Not All Echinaceas are the Same

Not all Echinaceas are the Same

The efficacy of Echinacea angustifolia (radix) in the treatment and the prevention of an artificially induced common cold was investigated in a recent trial and found wanting. The research was carried out at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This was given considerable publicity in the media, the coverage suggesting that Echinacea doesn�t work. What the media failed to explain was that not all Echinaceas are the same.

The data generated in this research cannot be transferred to Echinacea purpurea since, although Echinacea angustifolia belongs to the same botanical genus, the profile of compounds in the two plants varies greatly.

The quality of Echinacea products largely depends on the seeds, the growth, the preparation and many other factors. Indeed it is indicative of the effectiveness of Echinacea purpurea that in two high quality studies using alcoholic extracts from fresh, organic Echinacea purpurea, that herb�s superiority in the treatment of common cold was demonstrated (V. Goel (2004), Brinkeborn (1999)).

Also the dosage used in the recent study is considered too low to show effectiveness. Based on empirical evidence and clinical studies regarding the herb�s beneficial effects, it is regarded as most efficacious when �a high dose� is taken as soon as the first symptoms appear.

		Not all Echinaceas are the Same The efficacy of Echinacea angustifolia (radix) in the treatment and the prevention of an artificially induced common cold was investigated in a recent trial and found wanting. The research was carried out at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. This was given considerable publicity in the media, the coverage suggesting that Echinacea doesn�t work. What the media failed to explain was that not all Echinaceas are the same. The data generated in this research cannot be transferred to Echinacea purpurea since, although Echinacea angustifolia belongs to the same botanical genus, the profile of compounds in the two plants varies greatly. The quality of Echinacea products largely depends on the seeds, the growth, the preparation and many other factors. Indeed it is indicative of the effectiveness of Echinacea purpurea that in two high quality studies using alcoholic extracts from fresh, organic Echinacea purpurea, that herb�s superiority in the treatment of common cold was demonstrated (V. Goel (2004), Brinkeborn (1999)). Also the dosage used in the recent study is considered too low to show effectiveness. Based on empirical evidence and clinical studies regarding the herb�s beneficial effects, it is regarded as most efficacious when �a high dose� is taken as soon as the first symptoms appear.