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History of Echinacea |
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Echinacea was used frequently by Native American Tribes for a wide variety of conditions. At least 14 tribes used Echinacea for ailments such as coughs, colds, sore throats, and infections. It was even used by the Dakotas as a veterinary medicine for their horses. In 1887, Echinacea was introduced into U.S. medical practice, and it grew in popularity. By the early twentieth century Echinacea had become the top selling herb in America. However, with the discovery of penicillin and other "wonder drugs," the popularity of Echinacea eventually waned. Even though it continued to be used in America it fell completely into disuse in the 1930's after it was dismissed as worthless by the AMA. In Europe, however, people began to grow and use Echinacea extensively. Germany in particular took a great interest in the herb. During the 1930s Dr. Gerhard Madaus, a German native, began researching and working with Echinacea. Madaus, the founder of Madaus AG and a leading herbal medicine manufacturer in Cologne, Germany, came to the United States in search of seeds from Echinacea Angustifolia, the form of Echinacea most widely used at that time. Madaus returned to Germany with seeds from Echinacea purpurea instead of Echinacea angustifolia. By default then, Echinacea purpurea became the subject of modern pharmacological studies by Madaus. As a result of Germany's great interest in the herb some of the best scientific studies to date have taken place there. The result of Madaus' studies was the development of a product called Echinacin. Echinacin was a preparation of juice expressed from the flowers, leaves and stems of the Echinacea plant. This preparation is still available today in the United States and has become the most extensively researched and frequently prescribed Echinacea preparation in the world. |
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