Echinaceas are medicinal plants in the Asteraceae family and Heliantheae tribe. The Echinacea genus comprises 9 known species, all of which are melliferous. The ethnobotany ofEchinacea can only be fragmentary, as the first studies were only carried out when the Indian peoples were relegated to reserves. However, what is known of its uses by the various Indian peoples suggests that it was one of the major plants in the Amerindian pharmacopoeia: a panacea that relieved colds and cancers alike. The Omaha-Ponca people usedEchinacea angustifolia for a wide range of ailments: toothache, migraines, horse humors, snake and other venomous insect bites and burns. The Oglala Dakota people usedEchinacea pallia roots for toothache and colds. Among the Hidatsu people, warriors chewed a small piece ofEchinacea pallida root as a stimulant when traveling at night. The Cheyenne people used infusions ofEchinacea pallida leaves and roots for inflammation of the mouth, gums and throat. They also used an infusion of the root to treat rheumatism, arthritis and smallpox. The Crow people used it for colds and colic. The Meskwaki people used the roots for stomach cramps and eczema. The Sioux used freshEchinacea augustofolia roots for snakebites, hydrophobia and septicemia. The Delaware people used Echinacea purpurea for venereal diseases. Hartwell, in 1969, referring to the records of the National Cancer Institute, highlights that Indian peoples used Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea to successfully treat many cases of breast cancer.
