I got to enjoy a wonderful day on the golf course, 2 Sundays ago in February (I live in Florida.) Despite my tendency to lose balls to trees and ponds, it was a great time. I went to bed that night a happy man, but my happiness was quickly replaced Monday morning with misery: I had caught the cold.
In years past, suffering from a cold had been nothing more than a nuisance to me. I’d guzzle lots of water, take tylenol, some cold remedy from over the counter, and within a week I could pretty much count on the cold being gone. However, during that week I’d be in and out of delirium depending on what OTC pill I had taken. It wasn’t ideal, but it got the job done, so I was satisfied. This time, however, I couldn’t cheat on my natural lifestyle and put more synthetics in my body just to fight off a nuisance.
So, I went to one of nature’s greatest gifts: The healing herb, Echinacea. I’ll tell you what, I’m glad I did. I started the regimen of 1-2 droppersful 3-4 times a day on Monday 2/25 and by Saturday 3/2 I was strolling the streets of downtown St. Petersburg breathing in the sights and sounds of its wonderful Morning Market.
The reason I’m telling you about this is because there is a secret to Echinacea that you need to be aware of so that when you go to get some for your next battle with a cold, you make the right choice.
The Secret
The secret that you need to know is that the fresher it is, the more effective it is.
Okay, so maybe that’s more common sense than a secret, but it’s vital nonetheless. If you were to go to a drug store right now and scan the aisles where they keep Echinacea, you are certain to find a plethora of bottles containing PILLS. These pills, though you may not know it, are your worst enemy when it comes to releasing this herb’s healing powers. That’s because it needs to be protected from air, and in its powdered, pill form, it’s highly exposed to air, warmth, and even moisture in the air. This can absolutely ruin any chance you have at experiencing the full healing effects of Echinacea, not to mention greatly diminish its shelf life. On top of that, many contain such small amounts of the herb that you might as well not even take the product.
Instead of getting that little bottle of pills the next time you feel a cold coming on, opt to get a liquid version. Herbal tinctures and liquid extracts are the most durable and longest lasting forms of all Echinacea herbal preparations on the market. When stored in brown bottles away from direct heat and sunlight, these remedies can retain their potency for up to two and even three years. Ultimately, you get a much higher quality product, which is always good news for your health.¹
Naturally we recommend our own Echinacea concentrates. We have Echinacea combined with other great healers like garlic and pau d’arco to give you a strong dose of nature’s cold virus killers as well as other great herbs such as adaptogens for stress support and cayenne for better absorption and circulatory health. Ultimately, we just strongly recommend that you go with a high quality liquid extract. Look into the products, do some research, and make the best choice for you. After all,it’s your life, your health, and you choice!
1. herbs2000.com