood pressure, fevers, carbuncles(boils), acne, eczema, beestings and poisonous insects and snakes, erysipelas, AIDS,restore normal immune function in patients receiving chemotherapy,gangrene, diphtheria,tonsillitis, soresand infections,wounds (especially hard-to-heal),pustules, abscesses,lymph glands, strepthroat, excellent bloodcleanser, flatulence, syphiliticconditions, gonorrhea, prostatitis,vaginal yeast infection,candida, peritonitis,prevention of growth and development of pathogenic organisms, stimulationof the immune system, typhoid feverand indigestion.
The Sioux Indians used fresh scraped root for rabies (hydrophobia),snakebites, and septicemia. | | Dosage : | Do not use the root once it has lost its odor.
Decoction: use 1 tsp. root with 1 cup boilingwater. Steep for 1/2 hour. Take 1 tbsp.3 to 6 times a day.
Tincture: take 15 to 30 drops in water every1 to 3 hours, as needed.
These vary with the condition under treatment. For instance, strepthroat needs to be treated with a gargle, snakebite is treated bychewing the leaves and roots by the patient and applying to pulp tothe snakebite area after the venom is sucked out and it is bleedingfreely. Preparations vary, dosages vary. Commercial compounds vary.The most common compound seems to be a combination with Myrrh to makea tincture. Also capsules are available. In severe cases, two capsulesfour times a day or 10 to 25 drops (gtts)of the tincture every 2 hours in water. Although, thiscan vary from 10-25 to 10-30 drops.
Unable to find dosage or concentrate for teas.
There are several formulae for using Echinacea. Blood purification,skin and inflammatory conditions call for Echinacea root, golden seal,chaparral, honeysuckle flowers, forsythia blossoms, sarsaparilla root,yellow dock root, American ginseng, ginger root, cinnamon twigs. Thisformula should be taken 2 to 4 tablets,three times daily with warm water.
For treatment of flu, take four tablets with warm water two or threetimes a day. Follow a simple diet, avoiding heating, dispersing anddenatured foods, drugs, stimulants, peppers, sugar (including fruitjuices and fruits), alcohol and excess meat. Each formula has itsown instructions and dosage.
For instance, the formula for skin and genitalherpes include: Echinacea, yellow dock, gentian root, golden seal,bupleurum, poria, wild yam root, marshmallow root and myrrh gum. Asthe formula varies, so does the dosage.
Consult the manufacturer if commercially offered. Since no overdoseor side effects have ever been noted, if the plant is used alone,dosage of tea or tisanes would not be too critical except with acutecases, after which taper off as symptoms disappear. | | Safety : | Alcohol tincture may destroy polysaccharides in Echinacea that stimulatethe immune system, although other active ingredients remain intactand active. Most tinctures are 20% alcohol in order to preserve theherb, but even 10% ruins the Echinacea. The freeze-dried form is muchpreferred.
Some active ingredients in this herb can be destroyed during processing;freeze drying is the most effective way to preserve the herb's healingproperties. A fully potent product will create a tingling sensationon the tongue. Important compounds are missed if this sensation isnot present.
No known side effects have been reported other than with high dosesnausea and dizziness may occasionally occur.
Persons with anemia or vertigo should avoid using echinacea. | | Myths : | Echinacea has been long used by Native Americans for Medicinal purposesand is now regaining its importance because extracts from its roots,etc., have been found to be effective in strengthening the immunesystem. It shows promise as a source of potent drugs for use withAIDS and other afflictions. Almost 25% of the drugs we use are basedon plants. All three varieties are used in a like manner, however,some consider the E. pallida less active. Plains Indiansare said to have used Echinacea for more medicinal purposes than anyother plant group (member of the sunflower family). Science confirmsmany traditional uses, plus cortisone-like activity; also insecticidal,bactericidal, and immuno-stimulant activities. More than 200 pharmaceuticalpreparations are made from Echinacea plants in W. Germany, includingextracts, salves, and tinctures, used for wounds, herpes sores, cankersores, throat infections (including Strep), preventative for influenza,colds.
A folk remedy for brown recluse spider bites. E. angustifoliais widely used in Europe, although it is not native there. Most commercialW. German preparations utilize extracts of above-ground parts androots of E. purpurea. Extracts are used to stimulatenonspecific defense mechanisms at infections and chronic inflammations.It has been asserted that the components thought responsible for immune-systemstimulating activity were not absorbed by oral ingestion, and couldbe effective only in an injectable form. A recent German study, however,showed significant immune-system stimulating activity with orallyadministered extracts of all three varieties of Echinacea, both inmice and laboratory experiments. Perhaps additional components areinvolved in immuno-stimulating activity than those previously known.
The Native Americans, for instance, had the victim of a snake-bitechew the leaves and roots of the plant. Swallowing the juice whenchewed, the pulp was made into a poultice for the wound area afterthe cite was lanced with a knife and venom sucked out until bloodwas flowing. It was thought that so doing the patient would be freeof snake-bite symptoms in just 2-3 days.
Many studies show that echinacea prevents the formation of an enzymecalled hyaluronidase, which destroys a natural barrier between healthytissue and unwanted pathogenic organisms. Therefore, echinacea helpsthe body maintain its line of defense against unwanted invaders, especiallyviruses. Echinacea is less depleting on the body than golden seal,and so is preferable for more long term usage. | | Nutrient : | Fructose, vitamins A, C, and E. | | Sold : | Can be sold as fresh, freeze-dried, or an alcohol extract, liquid,tea, capsule or salve.
Capsules: take 1 capsule for up to 3 times daily.
Extract: mix 15 to 30 drops in liquid every 3 hours. |
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