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Starwest Herbal Extracts are convenient to use, an excellent alternative to herb tea or capsules. Made by a cold process method that extracts the maximum amount of vitamins, minerals, and active constituents of the herb.

Our extracts have a herb strength of 1 to 1 and a 30% alcohol content; the fresh extracts are a 1 to 2 ratio with a 50% alcohol content.

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The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Echinacea pallida [Echinacea angustifolia] root for 'Supportive therapy for influenza-like infections.'

'Daily dosage: Tincture (1:5) with 50 percent (v/v) ethanol from native dry extract (50 percent ethanol, 7 - 11:1), corresponding to 900 mg herb. Information for children's dosage is not available. Mode of Administration: Liquid forms for oral administration. Duration of Administration: Not longer than 8 weeks.'

Echinacea possesses confirmed anitbacterial and antiviral properties. It is profoundly supportive of the immune system, and, as Dr. Ellingwood's ecstatic clinical review below indicates (only part of which is quoted here), Echinacea's therapeutic power amazed practitioners.

Echinacea is effective both internally, against such as colds, flu and tonsilitis, and externally against many kinds of stubborn skin problems. The decoction can be used as a mouthwash for pyorrhoea and gingivitis, and as a douche for vaginal infections.

Echinacea is the subject of much contemporary research. Its complex chemistry seems to support the immune system by activating white blood cells.

Echinacea also increases the production of interferon, an important part of the body’s response to viral infections.

Many double-blind studies have confirmed what Ellingwood's extenvie clinical experience indicated, that echinacea is effective for treating colds and flu.

Other modern clincial studies confirm that echinacea, taken both internally and used as a douche, is extremely effective against vaginal yeast infections.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Echinacea increases bodily resistance to infection and is used for boils, erysipelas, septicaemia, cancer, syphilis and other impurities of the blood, its action being antiseptic.'

'It has also useful properties as a strong alterative and aphrodisiac.'

'As an injection, the extract has been used for haemorrhoids and a tincture of the fresh root has been found beneficial in diphtheria and putrid fevers.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'As a therapeutic agent echinacea is often used both internally and locally at the same time; therefore in this article the internal and external uses will not be given separately, but collectively. And inasmuch as echafolta is a name given to distinguish a purified form of echinacea, the remarks concerning the one are equally applied to the other, except in important surgical cases, where greater cleanliness is desired, when echafolta is to be preferred.'

'If any single statement were to be made concerning the virtues of echinacea, it would read something like this: 'A corrector of the depravation of the body fluids,' and even this does not sufficiently cover the ground. Its extraordinary powers—combining essentially that formerly included under the terms antiseptic, antifermentative, and antizymotic—are well shown in its power over changes produced in the fluids of the body, whether from internal causes or from external introductions.'

'Outside of the claims made for this remedy by its introducer, which included many of the conditions for which it is now valued, it first attracted general notice as a remedy for septicaemia, in which malady it appeared to promise more than any remedy previously in use.'

'It has given equally satisfactory results in alarming cases of venom infection, with great depression, from the bites of the rattlesnake, tarantula and other spiders, and from the stings of scorpions, bees, wasps, etc. Prof. Webster, among others, speaks highly of its action in slow forms of cerebro-spinal meningitis, using it as the basic remedy (in connection with other indicated drugs), because of its sedative virtues...'

'In the various forms of tonsilitis it has given better results, particularly in the necrotic form, with dirty-looking ulcerative surfaces. It comes well endorsed as a remedy for that malignant form of quinsy known in some of the western states as 'black tongue.' Echinacea will contribute much to the cure of various catarrhal affections of the nose, naso-pharynx, and other portions of the respiratory tract.'

'Echinacea is a good appetizer, and improves digestion. The writer has used it with -good results in fermentative dyspepsia, with offensive breath and gastric pain as prominent symptoms, which was also aggravated upon taking food. It is also efficient in duodenal catarrh, and other forms of intestinal indigestion, with pain and debility. Few remedies are as efficient in ulcerative stomatitis, and in nursing sore-mouth it is asserted to be promptly curative. It has been praised in diarrhoea, cholera morbus, cholera infantum, and dysentery, all of the semi-inflammatory type, with a tendency to malignancy. Applied externally and given internally, it has been of service in aborting typhlitis and perityphlitis.'

