Echinacea Aerial Parts or Whole Plant & Root?

Question

Hello,

I have two bottles of Echinacea:

1. Aerial Parts @ 400mg -and-

2. Whole Plant & Food at 125 mg

Question:

1. What is the difference between Aerial Parts vs Whole Plant Root?

2. Which one is BETTER or MOST FAVORABLE for boosting a healthy immune system?

Thanks everyone in advance!

Answer 1

Even professional herbalists debate this very question. Everyone has their particular reason why they think one is better than the other. I say they're both close to equal in potency, but the form that contains roots probably has more vitamin and mineral content, which is going to help your body heal faster since it can concentrate less on obtaining nutrients.

For you and the purpose you want to use them for, I'd say both are equally valid. I would keep the higher dosage aerial parts (that would be the parts above the ground) for when you need a quick boost. You know, when you feel a cold approaching. Take two of those with some fresh garlic and/or fresh ginger and that bug won't know what hit it.

Otherwise, take 1 cap of the whole plant & root daily for a general boosting effect. Just please, please, please make sure that it is NOT contraindicated for any medications you may be taking. Do your research. And I also advise researching the company you bought the herb caps from as well since few are better than many out there. Quality of the herb counts for most of the effect so don't cheap out! (and more expensive is not always better)

Pax,

Mrs. Yoder

Answer 2

The aerial would be like the leaves etc.  The parts above ground.  Whole Plant is referring to the roots.  It would appear as if the whole plant is better.

Answer 3

Note: This is my opinion and my rant. ;-D

Until just recently (maybe 10 years ago) no one ever used the aerial parts of Echinacea for anything except a pretty cut flower. The root is the medicinal part and the root should be dug in the fall after the flower has died and there's nothing left except the dry seed head by which to locate the plant.

Unethical harvesters have sold everything from Rattlesnake Master to Echinacea Paradoxa to Echinacea Pallida, dug in early spring bloom, to unethical buyers. Unethical manufacturers (IMO) have promoted the aerial parts of Echinacea as being equal in importance to the root.

I have had to use aerial parts extract when in a bind, stuck in a hotel with no transportation and I found it to be totally worthless to fight off a cold. I use Echinacea purpurea or angustifolia ROOT extract (usually make it myself) and purchase from Frontier Herbs, a company I trust. Or take powdered extract in capsules that is standardized for echinacosides.

If it is green, it's the top part. Root is pale gray.

Answer 4

Wow, I live on a prairie and those pretty flowers are everywhere in summer!!!  I didn't know how useful they were though.  I would say the whole plant since the roots are always the most potent part of a plant.  Hope I helped.