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June 25, 2007
Researchers: Echinacea Can 'Prevent' A Cold
Topics: Medical Science News
Some experts believe echinacea, a collection of nine related plant species indigenous to North America, may work by boosting the body's immune system.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, combined the results of 14 different studies on Echinacea's anti-cold properties and found that in one of the 14 studies the researchers reviewed, when echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C the combination reduced cold incidence by 86%. When echinacea was used alone it reduced cold incidence by 65%:
[...] Even when patients were directly inoculated with a rhinovirus - the most common cold-causing virus - echinacea reduced cold incidence by 35%.Continue reading ...The researchers' report said: "With over 200 viruses capable of causing the common cold, echinacea could have modest effect against rhinovirus but marked effects against other viruses."
[...] They found that more than 800 products containing echinacea were available, and that differing parts of the plant - flower, stem and root - were used in different products.
They said more work was needed to check the safety of these different formulations.
Professor Ron Cutler, of the University of East London, said: "The true benefits, and more importantly, how the agents work remains unclear and further better-controlled actual clinical trials still have to be carried out.
"Echinacea may reduce the duration of illness and decreases the severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion. "
He said people with impaired immune function might benefit from taking echinacea during the winter months to prevent colds and flu, but that healthy people did not require long-term preventative use.
Posted by Richard at June 25, 2007 3:24 PM
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