Does Echinacea help treat the common cold? Part 2

Each health food store has a different amount of the herb and neither the quality nor quantity is assessed. Some vendor’s use Echinacea extracts from the flower, others obtain it from the stem and others use the roots- so it is difficult to know which part of the herb is effective.

The problem with the herb industry is that everyone is in a rush to make money and these manufacturers have started to sell all sorts of CRAP to any gullible consumer. Talk to any person in North America and the majority will have some type of herbal medicine underneath the bed (because the closets are already packed with the conventional medicines and cough mixtures).

Even though the recent studies show that Echinacea may help reduce intensity of the cold, its safety in the long run has not been established. The few reported side effects of the herb include stomach upset and diarrhea. Further, the herb also the ability to adversely interact with prescription medications.

Unfortunately, most consumers want immediate relief from symptoms and rush out to the nearest health supplement store to buy jugs and gallons of herbs, lotions and potions. In the majority of cases, the common cold virus does not require any treatment except rest, fluids and perhaps Tylenol.

Does Echinacea help treat the common cold? Part 1

All consumers should understand that the common cold is caused by a virus. We have only a few drugs to treat viral infections and these drugs are hardly ever used to treat the common cold- the reason is expense, side effects and build up of resistance. The common cold is best treated by an annual vaccine taken sometimes in late October or just before the common cold season starts.

However, the common cold vaccine only works in less than 70% of individuals. So what are the other choices?

Well, the latest studies reveal that finally one herb may help reduce symptoms of the common cold. Echinacea may reduce severity of symptoms - further it may also reduce duration of the cold by a day or two.

Unfortunately, Echinacea does not prevent the common cold. However, there are some studies which show that Echinacea does not work when it is taken after the cold has started. Researchers claim that this herb must be taken within the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms to have any benefit.

Moreover the herb does not work in all individuals nor does it prevent recurrence of the common cold. The major problem with all herbs is that there is no standardization or quality control.