The sneezing, the scratchy throat, and nasal congestion associated with a cold can be hard to deal with when you're leading a busy life. To make it even more frustrating, a real cure for the common cold has yet to be found. People choose to treat the symptoms using a variety of drugstore medications and old fashioned, folk remedies. Of late, one of the most popular treatments for the common cold has been the herb Echinacea. But does Echinacea help colds?

Many people who take Echinacea at the first sign of cold symptoms will swear by its ability to reduce their symptoms and shorten the duration of the infection. Is Echinacea really having an impact or were these cold sufferers destined to experience milder symptoms even without intervention?

Research on the use of Echinacea to help colds has presented a mixed picture. Some studies have shown the herb does reduce cold symptoms when started early in the course of a cold, while others have shown less than impressive results. Why are results so conflicting? Some of the contradictory results may stem from poor research design. Another problem may arise from the fact that Echinacea can be used in a variety of different forms including a pill form, a liquid, or sipped as a tea. To make research on Echinacea even more complicated, the Echinacea plant is comprised of three different species. Plus, the research studies used varying doses of the herb which could have altered the results seen. This makes it very difficult to compare one research study with another and to come to a firm conclusion as to Echinacea's effectiveness.

Studies have shown that Echinacea appears to stimulate the immune system which theoretically should help to ramp up the body's ability to fight off infection. This is why studies continue in an attempt to determine if Echinacea can help colds and at what dosage it has its maximal effect. On the positive side, a meta-analysis, conducted by UConn's School of Pharmacy, looked at the results of fourteen previous studies on Echinacea for cold symptoms. They showed that Echinacea did reduce the risk of contracting a cold when taken prior to exposure to the virus.
Analysis:

Although the verdict is still out regarding the role Echinacea plays in preventing and treating colds, there's probably no harm in taking this herb. If you choose to use Echinacea, it should be used at the first sign of cold symptoms and continued for five days. The general dosage recommendation is 500 to 1,000 milligrams three times per day for a five day time period. Side effects with this herb are uncommon. If you delay use of the herb, its chance for shortening the duration of your cold symptoms goes down, so start therapy as early as possible after exposure. If any side effects should develop, although unlikely, discontinue the herb. Hopefully, further research will confirm whether Echinacea can help colds as so many claim that it does. In the meantime, if it seems to work for you, it probably won't hurt to use it.