Echinacea Angustifolia.

Properties: Alterative, antiseptic; anti-syphilitic.

Use: The remedy in all depraved conditions of the blood. Has an alterative and restorative effect on the tissues, hastens retrograde metamorphosis and has marked antiseptic properties; therefore its range of usefulness in both acute and chronic affections is large. We think of it in scrofula, syphilis, typhoid fever, puerperal fever, diphtheria, uremic poisons, appendicitis, cholera infantum, cholera morbus, diarrhea, cerebral spinal meningitis, carbuncles, septic fevers, boils, tonsillitis, smallpox, measles, pneumonia, and, in fact, all septic and depraved conditions of the blood it is the remedy, and should be given in good sized doses either alone or with other indicated remedies. In ulcers, ulcerated sore throat, catarrh, nasal catarrh, inflammation of the male and female urethra, and of the vagina, in eczema, erysipelas, rhus tox poisoning, use it internally and locally. In poisonous bites of rattlesnakes, tarantulas, wasps, etc., give in ¼ to ½ teaspoonful doses every ¼ to ½ hour, until relieved; then in smaller doses and at longer intervals; it should also be applied to the sore pure or in 25 to 50% solution according to the severity of the case. In hemorrhoids it may be injected in the tumor, 15 to 20 drops, repeated if necessary. Of value in gonorrhea. Has been recommended in hydrophobia. In skin diseases of systemic origin echinacea should not be forgotten, both locally and internally. In ulcers, sores, boils, etc., where it fails to cure, the cause will be found to be a deficiency of the lime salts, such as calcium phos 2x, calcium sulph. 1x, or in some cases silica 3x, and if such is the case these elements should be supplied and the trouble will be corrected. As echinacea has a tendency to correct abnormalities and exerts this same influence on the temperature of the body, it is a valuable remedy in both sthenic and asthenic conditions and may be associated or alternated in these cases with other indicated remedies. Used with some of our special sedatives it will to some degree counteract their depressing effect. As a wet surgical dressing it has no equal. The average dose of echinacea is from 5 to 10 drops 3 to 4 times a day; but in severe cases and poisoning of the blood by poisonous bites, etc., it must be used in much larger doses and at short intervals. Locally use pure or in 25 to 50% solution. In constitutional syphilis it is a great remedy if associated with other alteratives such as berberis aquifolium or iris versicolor. In septic conditions from abortion or in puerperal septicemia it is the best remedy we have.

The Materia Medica and Clinical Therapeutics, 1905, was written by Fred J. Petersen, M.D.