Echinacea is a wildflower native to North America. While Echinacea continues to grow and is harvested from the wild, the majority used for herbal supplements is from cultivated plants. Echinacea helps to support the immune system. Several constituents in the Balanced Echinacea formula team together to increase the production and activity of white blood cells in the body. Echinacea also increases production of interferon, an important part of the body's response to viral infection such as colds and the flu. The main active ingredients in the Echinacea Angustifolia are polypenols, alkymides and polysaccharides with the added benefit of the Purpurea actives too. The difference being that it contains both Purpurea and Angustifolia actives making it a more potent and worthwhile herb to take to maintain the immune system.