Echinacea ineffective

[zakur]

Echinacea Doesn't Treat Kids' Colds

The common cold appears wily enough to withstand yet another assault.

Researchers have found that, in children, the natural remedy echinacea made no dent in the duration or severity of upper respiratory infections (URIs), one of mankind's most stubborn enemies.

"We couldn't show any efficacy at all," says a disappointed Dr. James A. Taylor, lead author of the study and a professor of pediatrics at Seattle Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. "I have done studies on conventional medicines. They were negative. I'd like to find something that actually worked."

Echinacea also seemed to increase the number of rashes, says the study, which appears in the Dec. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More coverage.

 

[BTox]

There have been several studies recently on the ineffectiveness of echinacea. Another one bites the dust...

 

[SquishyDave]

Further down

There was, however, one unexpected outcome that was not part of the study's original mandate. There were fewer second or third colds in the echinacea treatment group, indicating the herb may still have a role to play in prevention.

"It was a statistically significant decrease, so it's possible that the echinacea didn't help the cold for which it was given but did something to the immune system that made you less likely to get another cold," Taylor says. It's also possible that this was a "statistical fluke." Taylor is hoping to follow this up with additional studies.

Interesting, it may do something after all, or it may not, more studies I say.

 

[Mendor]

I get given this stuff for colds. It tastes absolutely foul. Glad I have an excuse to refuse it now.

 

[arcticpenguin]

Further down



Interesting, it may do something after all, or it may not, more studies I say.

"More studies" is frequently a cop-out way of saying "please renew our research grant". If the current study doesn't settle anything, what was the point of it?

Echinacea also seemed to increase the number of rashes, says the study, which appears in the Dec. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Yes, it does something. It increases the frequency of rashes.

 

[Dr. Imago]

"More studies" is frequently a cop-out way of saying "please renew our research grant". If the current study doesn't settle anything, what was the point of it?

Nah. This is just good old fashioned, ego-sparing hedging. They know the stuff doesn't work. But, if somehow, somewhere down the line someone definitively proves it does, they don't want to have egg on their face. They can always go back and say, "Well, I never said that it absolutely didn't work... I just said we needed more studies."

Have you ever read a radiology report? Those guys are the hedging kings. They use phrases like "suspicious appearing" and "clinical correlation recommended" all the time. After you've been sued enough, I guess you learn not to be definitive even if you are right 99% of the time.

-TT

 

[SquishyDave]

"More studies" is frequently a cop-out way of saying "please renew our research grant". If the current study doesn't settle anything, what was the point of it?


Yes, it does something. It increases the frequency of rashes.

Ok fine make a fool out of me, I'm used to it anyway
Seriously, does not a "statistically significant decrease" in recurring colds mean that at least should be looked into? Sure it's not a very large sample size, and as stated it could easily just be a fluke, but surely another small trial to double check this wouldn't be out of order.

 

[Dancing David]

I have found echinacea to be effective in the prevention of URI, it seems to increase mucosal secretions, and I think that for me , it is effective because it keeps a good mucosal barrier in place. I also find that it acts like giatussin and makes me cough up stuff that seems stuck in my lungs.

I once mentioned this to a highly respected herbologist on a radio call in show, she sniffed at me, said i was allergic to it and that my beliefs were not valid.

I still like it, i take an antihistamine, at times I get URI because it keeps all the crap in my lungs, echinacea to the rescue, if I have a sore throat , Echinacea seems very effective. But all the mucus can be a nuisance.

 

[Eos of the Eons]

I have found echinacea to be effective in the prevention of URI, it seems to increase mucosal secretions, and I think that for me , it is effective because it keeps a good mucosal barrier in place. I also find that it acts like giatussin and makes me cough up stuff that seems stuck in my lungs.

I once mentioned this to a highly respected herbologist on a radio call in show, she sniffed at me, said i was allergic to it and that my beliefs were not valid.

I still like it, i take an antihistamine, at times I get URI because it keeps all the crap in my lungs, echinacea to the rescue, if I have a sore throat , Echinacea seems very effective. But all the mucus can be a nuisance.