'Echinacea has been prominently mentioned as a remedy for fevers. In the eruptive fevers, as measles, chicken-pox, and scarlet fever, it has received some praise, especially for its control over the catarrhal phases of the former, and its influence in masking the odor and controlling the pain of the scarlatinal angina. The fevers, however, in which it has accomplished the best results are of the typhoid and typho-malarial types, as well as in sympathetic fevers from septic infection and rheumatic attacks.'

'Echinacea is highly endorsed as a topical dressing for malignant carbuncle. Painful mammitis has been very successfully treated with it, and, used as an injection, it relieves the pain and inflammation in gonorrhoea. Several physicians have used it in syphilis, and declare it a good remedy for that disease, but this seems like claiming too much. It is, however, like thuja, efficient in allaying the pain and healing the ulcers, particularly of the mouth, throat, and tongue, affecting syphilitics.'

'Evidence is abundant, concerning its value in leucorrhoea, with offensive discharges; and Webster reports it as valuable in erythematous or erysipelatous vulvitis, being especially effective in that form affecting strumous children.'

'Echinacea is a remedy for eczema.'

The dose of either specific echinacea or echafolta ranges from 1 to 5 drops; larger doses (even 60 drops) may be employed, but small doses are generally most efficient if frequently repeated. They may be given in water or syrup, or water and glycerin, as: Rx Echafolta, flj to flij; water, q. s., fliv. Mix. Sig. Teaspoonful every ½ or 1 hour in acute cases; every 3 or 4 hours in chronic affections.

'For external use both preparations may be employed, though in point of cleanliness echafolta is to be preferred. Solutions of from 1 to 60 per cent strength may be applied by means of a saturated compress every 2 hours, or oftener, if necessity demands.'


American Materia Medica, 1919 (Ellingwood): 'Echinacea, is par excellence a corrector of any deprivation of the body fluids. It influences those conditions included under the terms septic, fermentative and zymotic. Those which manifest themselves in a disturbed balance of the fluids, resulting in alterations of the tissues such as are exhibited in boils, carbuncles. abscesses and cellular and glandular inflammations. These same conditions result from the introduction of the venom of serpents and poisonous insects of every character, also from the introduction of disease germs from pus and other putrid and infectious sources.'

'As an intestinal antiseptic the agent is bound to take first rank with all physicians when once known. Experiments with it to determine its immediate influence upon the fevers caused by continued absorption of septic material, such as typhoid fever, puerperal fever, and the fever of the after-stages of diphtheria, show that its influence upon the pernicious germs begins at once.'

'In several cases reported, where special sedatives were not given, the temperature has declined from, one-half to two degrees within a few hours after its use was begun, and has not increased until the agent was discontinued.'

'It has then slowly increased toward the previous high point until the remedy was again taken, when a decline was soon apparent.'

'It is a most important remedy in uremic poisoning, and will supersede all other single remedies.'

'It has been in constant use in diphtheria for three years. It is used locally as well as internally. The exudates contract and disappear, the local evidences of septic absorption are gone, the fever declines, the vital forces increase, depression, mental and physical, disappears, and the improvement is continual. In ulcerated sore throat of any character, in ulcerated sore mouth, in stomatitis materni, in post-nasal or catarrhal ulcerations it is prompt and effectual. It is preferred in these cases by those who use it.'

'In local inflammation of any portion of the intestinal tract, it has given excellent satisfaction. It quickly overcomes local blood stasis, prevents or cures ulceration, and retards pus formation by determining resolution. Reports of its use in appendicitis have been satisfactory, indeed. One writer treated several cases of unmistakable diagnosis, and satisfactory cure resulted. The writer treated one marked case of appendicitis where pus formation and future operation seemed inevitable. The improvement was apparent after the agent had been taken in a few hours, and recovery was complete in twelve days from attack.'

'In bed sores, fever sores, and in chronic ulcerations it is exceedingly useful. It is diluted and applied directly, while, it is given internally. It is of much value in old tibial ulcers, in chronic glandular indurations, and in scrofulous and syphilitic nodules and other specific skin disorders.'

'The extract or the fluid extract can be combined with an ointment base such as lanolin in the proportion of one part to one, two, or three parts of the base, and freely applied. It can be injected into the sinuses of carbuncles, or into the structure of the diseased parts with only good results.'

