Echinacea helps beat the common cold?

[AB Asks]

Echinacea could be the key to prevent the common cold according to US researchers. They found that it decreased the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of colds by a day-and-a-half. Do you believe that herbal remedies work? Or are they just a placebo?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6231190.stm

[Octavius]

For men, nothing works except being wrapped in a duvet on the sofa in front of the TV with the remote control and the 24 hour care and attention of a good loving woman at our beck and call with steaming hot Lemsip at the ready. For us men ,that�s as good a placebo as anything else, but (providing we survive) it can still take days, if not weeks, to have an effect.

[cockroach]

Ahh....man flu !

[rabbitygirl]

There will be more research reported next week saying this doesn't work - tis the world of natural remedies. Try herbal remedies to see if they work for you because what one finds effective another doesn't. Echinacea likely to need taking long term to keep colds at bay, or taken during a cold to shorten duration.
Spent nearly 10 years selling natural/herbal products and found good results from a quality tea tree oil. Helps with lots of ailments, 1st aid etc., but can thwart a cold if you act fast, add some to hot water and inhale. Rule is to buy quality oils & supplements. Be careful - not all natural stuff can be taken alongside prescribed meds. The men probably wont rush out and try them anyway because they enjoy the sofa treatment too much!!!

[spanner7853]

i've known this for quite a while and was also told it can help combat certain cancers.

[kjn2]

Was informed about Echinacea about 4 years ago by relatives in Canada, have taken echinacea in the winter covering last 2 years and never had a cold, I believe it does build up the immune system in your body but have no medical or other views only the above facts.

[nuoyg]

My dear nan swears by that stuff. One sneeze and she's rattling the bottle under my nose before I've finished the achoo.

I do think a lot do work but wouldn't believe they all do. Like anything I guess, some work for some and some don't.

[salsadancer]

Yes, I take it any time I feel anything coming on, to boost my immune system. I feel it works. I live in Canada, ref previous post.