Ingredient Echinacea

What is Echinacea?

Echinacea is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to North America. Three species are used in herbal medicine: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida. The aerial parts (flowers and leaves) and roots of the plant are used for their bioactive compounds, which include alkamides, caffeic acid derivatives (such as chicoric acid and echinacoside), polysaccharides, and glycoproteins. These compounds are thought to work synergistically — the whole herb profile offering more than any single isolated constituent.

Echinacea has one of the longest histories of traditional use among medicinal herbs in North America, where it was used by Native American tribes for various purposes. Today it is one of the most widely used herbal supplements in Europe and North America. The traditional use of echinacea for immune support is well established, and modern research continues to investigate its bioactive constituents and their mechanisms of action. Echinacea preparations are standardised to specific marker compounds to ensure consistent quality.

Traditional use

Echinacea has a well-established tradition of use as a herbal supplement to support the body's natural immune defences, particularly during the colder months when immune challenges are more common. Its traditional use is recognised for supporting the body's resistance and overall well-being during seasonal transitions.

Why we use Echinacea in Nutri-Leaf formulas

Nutri-Leaf Immune Complex includes echinacea as part of a comprehensive immune-support formula alongside zinc, selenium, vitamin C from rose hip, and ginger. The echinacea used is standardised to ensure consistent levels of its key bioactive compounds. By combining echinacea with complementary nutrients, the formula provides multi-faceted support for the immune system through different pathways — minerals for enzyme function, vitamin C for immune cell activity, and echinacea for its traditional herbal profile.

Products containing Echinacea

The Nutri-Leaf product featuring echinacea is Immune Complex, where it works alongside zinc (10mg), selenium (50µg), vitamin C from rose hip, and ginger in one daily capsule for comprehensive immune support.

Explore how echinacea and other nutrients support immune health on our Immune Support health guide. Learn more about our approach to herbal ingredients on the Ingredient Philosophy page.

Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle.