PRODUCT BENEFITS
Echinacea the flower with power
An ordinary flower with extraordinary qualities
Echinacea is beautiful, red alpine flower with specific look that symbolises inner strength and vitality.
However, its true power lies in its fantastic natural characteristics.
It is now well-known and has been scientifically proved that Echinacea extract successfully fights infection and acts as an effective antiseptic as well as an immune system booster. Furthermore, it also provides many other extraordinary benefits for the health and the beauty of the skin, especially when extracted from fresh plants. In this case, the Echinacea extract enables the active ingredients to work with maximum efficiency.
The main benefits for the skin are:
- Stimulates the natural defence mechanism of the skin.
- Enhances the defensive abilities of the hydro-lipid barrier.
- Maintains the natural balance of the skin.
- Protects collagen from free radicals and slows down the natural ageing process of the skin.
- Regenerates and soothes irritated and dry skin.
- Strongly emphasises, supports and enhances the highly soothing and smoothing effects of the other emollient active ingredients and oils contained in the treatments.
- Acts as a strong skin cleanser, maintaining it smooth and pure.
Echinacea helps to protect your skin
In an open, prospective study in 58 patients, the effects of a skin care ointment obtained from the roots and the pressed juice of Echinacea were evaluated for the regeneration of skin irritation, dry skin, swellings, decreased skin elasticity and erythema, using symptom scores.
Already after 4 weeks of application the effects were distinctly pronounced. When compared to the initial findings, all parameters were significantly ameliorated. Both physician and patients came to an equally positive evaluation of the global effects and tolerability. Skin irritation or other adverse effects were not observed in any patient. The results of the surveillance study demonstrate the efficacy of the daily application of an Echinacea ointment as a continuous skin care measure over 8 weeks.1
In summary, by enhancing the skin’s natural immune defences, Echinacea helps to fight inflammation and infection, which in turn increases the ability of creams, oils, and emulsions to nourish, smooth, moisturise and protect the skin. Moreover, Echinacea seems to provide a specific anti-fungal effect, a very important plus for any cosmetic product.
Zepter cosmetics-revolution
in Phytocosmetics
Zepter was the very first company to use this fresh Echinacea in a line of cosmetic products.
The use of fresh plant extract of Echinacea in a Zepter cosmetic line was a technological breakthrough in the world of phytocosmetics and a demonstration of the superior quality of the Zepter cosmetic products.
Fresh plant extract of Echinacea is the main ingredient of the Swisso Logical line.
Our Echinacea plants are cultivated in Valais, a pollution-free natural setting in the Swiss Alps. It is organically grown, without pesticides, herbicides and other chemical elements. Picked at dawn to keep its natural characteristics and power, our Echinacea plants offer their precious gifts in a highly-concentrated form of active ingredients. The Swisso Logical line has been created in the Zepter Cosmetic Research Laboratories in cooperation with the Swiss Department of Agriculture and responds to the criteria requested by the Association of Medicinal and Homeopathic Plants.
Echinacea from popular beliefs to scientific confirmations
Echinacea properties have been scientifically studied since 1850. Up until that moment there were many legends and beliefs about its benefits.
Many of them are still waiting to be widely recognised.
Historical uses:
- Immune stimulator for colds, flues and sluggish immune system
- Inflammation, analgesic, sedative and anti spasmodic
- Relieve pain and swelling; oedema, water retention
- Anti viral
- Infections, sore throats, eye and ear infections
- Wound healing and cleansing
- Anti cancer
- Snake and insect bites, scratches
- Boils, gangrene, ulcerations, sores
In the last years of XIX century, Dr. H.C.F. Mayer utilized Echinacea extracts to prepare his “Mayer blood purifier” that was useful for diseases or rattle snake bites. John Uri Lloyd, one of the most prominent historical figures in the history of American medicinal plants, introduced the first pharmaceutical preparations of Echinacea in 1895, through his company Lloyd Brothers Pharmacists, Inc., of Cincinnati. In Europe, Echinacea began to be used much later, in the first half of XX century, when its antibiotic power was confirmed by scientific research. Today, Echinacea is the most commonly used herbal product. For example, in US, in 2002, more then 40% of surveyed adults reported to use Echinacea. In Germany, there are over 200 products with Echinacea available. This plant has become a mainstream remedy for the common cold in Germany - in 1994, physicians prescribed this herb to patients more than 2.5 million times. In 2005, 58 million $ worth of sales came from selling products which have Echinacea in them.
According to Germany’s foremost Echinacea researcher, Rudy Bauer, Ph.D., Echinacea protects the body against infection in several ways. Bauer, who the Head of the Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Gratz, says that polysaccharides, an active component of Echinacea, have been found to boost the immune system by stimulating the activity of macrophages (a type of white blood cell). These cells engulf bacteria, viruses, and cellular debris, essentially acting as garbage collectors for the body.
However, white blood cells can be destructed and it is one of the drawbacks of both radiation and chemotherapy: the particular therapeutic action of Echinacea exposed above suggests how it can be useful to increase the white blood cells to contrast the effects of a radiation treatment.
That’s why Echinacea is highly recommended for anyone undergoing these treatments for cancer.
And talking about cancer, it is important to underline how some research proves how Echinacea can be useful even to prevent cancer.
In addition to boosting the immune system, Echinacea has been shown to increase properdin levels in the body which may be responsible for its anti-cancer activity. By increasing the production and secretion of interferon, Echinacea may help enable the body to neutralize carcinogens.1 Moreover, according with some USDA researchers’ studies, the essential oil of this plant contains an oncolytic lipid-soluble hydrocarbon, which is capable to inhibit lymphocytic leukaemia and other types of cancer.2
But not only that increases the level of white blood cells, Echinacea also decreases it when appropriate – and there is not known any other synthetic drug that has this dualism to both augment and suppress the immune response according to the need. Echinacea earned rightly the title of “Herb with a brain”.
1M. Stimple, A. Proksch, H. Wagner, et al., “Macrophage Activation and Induction of Macrophage Cytotoxicity by Purified Polysaccharide Fractions From the Plant Echinacea Purpurea”, Infection Immunity. (1984), 46, 845-9.
2Daniel B. Mowrey, The Scientific Validation of Herbs. (New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats Publishing, 1986), 119.
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