Echinacea – Herbal medicine to prevent cold

Herbal Medicine Echinacea to prevent severe cold

Research published in the journal “Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine” throws light about “Echinacea”, an herbal medicine which can prevent severe cold.

In one of the largest clinical studies conducted, researchers have found out that Echinacea can prevent colds, mainly in those who are prone to it.

About 750 patients who participated in this clinical research took three doses of common remedy daily for four months which resulted in the reduced number of colds and duration of illness by an average of 26 per cent.

According to the researchers, the treatment cuts the number of recurrent colds suffered by patients by 60 per cent. Particularly for patients with weak immune system and those who have a history of several bouts.

Earlier studies suggested that Echinacea soothed symptoms and cut cold short, however, there was only limited evidence that it could prevent illness from taking hold.

A latest study by the Cardiff University’s Common Cold Centre suggest that Echinaforce, a common form of herb extract can not only reduce the risk of colds but also the amount of paracetamol the patient consume while ill.  

Source of Echinacea

Echinacea is extracted from the Eastern Purple Coneflower found in North America. The Eastern Purple Coneflower has long been used as herbal remedy for the common cold. 

How Echinacea works

Echinacea fights viruses and boosts immune systems. It fights viruses which causes 95 per cent of cold and flu.

Patients mixed 25 drops of Echinaforce with water and held it in their mouths for about 10 seconds before swallowing it for three times a day over a four months period. This resulted in the total number of days reduced to 672 from 850, which according to the researchers is “highly significant”.