Echinacea can prevent a cold

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Taking the herbal remedy echinacea can more than halve the risk of

catching a common cold, US researchers say.

They found it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the

duration of colds by a day-and-a-half.

 

The results in The Lancet Infectious Diseases conflict with other

studies that show no beneficial effect.

 

Experts believe echinacea, a collection of nine related plant species

indigenous to North America, may work by boosting the body's immune

system.

 

'Marked effects'

 

Researchers, led by Dr Craig Coleman from the University of

Connecticut School of Pharmacy, combined the results of 14 different

studies on Echinacea's anti-cold properties.

 

In one of the 14 studies the researchers reviewed, echinacea was

taken alongside vitamin C. This combination reduced cold incidence by

86%.

 

When echinacea was used alone it reduced cold incidence by 65%.

 

Echinacea may reduce the duration of illness and decreases the

severity of cough, headache, and nasal congestion

 

Professor Ron Cutler of the University of East London

 

Even when patients were directly inoculated with a rhinovirus - the

most common cold-causing virus - echinacea reduced cold incidence by

35%.

 

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. "

 

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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.

 

THE COMMON COLD

Rhinoviruses are responsible for about half of all common colds in

children and adults

School children usually catch between seven and 10 colds a year, and

adults two to five

Common colds and flu can be transmitted by hands and contact with

commonly-touched surfaces

 

" 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.

 

" There has also been the suggestion in the past that continuous

treatment with echinacea is not recommended - the benefits may only

be effective for one or two weeks and after taking the agent for this

time people should stop and give the immune system a week without the

agent. "

 

Professor Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at the

University of Cardiff, said the work was " a significant step in our

battle against the common cold " .

 

" Harnessing the power of our own immune system to fight common

infections with herbal medicines such as echinacea is now given more

validity with this interesting scientific evaluation of past clinical

trials, " he added.