Herbs in Focus: Echinacea

If ever you’ve perused the herbal aisle at your local store, and if you’re here, reading this, we’re guessing you have, you’re likely familiar with echinacea. That one ingredient seems to be in a lot of products designed to help manage everything from colds and sore throats to a depressed immune system.

Whether you’re overcoming an illness and looking for support or proactively working to fight off seasonal illnesses, echinacea is one botanical you want in your herbal wellness toolkit!

Quick Links:

• What is Echinacea?
• A Brief History of Echinacea in Herbal Traditions
• Echinacea Benefits: Why This Botanical Is So Popular
• What Is Echinacea Good For?
• Who Should Use Echinacea?

What is Echinacea?

Echinacea, which is native to North America, is easily recognized by its flower: bright purple-pink petals and a raised, cone-shaped center. That description likely explains its other common name: purple coneflower. It’s a familiar sight in prairies, pollinator gardens, and in herbal medicine traditions.

While it’s pretty, it also packs a botanical punch. For centuries, it’s been valued as a functional botanical that supports the body’s immune response.

The Echinacea Plant 

While there are several species of echinacea, the most widely studied and used in herbal supplements and teas is Echinacea purpurea. The plant features:

• Tall stems with daisy-like echinacea flowers
  
  
• A spiny central cone (rich in bioactive compounds)
  
  
• Deep roots that also play an essential role in herbal formulations

What Parts of Echinacea Are Used?

Often, when we’re discussing botanicals, an important element is which part of the plant is used in formulations. One of the reasons echinacea is so interesting and used so frequently is that different parts of the plant are used for different purposes:

• The Roots – This is where much of echinacea’s protective chemistry is concentrated. It contains higher levels of alkylamides, compounds often studied for their role in immune communication and inflammatory signaling. Traditionally, the root has been used when deeper, more systemic immune support is needed, particularly during times of heightened stress on the body.
• Leaves, Stems, and Flowers – These parts are rich in compounds associated with immune modulation and antioxidant activity. Historically, they’re used to support the body’s surface-level defenses and overall immune readiness.

Rather than one part being “better” than another, they offer different strengths. Thoughtful formulations take this into account, and specific plant parts (or combinations of them) are chosen based on how the herb is meant to work in the body.

Echinacea has a rich history in traditional herbal wisdom, and that continues today with modern clinical research. Its name is familiar to many, but where it comes from, what it does, and its long-standing history are perhaps less familiar.

A Brief History of Echinacea in Herbal Traditions

Long before echinacea became a staple in modern herbal supplements, it was a key plant in Indigenous North American healing traditions. Tribes across the Great Plains used echinacea as a versatile botanical to support the body during times of physical stress, seasonal challenges, and recovery.

Much like modern naturopathy seeks systemic support, early healers recognized echinacea as a first-line plant, valuing it for the way it supports the whole system, rather than expecting it to do just one very specific job.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, echinacea caught the attention of early American herbalists who were among the first to document its use. They then helped carry it into more formal herbal practices. As pharmaceutical medicine rose in popularity, echinacea faded from the scene for a time, but it reemerged decades later as interest in botanicals and plant-based and herbal wellness regained popularity (1).

Today, traditional herbalists, naturopathic doctors, and modern clinical researchers all reference and recommend echinacea, honoring its long history and its steadfastness as an invaluable herb, used to support the immune system.

Echinacea Benefits: Why This Botanical Is So Popular

That long history, when coupled with modern research, has helped echinacea become one of the most recognizable immune herbs on the market. More important than those two elements is how it feels when your body needs extra support. It’s why you’ve likely seen teas, supplements, and more on store shelves, all of which claim to help when you’re struggling with a cold or upper respiratory issue.

At its core, echinacea is known for its relationship with the immune system. Rather than acting as a blunt-force solution, echinacea is supportive, working with the body’s natural defenses rather than overriding them, a core focus for naturopathic medicine.

This support is particularly beneficial during seasonal transitions, periods of increased stress, travel, or when the immune system feels a bit run-down.

Key Echinacea Benefits

While research continues to evolve, echinacea is commonly used to support:

• Immune readiness, especially during periods of increased exposure or seasonal change (2)
  
  
• Healthy inflammatory response, helping the body respond appropriately rather than excessively (3)
  
  
• Overall resilience, particularly when the body is under physical or environmental stress (4)

Many people also appreciate echinacea because it tends to work best when used intentionally and proactively. For example, when you sense your body needs support  during cold and flu season, travel, or stressful periods, reaching for echinacea and immune boosters is a smart call. They can help your body be ready and responsive.  

Why Echinacea Shows Up in So Many Herbal Supplements (including our Super Immune Ally)

From a formulation standpoint, echinacea checks a lot of boxes. It’s longevity and usefulness means it’s well-studied compared to many botanicals; it’s widely recognized by both consumers and practitioners, and it’s versatile enough to pair with other immune-supporting herbs.

