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| Echinacea's Eclectic History (18351935) |
| From approximately 1835 to 1935, there was a group of physicians in the U.S. who relied exclusively on medicines derived from botanicals. These physicians were known as the Eclectics. The Eclectics left us a legacy of clinical herbal knowledge which is still relied upon by modern-day herbalists and naturopathic physicians. Another of their contributions was to bring high quality herbal extracts to the medical profession, thanks to the pioneering work of one of the most influential leaders of the Eclectic movement, John Uri Lloyd. Initially an apprenticeship-trained pharmacist, Lloyd went on to become one of the greatest figures in modern pharmacy. He authored more than 5,000 papers, several novels and numerous books and developed and patented numerous techniques and equipment used for the extraction of medicinal plants. |
| In the fall of 1885, a German immigrant named H.C.F. Meyer wrote to Lloyd asking for his help in identifying the root of a plant that Meyer had used in an herbal preparation known as Meyer's Blood Purifier. Sixteen years earlier, "Dr." Meyer had learned about the use of this plant, presumably from Native Americans, and reported on its almost miraculous properties,9 including its use for the bites of venomous snakes and mad dogs. Simultaneously, Meyer sent a sample of the root to another influential member of the Eclectics, Dr. John "Pappy" King, extolling its virtues and asking for his help in bringing the benefits of his blood purifier to the medical profession. Dr. King replied that he could not recom- |
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