'Logan treated ten cases of stubborn skin disease of undoubted syphilitic origin with this remedy alone. It was applied externally and given in full doses internally, with a satisfactory cure in every case.'

'The writer's observations, in all cases he has treated, are that the patient begins to feel a general improved condition after taking the remedy a few days. Some of them are enthusiastic concerning the sense of well-being they experience. It begins by removing all the sensations of discomfort, and the patient's mind becomes hopeful and encouraged. The specific fever in the first stages soon declines, and there is a permanent abatement of the evidences of the disease. There are absolutely no undesirable influences observed, and no after effects, and no undesirable side influences to overcome. I have not, however, depended upon this agent alone, in all cases. There are too many definite conditions present to be met with one remedy. I think results are hastened by correct adjustments of three or four other vegetable alteratives with this.'

'In a paper read at the Ohio State Eclectic Medical Society in 1895, Dr. Gregory Smith stated that in 1871 Dr. H. C. F. Meyer commenced the use of this remedy.'

'He says: 'In malarial troubles it has no superior.' He also recommends it as a remedy for hemorrhoids; twenty-five drops of the pure tincture injected into the rectum three a day promptly effect a cure. 'It is also prompt in stings from. insects and in poisoning by contact with certain plants.'

'The fresh root scraped and given freely is the treatment used by the Sioux Indians for snake bite. Recoveries from crotalus poisoning are effected in from two to twelve hours.'

'The agent has had a most marvelous influence in overcoming pyemia [bacterial blood infection caused by pus-forming bacteria released from an abscess]. We have had some extreme cases reported, where it would seem that the patient was positively beyond all help, where amelioration of the symptoms was pronounced, and the restoration satisfactory.'

'In the treatment of small-pox conclusive proofs are now furnished us which declare the remedy to be of great efficacy, not only in ameliorating all the phenomena of the disease, but in preventing sequela. When applied to the skin in a form of a lotion, the pustules are benign in their character, and terminate with a minimum of scar.'

'In the treatment of erysipelas [a bacterial skin infection] the remedy has proven itself all we anticipated for it.'

'Dr. Wilkenloh reports the treatment of at least five cases of goitre, three of which had exophthalmic complications, and all were cured, with this remedy alone. The doctor gave the remedy internally in full doses, and injected from five to fifteen minims directly into the thyroid gland, and kept gauze, saturated and applied externally. As no other remedy than this was used, there could be no doubt about its positive influence.'

'Applied to painful surfaces, to local acute and painful inflammations of the integument, or to painful wounds, its anaesthetic influence is soon pronounced, and is of great benefit, in preserving freedom from pain during the active healing processes, which are stimulated and encouraged by this remedy.'

'We have already referred to its specific use in the treatment of phlegmenous swellings, old sores, dissecting and surgical wounds, and where there are pus cavities of long standing. Also as a very positive remedy, applied to all cases where gangrene is anticipated, or has appeared.'

'Its influence in gangrene of the extremities has been very pronounced. In gangrene of the fingers the curative benefits are observable from the first application. It is useful in dermatitis venenata, in erysipelas with sloughing phagedena, and in phlegmasia alba dolens, or phlebitis. In this latter condition its external use will greatly assist the internal medication.'

'Twenty to forty minims of echinacea every two hours with proper local treatment, such as iodine locally, will cure actinomycosis [a chronic bacterial jaw infection].'

'In the treatment of catarrh, it is used internally, and applied locally in the form of a spray, if necessary. It is not only an important remedy in nasal catarrh, but it is important in intestinal catarrh. I used it with excellent advantage in a so-called incurable case of ulcerative colitis with heavy discharge of mucus and pus.'

'Dr. Fair is emphatic in his statements that patients exposed to diphtheria should take echinacea in from ten to twenty drop doses every two hours with the positive expectation of preventing the disease. If the first symptoms appear as the usual premonitory evidences, the dose should be increased and other indicated remedies will ward off the disease. I have much confidence in this statement and would suggest that it be carried out fully.'

'The use of echinacea in the treatment of impetigo contagiosa is confirmed. One doctor treated several very severe cases and the rational action of the remedy suggests that its use externally and internally in this disease will prove highly satisfactory.'