Safety and Efficacy Profile of Echinacea purpurea to Prevent Common Cold Episodes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Jawad M, Schoop R, Suter A, Klein P, Eccles R
Published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Methodology
Four-month randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of Echinacea purpurea extract (2400 mg/day) for cold prevention in 755 healthy adults.
Key Findings
The Echinacea group had fewer cold episodes and days of illness and reduced need for rescue medication, with adverse event rates comparable to placebo.
Conclusions
Long-term prophylactic Echinacea purpurea use modestly reduced cold episodes and was well tolerated.
Limitations
Single proprietary product; manufacturer-funded; self-reported episodes.
Supplements Studied
The Echinacea group had fewer cold episodes and days of illness and reduced need for rescue medication.
Outcomes Measured
The Echinacea group had fewer cold episodes and days of illness over four months.
Study Details
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