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The best thing for the common cold

It's something that its advocates have known for ages - the herbal remedy echinacea is the best thing around for preventing the common cold. And now, after researching all the evidence, scientists agree with them.

Echinacea can help reduce your chances of getting a cold by more than half if you take it regularly - and, even if you do catch a cold, the remedy can help clear it up more quickly.

Researchers from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy reviewed 14 studies into the remedy, and concluded that it reduces your risk of catching a cold by 58 per cent. It also reduces the duration of a cold by 1.4 days.

Echinacea, which is also known as purple conflower, was used by the Plains Indians of America before it became a popular remedy in Europe in the 1930s.

Published 25 June 2007 11:35 by Bryan Hubbard

Filed under: common cold, echinacea

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	mrwmaybury said: It might sound boring, but a wholefood plant based diet with plenty of exercise seems to do the same for me. In the last twelve years I've had 4 colds. Good to learn that echinacea is now proven. Using it did not seem to assist my recent one though. High doses of vitamin C are usually helpful. All I know is that I rarely feel out of sorts with a cold. In only two of those colds did my energy level dropped for a couple of days. I usually pile in multivitamins and all the extras to make sure that the body can use whatever it needs. June 28, 2007 18:18
	Jennings said: By far the best method for virus infections is certainly not echinacea although it may be helpful. Medical research from around the 50s era discovered that the simple coconut is the best cure, especially its virgin oil. I use creamed coconut block from the supermarket (60-85p) whenever the sniffles appear. It rids the body of viruses in less than 12 hours. One of the fatty acids contained in coconut is lauric acid. Viruses hide themselves from the immune system in an envelope of protein in the body. Lauric acid softens this envelope allowing the immune system to do its job which it does effectively and efficiently. Another excellent substance with medical research backing is olive leaf extract and yet another is nature's natural antibiotic virgin Oregano oil. Take those three substances together which are synergistic to each other and even the worst influenza symptoms will have dispersed in around 4-5 hours. See your over-estimated GP and he might give you an injection that might or might not be beneficial but it sure will benefit the pharmaceutical profiteers of whom those GPs are the agents in pushing-pills. August 6, 2007 00:15
	Birdseye: Health Tips from the Blogosphere said: Back in June, we reported on scientific evidence showing that Echinacea is the best thing for the common October 17, 2007 16:47
	sebastian said: I find that everyone has there own personal remedies. For me i found that black elderberry syrup really helps. it can b purchaced from boots and generally sorts me out in a couple of days. November 5, 2007 00:17
	Kim said: Hiya i Am 14 And I Have The Cold Symptoms I Have Are Runny Nose, Sore Throat And I Aam Starting To Get Aa Chesty Cough I Was Wwondering If You Could Help Me Cure The Cold By Using Any Methods At All I Hate The Cough Its Driving Me Nuts x Thanks Alot Kimm January 29, 2008 22:31

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