Posted this last night - Echinacea ineffective for colds...

[BoxerTom]

I've heard many anecdotal claims that echinacea is helpful for colds, other infections and "immune boosting". At least in this well controlled study looking at it's efficacy with colds, it did absolutely nothing.


http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/band109/b109-7.html

[Mary Plummer]

...recommending echinacea. Under my mother's influence, I've even tried it. I can't say it made any difference as far as shortening my cold goes.

[newfie]

i took one capsule every 3 hours when i felt a cold coming on, and it did help, i never ended up with a full blown cold, i took echinacea and goden seal root.
i also noted what hubby had becouse usually these things get passed from person to person, and while he suffered for weeks with this cold or flu, i was totally functional and felt fine as long as i followed that regime.

[TheSkeptic]

This is only one of several studies over the past few years that show it is in effective. These have all been double blind tests, which eliminates differenences from genetics and general condition.