Echinacea, commonly referred to as Purple Coneflower, has been employed for centuries by Native Americans as an herbal remedy and is an important part of American Indian herbal lore. There are three common species of echinacea; echinacea purpurea, e. angustifolia, and e. pallida that are native to the American prairie lands and can be found growing as far south as Texas. Echinacea herb is believe to support the immune system through a variety of mechanisms that aid phagocytosis (cellular ingestion and digestion of solid substances, such as bacteria) and T-cell production. Standardized echinacea extracts contain a number of compounds known to possess immune enhancing effects in the body. Caffeic acid derivatives (echinacosides), polysaccharides, alkylamides, polyacetylenes, and flavonoids are among Echinacea’s active constituents with immune system support benefits. **
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