Echinacea
Echinacea is one of the best-selling herbal products in the U.S. for treating the common cold. It is believed that the plant can boost the immune system and reduce the severity or length of colds. It may not be safe for people with diseases that affect the immune system.
I’ve gone two or three years without a cold or flu by taking or flu by taking echinacea
Steven Foster, Herbalist, and co-author of: Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients: Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics
Echinacea is a traditional herbal remedy prepared from the root and leaves of the purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea and related species. It stimulates the immune system and is used traditionally to prevent and treat common colds. The latest word on echinacea, from a review of 14 earlier studies, concluded that the herbal remedy reduces the risk of catching a cold by 58 percent and shortens the duration of colds by 1.4 days.
Andrew Weil, M.D., Professor,
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, and author of: Natural Health, Natural Medicine: The Complete Guide to Wellness and Self-Care for Optimum Health
Additional reading on Echinacea
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Echinacea Overview
- Athena: Have a cold? Perhaps, it is time for an Echinacea purpurea.
- Mayo Clinic: Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia DC, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea)
Vitamin World: Echinacea Page
Drugstore.com: Echinacea Products
Amazon.com Echinacea Products
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