Echinacea is a genus, or group of herbaceous flowering plants in the daisy family.

The dried root, flower heads, seeds and rhizome are all harvested for medicinal use, and are made into various forms, including capsules, extracts, tinctures and tea. Echinacea purpurea has very similar medicinal properties to echinacea angustifolia.

Echinacea is a relatively recently researched medicinal herb. Historically, the Plains Indians used it as their primary medicine, applying echinacea root poultices to all types of wounds, including bites from snakes and insects.