In the article, "Latest Echinacea trial not so clear cut, herbal experts say", Echinamide is noted as one of the only brands of proven effective
The trial, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was possibly the largest randomized, controlled trial to date, with 719 subjects taken from the general population in Wisconsin. Unlike other trials in which a rhinovirus was inhaled in a controlled situation, this trial tested short-term use of Echinacea preparation within 24 hours of the appearance of naturally acquired cold symptoms.
The trial measured cold symptom severity and the duration of the symptoms, with secondary endpoints measuring levels of interleukin-8 and neutrophil, which are markers for immune response.
As Blumenthal, who was widely interviewed by the media, explained, the trial used a "good-quality Echinacea preparation" made by MediHerb of Australia and distributed by Standard Process of Wisconsin.
Read article
© Natural Factors. All rights reserved.