For practitioners, echinacea’s appeal often lies in its adaptability: it can be used alone or as part of a broader protocol. For everyday users, it’s familiar, plant-based, and supports the body’s system rather than forcing an outcome or suppressing a symptom.

That balance between tradition, science, and practical use is exactly why echinacea remains a foundational ingredient in modern supplements and immune-focused botanical formulas today.

What Is Echinacea Good For?

Now that we know what it does, the next question is what conditions or symptoms is it good for?

Echinacea is most commonly used to support the body during short-term immune challenges, particularly when the immune system is under increased demand. This is one reason why it’s so great proactively, before your body incurs the the onslaught of stressors.

People often reach for echinacea to help support the body during:

• Seasonal colds and immune stress, especially at the first sign of symptoms
  
  
• Upper respiratory discomfort, including sore throat or general “run-down” feelings
  
  
• Periods of increased exposure, such as travel, crowded environments, or seasonal transitions
  
  
• Physical or environmental stress, including fatigue, lack of sleep, or weather changes

From an herbal perspective, echinacea helps the immune system respond appropriately and efficiently, which makes it especially useful at the early stages of immune challenge, when the body is firing up its defenses.

Who Should Use Echinacea?

Echinacea is best suited for people looking for short-term immune support during times when the body may need a little extra help. It’s commonly used by people who are generally healthy but navigating a period of increased demand on their immune system.

Echinacea May Be a Good Fit For:

• Adults experiencing seasonal immune challenges
  
• Frequent travelers (and flight crews)
  
• Teachers and school staff
  
• Nurses, healthcare workers, and clinical support staff
  
• Hospitality workers (hotels, restaurants, event staff)
  
• Retail and customer service employees
  
• Flight crews and frequent travelers
  
• Childcare providers
  
• Public-facing professionals in offices, gyms, salons, and wellness spaces
  
• People under temporary physical or environmental stress, such as poor sleep, weather shifts, or busy schedules
  

From a clinical and herbal standpoint, echinacea is often viewed as a situational botanical, not an everyday maintenance supplement. It’s typically used for defined periods and with clear intent, which aligns with both traditional herbal practice and modern integrative approaches.

When to Pause or Seek Guidance

Echinacea may not be appropriate for everyone. Individuals with autoimmune conditions, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or anyone taking immune-modulating medications should consult a qualified healthcare provider before use. As with any botanical, quality, formulation, and duration of use matter.

Echinacea has earned its place as one of the most trusted immune-support botanicals for a reason. Rather than overwhelming the immune system, echinacea works best by helping the body to respond naturally, something both traditional herbalists and modern practitioners continue to value.

What makes echinacea even more effective is how it’s used. In thoughtfully formulated blends, echinacea is often paired with other immune-supporting herbs that complement and broaden its effects. Together, these botanicals can provide more comprehensive support during periods of increased exposure, whether that’s cold and flu season, frequent public interaction, travel, or ongoing concerns around respiratory illnesses, including COVID-era immune stress (2,5).

That’s exactly the philosophy behind our Super Immune Ally. Guided by naturopathic oversight and clinically tested, the limited ingredient formula combines echinacea with synergistic botanicals chosen for quality, purity, and real-world effectiveness. No filler or trend-driven additives, just botanicals designed to support your body.

If you’re looking for a plant-based immune formula designed to support the body when it matters most, check out Super Immune Ally. If you have questions, feel free to reach out! We’re happy to help.

Sources:

1.  Williams, M., Jenks, A., & Brinckmann, J. (2023). Echinacea purpurea (Herb profile). HerbalGram, (138), 12–21. American Botanical Council. Retrieved from https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/138/table-of-contents/hg138-herbprofile-echinacea/

2. Aucoin, M., Cardozo, V., McLaren, M. D., Garber, A., Remy, D., Baker, J., Gratton, A., Ali Kala, M., Monteiro, S., & Warder, C. (2021). A systematic review on the effects of Echinacea supplementation on cytokine levels: Is there a role in COVID-19? Metabolism Open, 11, 100115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metop.2021.100115

3. Ahmadi, F. (2024). Phytochemistry, mechanisms, and preclinical studies of Echinacea extracts in modulating immune responses to bacterial and viral infections: A comprehensive review. Antibiotics (Basel), 13(10), 947. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13100947

4. Zhai, Z., Johnson, K., & Schaefer, D. (2007). Enhancement of innate and adaptive immune functions by Echinacea preparations. Journal of Medicinal Food. PMC2362099. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2362099/

5. Barber, M. S., Barrett, R., Bradley, R. D., & Walker, E. (2021). A naturopathic treatment approach for mild and moderate COVID-19: A retrospective chart review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 63, 102788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102788