Echinacea is a perennial herb of the asteraceae family as the most common daisy, and is native to the areas of North America and Mexico.

The part used for the extraction of natural principles useful for wellbeing are in particular the root but also the leaves and the aerial part of the plant that the ancient Indians used as herbal tea.

There are different varieties of echinacea and the best as phytocomplex composition are the narrow leaf and pupurea.

The use of echinacea to support and optimally function immune defences has long been known in many parts of the world. The Indians of America already used it for the prevention of cooling diseases as well as for its healing properties of wounds and burns.

With scientific studies, the active ingredients present in echinacea and their mechanism of action were then known; in fact, in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in the activation of our immune system, thus confirming what the ancients already knew empirically.

We find out how to use it in pediatric age, its properties and possible contraindications.

Use of echinacea in paediatric age

The use of echinacea for children is also ancient: there are bibliography and texts from the past that describe its use in children from the early years of life.

Echinacea also has immunostimulant, antiviral, antibacterial, antitoxic, anti-toxic, healing and anti-inflammatory activities for children.

Children of paediatric age can become ill many times a year because their immune system is being trained.

For common respiratory diseases such as colds, coughs, otitis and flu forms, echinacea is an excellent natural cure and in the form of creams and ointments it can be a first aid remedy in case of excoriations, wounds, small burns and other skin diseases.