Echinacea tea blend shortens duration of cold symptoms
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of 95 people,
treatment with an echinacea tea preparation (Echinacea Plus®,
Traditional Medicinals) early in the course of a cold or flu was
significantly more effective in relieving symptoms than a placebo
tea. For the 90-day study, participants reported for assignment
to one of two treatment groups at the first onset of cold and
flu symptoms (scratchy throat, runny nose, fever, etc.). The subjects
drank 5 to 6 cups a day of echinacea or placebo tea on the first
day of symptoms, reducing the dosage to 1 cup per day for the
next five days. Results were assessed with a questionnaire that
measured symptom relief, duration of symptoms, and time before
subjects noticed a difference in symptoms. The echinacea tea was
significantly more effective than placebo in all parameters measured.
No side effects were reported in either group. Echinacea Plus
is a proprietary blend of E. purpurea and E. angustifolia
leaves, flowers, and stems, a water soluble dry extract of E.
purpurea root, and flavoring herbs. Eater's Digest® (Traditional
Medicinals) was selected as the placebo tea because it was not
expected to have a significant effect on cold or flu symptoms
at the dosages used in this study. Among other herbs, Eater's
Digest contains cinnamon, ginger, and peppermint. Lindenmuth
GF, Lindenmuth EB. The efficacy of echinacea compound herbal tea
preparation on the severity and duration of upper respiratory
and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled
study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
2000; 6(4): 327-334.
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