Springer Echinacea: Herbal Medicine with a Wild History

This book provides an in-depth analysis of one the of most popular medicinal plants―Echinacea a species that is native to only the US and Canada. There are nine Echinacea species and several roots and above-ground portions of these showy wildflowers have been used in herbal medicine as an immune stimulant and to reduce one’s chances of catching a cold. Considerable medical research supports these claims. The most popular species and the primary one wild-harvested is the one native to the Great Plains, Echinacea angustifolia. It has a long history of use, including being both historically and currently the most widely-used medicinal plant by any of the Great Plains Native Americans. The importance of this species is described by the editor with a few key contributors chosen to relate the important facets of the story of this interesting plant: Echinacea’s biology, ecology, medicinal uses, markets, production and harvest, along with population biology, legal protections, ethnobotany, and history. The US Forest Service has expressed concern about the conservation status of Echinacea species on their lands, especially on the National Grasslands and National Forest units in the northern Great Plains. Overall, the future status of Echinacea, as an important medicinal plant and in the wild is not grim, but this book provides a clear perspective of why both cultivated and wild-harvested Echinacea will continue to be available to consumers without threatening the remaining populations. Review “This is a scientific book that offers a comprehensive yet readable survey of several scientific and practical aspects of the genus Echinacea … . As a unique feature, many of the topics are based on the authors’ own research, fieldwork experiences, etc. … This is a volume that bridges the past and future of Echinacea species, a dependable source of information that surely deserves a place in scientific libraries.” (Ákos Máthé, Economic Botany, Vol. 71 (1), 2017) From the Back Cover This work provides detailed overviews and offer new insights into the biology, life histories, cultivation, markets, legal protection, chemistry and medical use of Echinacea species. The extensively detailed maps in this text are the most accurate of any produced, based on verified herbarium records.The information on ethnobotanical uses of Echinacea species, and especially E. angustifolia, is the most thorough and well-documented on the topic to date. Along with sharp analysis, the text develops and outlines conservation recommendations for all of the species of Echinacea. About the Author Kelly Kindscher, PhD, is a senior scientist at the Kansas Biological Survey and a Professor in the Environmental Studies Program at the University of Kansas. His research specialties are plant community ecology, conservation biology, restoration ecology, botany, and ethnobotany. He is known as a passionate speaker for the wild―wild prairies, wild plants, and wild landscapes.