A Blow Against the Common Cold?

It turns out a little echinacea might go a long way toward preventing a cold and reducing the duration of a cold, especially when combined with vitamin C. A new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases analyzed 14 other studies and flies in the face of other research that has showed no positive effect from echinacea.

Part of the problem, researchers explained, is that there are many products out there that contain some part of the echinacea flower, and this variation causes problems in testing. They were also careful to point out that more work needs to be done, and the safety of echinacea products checked, before people act on their findings.

BBC:

Researchers, led by Dr Craig Coleman from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, combined the results of 14 different studies on Echinacea’s anti-cold properties.

In one of the 14 studies the researchers reviewed, echinacea was taken alongside vitamin C. This combination reduced cold incidence by 86%.

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