echinacea

[ek-uh-ney-shuh, -see-uh]

noun

1. any of several coneflowers of the genus Echinacea whose leaves, roots, and other parts are used in herbal medicine to promote wound healing and enhance the immune system.

echinacea

/ ˌɛkɪˈneɪʃɪə /

noun

1. Also called: purple coneflower. either of the two N American plants of the genus Echinacea, having flower heads with purple rays and black centres: family Compositae (composites) See coneflower

2. the powdered root of either of these plants, used to stimulate the immune system

Word History and Origins

Origin of echinacea¹

First recorded in 1825–30; from New Latin Echīnācea, genus name, from Latin echīnus “sea urchin,” from Greek echînos “hedgehog, sea urchin, a kind of plant” + -acea ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of echinacea¹

from New Latin, from Latin echīnātus prickly, from echīnus hedgehog

Example Sentences

Also, echinacea is a pretty harmless herbal treatment that does appear to have significant protection.

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I started off pretty skeptical about echinacea, but actually, I’m an author on studies showing that echinacea reduces antibiotic usage by about 70 percent in children if they use it as a prophylaxis.

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On the packaging, he adds: “Our label design includes images of the recognizable fruit body that the mycelium forms. This is normative across dietary supplements. Most echinacea root products have an image of an echinacea flower or plant on the package although the specific extract is made from the root.”

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She also says echinacea, turmeric and ginger shots are not going to give you an immune boost.

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Summer-blooming perennials, such as sedum, lavender, echinacea and other plants that don’t need very much summer water, carry interest on through the growing season.

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