Long known to Native Americans as a medicinal herb, it was originally used to treat a wide range of ailments, including coughs, colds, sore throats, and infections. Indeed, some tribes even went so far as to use the herb as a veterinary medicine. It grew in popularity with American settlers, becoming white spread in the American Medical practices, becoming the top selling herb in America by the early 1900s. And though popularity in America diminished after the advent of penicillin and other such medicines, it continued to be quite popular in Europe, particularly in Germany. Today, it is still a particularly popular herbal remedy, with many herbalists using it to treat the common cold and flu, as well as alleviate symptoms associated with them such as a sore throat, cough, and fever. It is also said that Echinacea Purpurea is great for boosting the activity of the immune system, and in effect kick starting it into readiness at the early stages of illness or infection. Studies have found that it also contains substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. With such a wide range of applications, it is small wonder that herbalists frequently recommend Echinacea Purpurea for urinary tract infections, ear infections, athlete`s foot, sinusitits, hay fever, slow healing wounds, and even vaginal yeast infections. This is a 2 oz bag of cut Echinacea Purpurea.