Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold
Karsch-Volk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K
Published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Methodology
Cochrane review of randomised trials of Echinacea preparations for prevention and treatment of the common cold.
Key Findings
Echinacea products showed no statistically significant reduction in cold incidence, and treatment effects were weak and inconsistent.
Conclusions
Echinacea provides little reliable respiratory tract protection.
Limitations
Wide variation between preparations; small individual trials.
Supplements Studied
Echinacea products showed no statistically significant reduction in cold incidence
Outcomes Measured
Echinacea products showed no statistically significant reduction in cold incidence, and treatment effects were weak and inconsistent
Individual prevention trials showed small non-significant reductions in cold incidence.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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