Echinacea Strikes Out As Cold Cure

Q. My sister recently visited me with a bad cold and introduced me to echinacea. I now take it three times a day to prevent colds. What do you think about it? Are there any other natural cold remedies I can use?
A. Echinacea has been a disappointment. Although it has been the best selling herbal remedy against the common cold, the evidence supporting it has been thin. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (July 28, 2005) showed that echinacea root extract was ineffective at preventing experimental colds. Nearly 400 volunteers had cold viruses sprayed into their noses, but those getting echinacea extract fared no better than those on placebo.
Two other herbs that may eventually prove more promising are Andrographis paniculata (available in a standardized formulation called Kold Kare) and Astragalus membranaceus. Both are Chinese herbs. Preliminary research suggests they may help, but other well-controlled studies are needed.