Echinacea May Reduce the Risk of Catching a Cold by 58%

According to research published in the prestigious journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, the herb Echinacea was found to reduce the risk of a cold by 58 per cent. This reduction potential comes from the analysis of 14 previous existing studies on the herb. Dr. Craig Coleman at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and Hartfort Hospital, CT led the research.

Echinacea is an herb native to prairie habitats in the United States. Some species of Echinacea, notably E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida, are grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

The root system (rhizome)of Echinacea angustifolia was used by North American Plains Indians for various herbal remedies. In the 1930s "Echinacea" became popular in both Europe and America as a herbal medicine. Echinacea has been popularly attributed with the ability to boost the body's immune system and ward off infections, particularly the common cold.

In addition to reducing the risk of catching a cold, the research also suggest that the herb echinacea can shorten the duration of a cold by up to a day and a half, research suggests.

Although you could take Echinacea in its natural form, that is directly from the plant, toay Echinacea comes as tablets, extracts, tincture, tea and in fresh juice.

The component responsible for this beneficial effect of Echinacea is not well know. As with many types of herbal preparations that are taken as raw crude drugs the base is so complex that there may be many components responsible for its medicinal effect. It may alsobe the intearction of many componentes that is beneficial for the person. All species of Echinacea have certain cpomponents know to be of medicinal significance. They all have phenols, specifically the cichoric and caftaric acids, wich are in high concentrations in the roots of certain Echinacea species (E. purpurea, for example).

Other components that may be of medicinal importance in Echinacea are alcamides and polysaccharides.