Via Reuters: Echinacea does little against colds-study
Echinacea, the herbal remedy widely believed to prevent or ease the misery of the common cold, turns out to be no more effective than a placebo, according to a new study by the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
And this on the heels of a study that vitamin C doesn’t help the common cold, either. What’s a home remedy devotee to do?
However, my guess is that this will be the common reaction:
Whether the conclusions will influence sales of echinacea is a matter of debate.In a commentary in the Journal, Wallace Sampson, editor of the scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, said a study disproving the effectiveness of such remedies “rarely leads the supplement industry to reduce production or the public to decrease use. In fact, advocates often dismiss disproof.”
Indeed, one wonders how many herbal types will argue that this is just the medical-industrial complex trying to help the pharmaceutical companies.
Man, this placebo stuff sounds like it cures everything — know where I can score some?
Comment by Leopold Stotch — Thursday, July 28, 2024 @ 3:42 pm
I tried this stuff on the recommendation of my wife, and it seemed to work. I’ve taken it at the first signs of a cold the last three or four times, and the cold never came. I guess it’s possible that this is just a coincidence, but my wife swears by the stuff, and she hasn’t had a cold in five years.
It’s hard for me to believe that people would continue to buy it in such large quantities if the stuff didn’t help. So which is a more likely scenario? 1) The study is true, and people are just full of it; 2) The study is false, and is promulgated by the Pharma interests.
I dunno. Anecdotally, it seems to work. YMMV.
Comment by pianoman — Friday, July 29, 2024 @ 12:42 pm
Well, I think garlic works wonders. Echinacea, who knows.
Comment by Jan — Monday, August 1, 2024 @ 12:17 pm
It’s certainly tasty.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Monday, August 1, 2024 @ 12:18 pm