Western Substitutes for Echinacea

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Echinacea is found in the central plains…sort of a prairie plant. Bummer for those of us living in the mountain West. Also, due to over harvesting, the poor rascals are getting a bit scarce in the wild.

Certainly it can be grown in herb gardens (I have both E. purpurea and E. angustifolia growing on my place) but finding it in the wild in the West just ain’t gonna happen.

The good news is there are several native plants in the mountain West that can be substituted for Echinacea.

Yellow coneflower

Rudbeckia lanciniata

Black eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Balsalm Root

Balsamorhiza sagittata

These are particularly exciting as they have a much warmer energy than Echinacea so are effective even without the catalyst or diaphoretic herbs one usually ought to take with Echinacea (Cayenne, Yarrow, etc…). If you’re already feverish of course you don’t need the diaphoretic with the Echinacea.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[ChuckStudent]

Hi Doc,

I’ll say thanks here for starting these forums as this is my first post. They have some MAJOR potential.

We have some of the R. lanciniata around but also a LOT of R. Occidentalis (rayless coneflower). Will the rayless coneflower have the same characteristics as the other Rudbeckias or Echinaceas? Thanks for your help!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

Hi Chuck and welcome. Tell your friends. We’re just getting started here and could use more contributors and inquiring minds.

I’m not familiar with the R. occidentalis. Let me do some digging and see what I can find out.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[ChuckStudent]

Much thanks!

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

Well, I cant find anything on it. I’d guess on the one hand that being a Rudbeckia, it probably has traits in common with it’s cousins. On the other hand, as common as it is, you’d think somebody would have mentioned it if it were all that great.

I’d stick with the others.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[ChuckStudent]

Thanks for checking it out, I appreciate your time.

We do have balsam root around too and it sounds pretty “convenient”.

[IdahoHerbalist]

Just as a note of follow up we have discovered that both of the Rudbeckia species are warming, just like the Balsomroot. That is quite exciting as Black Eyed Susan is quite common as a landscape plant and is very available.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

Yeah. These are really important plants. I am going to start using them much more than I use Echinacea.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[LynneFisher]

I will be interested in finding out what is growing in my neck out the woods, I live in AZ.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

LynneFisher wrote: I will be interested in finding out what is growing in my neck out the woods, I live in AZ.

If there’s nothing wild, you could probably grow Echinacea or Black-eyed Susan in your garden.

Patrick

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[IdahoHerbalist]

LynneFisher wrote: I will be interested in finding out what is growing in my neck out the woods, I live in AZ.

If you mean more in general rather than specifically echinacea, then there are two Michael Moore books that I would suggest.

Medicinal Herbs of the Mountain West and Medicinal Herbs of the South West. You can get them locally or Patrick has them for sale as well.

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

The desert one is Medicinal plants of the Desert and Canyon West by Michael Moore. He has a Pacific Coast one as well.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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