Echinacea: Can It Prevent Colds and the Flu?

 

It seems as if the flu season is all year round these days and colds happen when ever the weather changes. Echinacea has been among the top selling drugs in the US as a remedy to treat colds and to prevent colds and the flue. The thought is that the herb stimulates the immune system to help fight infections.

 

Science has arrived at another conclusion, however. Two recent studies funded by  NCCAM, National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine,  did not find a benefit from Echinacea either as treating colds in children or in adults.  What's more most studies indicate that Echinacea does not appear to prevent colds or other infections.  However, there is one study which reports that Echinacea may be beneficial in treating upper respiratory infections.

 

Then there is the word of caution about the side effects. Usually Echinacea has no side effects when taken orally. However, people allergic to related plants in the daisy family which includes ragweed and marigolds may have an allergic reaction. There is also some question to how effective it is because of the lack of regulation in the U.S. herbal market. In other words, you may not be getting what you paid for.

 

Research in German, on the other hand, reports Echinacea is effective when compounded in liquid formulations. Even so it should not be taken for more than eight weeks at a time.

 

Part of the problem in studying a botanical such as Echinacea is figuring out which part of the plant was used in the supplement and determining which species of the plant was used.

 

My conclusion: Save your money. Have chicken soup to help you get through your cold and adopt a healthy lifestyle which includes lots of hand washing to prevent a cold.

 

Let us know your opinion.  What do you think about Echinacea?

 

To your success at a well balanced life.

 

Ruthan