Does Echinacea really help avoid colds?
01 Feb 2024 by Ted Escobedo 1 min read
Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in America today. People use echinacea to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu, and reduce symptoms, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever. Many herbalists also recommend echinacea to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections.
A review of 14 clinical trials found that echinacea reduced the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of a cold by 1 to 4 days. However, some experts dispute these findings claiming there were several weaknesses in the analyses. Echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials differ greatly. It is important to choose a high-quality echinacea supplement, and to use echinacea as early as possible during a cold, with multiple doses per day for the first few days. Talk to your health care provider for recommendations.
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/ech...
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- Complementary Therapies