Medical Questions » Cold, Flu Questions » Question No. 1588
Question:I' ve heard that echinacea is a wondercure for colds. What' s your view?
Answer:It is. I always keep a bottle of echinacea close at hand, and take it at the first sign of an infection. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) is an old Native American remedy for purifying the blood, and that is quite literally what it does. Blood contains white blood cells called macrophages and lymphocytes, which go around cleaning up viruses, bacteria and other unwanted material. Echinacea has been well proven to strengthen the immune system by helping these cells do a better job. It is also an effective anti-viral agent against flu and herpes, and can even destroy cancer cells in the test tube.

However, not all echinacea does the trick. This is because there are many species of echinacea, and many immune-boosting active phytochemicals within the plant, such as echinosides, alkamides, cichoric acid andso on. Some cheaper echinacea products contain none of these, making them virtually useless for fighting off infections. So it' s one of those cases where you really do get what you pay for. You need a standardised, full-potency extract of the herb, which will guarantee certain levels of the phytochemicals. It' s best takenas capsules of the powdered herb (2,000mga day)or dropsof a concentrated extract - you' ll need to use up to 20 drops three times a day. Be guided by the instructions on the label. You can also get echinacea syrup, which is especially good for children.

But echinacea isn' t just something to take when you' ve got an infection. One study of a group of healthy men found that after five days of taking 30 drops of echinacea extract three timesa day, their white blood cells had doubled, which indicates more immune power.

       
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