Echinacea Drops in the fight against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

In the lifetime of Father Simon Ašič (1906-1992) echinacea was not yet known in Slovenia, so we will not find it described in his books. But the father, as we know, was open to new things and would certainly use it today. For prevention, so as not to fall ill, and during the treatment of a cold or a viral illness, to shorten the time of treatment. Echinacea is, after all, a very well researched medicinal plant these days.

There are many species of echinacea, but in pharmacy we use only three: purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), narrow-leaved coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) and pale coneflower (Echinacea pallida). The medicinal parts of the plant that we use are: echinacea root, fresh above-ground parts of the flowering plant, juice from echinacea herb, dry juice from the herb, and liquid extracts from the herb and the roots of echinacea.

A product of Father Simon Ašič that contains echinacea:

(36) ImunoSIT

Echinacea Drops

The action and use of echinacea

Different species of echinacea contain different compounds, though some are the same. Nor are there equal amounts of medicinal compounds in the different parts of one plant. The following compounds are important for the medicinal effect: polysaccharides, alkylamides and caffeic acid derivatives.

Polysaccharides STIMULATE THE WORK OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. This means that the LEUKOCYTES, which are responsible for defence, BECOME MORE ACTIVE. As a result MACROPHAGES "swallow" (phagocytose) foreign particles, for instance VIRUSES, more actively. Because of this action we will therefore be able to overcome a viral infection faster.

Alkylamides are common in all species of echinacea and accumulate in the roots. They have an ANTI-INFLAMMATORY effect.

A caffeic acid derivative is, for instance, echinacoside, which is found in the roots and flowers of narrow-leaved coneflower, but not in the purple. Echinacoside has a mild antibiotic effect. It inhibits the growth of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. We find this bacterium on the skin, where it can cause an infection of a wound after an operation. 6 mg of echinacoside has a similar effectiveness to one unit of penicillin.

Other compounds in the plant are important for treatment too. For example, polyacetylenes from the roots of narrow-leaved and purple coneflower inhibit the growth of two kinds of bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes pneumonia, and Escherichia coli, which causes urinary tract infection.

Echinacea also acts directly against viruses, killing those viruses that have a lipid envelope. The new coronavirus has this envelope. So do the other coronaviruses, influenza viruses, herpes viruses and others.

Echinacea is a perennial that you can plant in the garden. It belongs to the daisy family. The roots of echinacea, which we dig in autumn, must be at least three years old to contain enough medicinal substances for the purpose of treatment. Clean roots are soaked for three weeks in home-distilled spirit or in up to 70 % ethanol. Close the jar tightly and leave it at room temperature for three weeks somewhere dark, for example in a kitchen cupboard, and shake it a little from time to time, at least every two days. After this time strain the solution and you have the echinacea drops ready. Take the drops with tea or water three times a day, 15 drops each time. For medicinal purposes you can also, for instance in summer, prepare freshly pressed juice (using a juicer) from the fresh herb, and the other preparations listed above.

Many studies around the world have confirmed the effectiveness of echinacea. Echinacea drops are taken for the treatment of a cold, that is viral and bacterial infections. They are also taken preventively, since they reduce the chance of catching a cold or shorten how long a cold lasts.

You can order Father Simon Ašič's Echinacea Drops by telephone:

01 78 77065 or write to us at: info@sitik.si

Published: 6 December 2021

Products that contain echinacea: