Echinacea cuts risk of catching a cold 58%

Echinacea could reduce the chances of catching a cold up to 58%, according to a review published in the July issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The meta-analysis, led by Craig Coleman, of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Hartford Hospital, Connecticut, USA, also found that echinacea could reduce the duration of colds by 1.4 days.

Echinacea is a name applied to nine related daisy-like species found in the prairies of the USA which are used in Native American Indian traditional medicines.

In the past, scientists have dismissed echinacea's efficacy as an immune booster for those people suffering from respiratory ailments like coughs and colds. But herbal experts claim that the evidence is irrefutable and continue to defend the use of the healing herb, citing many studies that have demonstrated its efficacy. As a result, the product has consistently grown in popularity over the past few years. Last winter, leading UK high street pharmacy Boots sold its echinacea product at a record rate of nearly 7,000 packs per week (NI Vol 11 No 12).