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There has been quite a bit of confusion since the media coverage of a study published this year in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, Echinacea angustifolia in experimental rhinovirus infections, (N Engl J Med. 2005; 353(4): 341-348), needs a closer look. The media's response and headlines consistently conveyed the message that the trial study was "definitive' and showed that 'Echinacea is ineffective'.
Effective conventional antiviral treatments for the common cold, most commonly caused by rhinoviruses, are currently unavailable as pointed out by the American Botanical Council (ABC) in an article published this past summer. The ABC is the nation's leading nonprofit organization addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal plants. They publish a respected peer-reviewed journal, called HerbalGram, and have published a textbook called The ABC Clinical Guide to Herbs. Mark Blumenthal is the Founder and Executive Director of ABC.
There are two important points that Blumenthal states. First, the extracts used in the study were made in a university laboratory and do not correlate with commercial Echinacea products currently available to consumers. Second, the dosages used in this trial were probably low. The trial dosage was 330% lower than those commonly used and recommended by the World Health Organization's monograph for Echinacea root. Therefore, the most accurate statement that can be said about this trial is this, according to Blumenthal: "These specific laboratory-produced Echinacea extracts, at the dose given in the trial, under the specific design of this trial, did not produce any measurable effect." He emphasized, "This is not a definitive trial on the efficacy of Echinacea, nor should the results be generalized to Echinacea preparations widely available. Unfortunately, the conclusion that was drawn by major media coverage was, 'Echinacea is ineffective,' but this would be an incorrect conclusion based on the design of this study and the evidence in the existing literature."
Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine University of Wisconsin was generally complimentary about the trial in general. "This is a very valuable study and quite helpful, although it has some significant limitations, including product, sample, and population."
Clinical trials published in major media journals with results showing no effect of a popular herbal remedy often receive significant coverage in the media. This trial is no exception according to the ABC. Buyer Beware, refers to media information as well as herbal products. Be a careful and educated consumer of both media information and herbal products and trust your past experience. If Echinacea has been consistently helpful for you and your family then you should continue to use it respectfully. As always, consult your health care provider about proper use and safety.
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