Echinacea is said to be effective to treat and prevent cold, flu, cough, headache, nasal congestion and other bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
Echinacea is a herb used by native American medicine men to treat many diseases. Recent years, this herb is produced in a variety of forms: pills, liquid, chewable tablets and teas. Today, echinacea is one of the best-selling herbal products in the United States.
Some studies have confirmed the benefits of echinacea in fighting and preventing common colds and flus. In a study led by Dr Craig Coleman in the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, the combination that echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C. reduced cold incidence by 86%. When echinacea was used alone it reduced cold incidence by 65%.
But some studies of echinacea for the common cold have not found that it helps or at least it has not been proven. According to a study published in 2005 in the New England Journal of Medicine, echinacea was no more effective than a placebo in preventing colds. It also did not reduce the severity of cold symptoms.
Though scientific studies of echinacea for the common cold have had mixed results, but scientists agree that echinacea do seem to have an effect on the immune system. Studies have shown that it increases the number of white blood cells and boosts the activity of other immune cells.
The issue is that, may these immune boosting effects translate into an actual benefit in fighting a common cold and flu?
Well, it depends on your health conditions. If you have a weak immune system and easily catch a cold or flu, then a remedy with immune boosting effects may help you. Some scientists suggest that people with impaired immune system might benefit from taking echinacea to prevent colds and flu, but that healthy people did not require this.
This may mean that the effect of echinacea for treating and preventing common cold and flu is indirect and mild. It may be effective on some people with weak immune systems, but may not be effective on others.
For more information about natural remedies for cold, go to Natural Remedies Center: http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/treat/cold/
