Echinacea is a perennial native plant of the central and western areas of North America. It got its name from the greek word “echinos” due to the small thorns it has in its flowers. The natives of North America used the plant for curing many infections. Its use as a pharmaceutical in Europe begins in the 19th century.

In America after the pharmaceutical family business of Lloyd produced a range of preparations with a basis of echinacea, the plant has been widely used as a therapeutic for cold and various infections. Over the last years, the trend of using mild alternative methods of treatment has brought Echinacea once more in everyday life.