Echinacea - seed heads
By Bathgate
- 13 Jan, 2014
- 7 likes
Who's been nibbling on my house? Echinacea or Purple Coneflower seed heads provide a reliable food source for Goldfinches and other wildlife or new plants in the Spring. The canes provide winter interest and look very nice swaying in the wind. Everybody wins!
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Yes Driad, it certainly is. According to my research, this plant is an immune system booster and a tried and true remedy for the common cold - makes a nice tea.
13 Jan, 2014
Is that the leaves or the dried plant , Bathgate ?
I've stopped at green tea , really .
14 Jan, 2014
All parts of the plant can and are used. It bolsters your immune system. That's why it works. For the best tea, select stems with the freshest flowers, use the newest leaves (top most leaves on the stem). The leaves must be dried.
Here's a basic recipe using dried plant parts:
Echinacea Tea
1 part echinacea parts, leaves, flowers, roots
1/4 part lemon grass
1/4 part spearmint leaves (or to taste)
Stevia leaves to taste
Mix and brew at the first sign of cold or flu. Based on the Traditional Medicinal recipe.
You can add a little fennel if you like. Give it a try. It's great!
15 Jan, 2014
Hi , Bathgate , I've added that to my faves so that when I feel the need , it will be here .
Where can I get , (and what is) Stevia though ?
Has the weather eased some for you good people in New York ?
17 Jan, 2014
Hi Driad. Stevia is an herb and used as a natural sweetener. You can generally find it in most health food stores or even at the grocery. It's easy to grow in your garden as well. You can also substitute with honey.
17 Jan, 2014
I'll try and grow some , for interests sake this year , I love something new .
17 Jan, 2014
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A useful plant , Bathgate .
Good for chest ailments , too , I believe .
13 Jan, 2014