Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold

2015-04-15 08:28:51

Echinacea plant preparations are used for common colds. This high-level research identified pertinent studies that tested whether or not it was effective (1). The others found 24 trials with 4631 participants that were applicable. The individual studies were of varying quality. The main results were that a relative risk reduction of 10 to 20% occurred. However, of the seven treatment trials reporting data on the duration of colds, only one showed a significant effect of Echinacea over placebo. The authors conclude that Echinacea products have not been shown to provide benefit for treating colds, although it is possible there is a weak benefit from some Echinacea products. The results of individual prophylaxis trials consistently shows positive trends, although effects are of questionable clinical relevance.