Echinacea

Echinacea purpurea is an herb commonly used either in response to or daily for prevention of the common cold. It outperforms placebo unreliably and the amount of benefit derived is similarly unreliable.

Quick Answer

What it is

Echinacea purpurea is an herb commonly used either in response to or daily for prevention of the common cold. It outperforms placebo unreliably and the amount of benefit derived is similarly unreliable.

Key findings

  • Grade C: Common Cold Symptoms (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
  • Grade C: CD3 Lymphocytes (Common Cold)
  • Grade C: Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression (Immune Health)

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Echinacea

Quick Facts: Echinacea

  • Best Evidence:Grade C
  • Conditions Studied:8
  • Research Outcomes:31
  • Key Effect:Common Cold
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B0
C3
D5
8 conditions Β· 31 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
C
Common Cold Symptoms
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
↑Worsens
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
C
CD3 Lymphocytes
Small Increase
1 study
small↑Improves
D
CD4 Lymphocytes
No effect
1 study
none
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
↑Worsens
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Common Cold Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Lymphocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Monocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Activity
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
1 study
↑Improves
C
Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression
Small Improvement
1 study
small↑Improves
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
↑Worsens
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms
↓Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
4 studies
none
?
Hematocrit
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Hemoglobin
↑Improves
?
Erythropoietin
3 studies
↑Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
4 studies
none
?
Hematocrit
4 studies
↑Improves
?
Hemoglobin
↑Improves
?
Erythropoietin
3 studies
↑Improves
D
Sleep Quality
No effect
1 study
none
?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk
↑Worsens
D
Erythropoietin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Oxygen Cost of Exercise
↑Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
↑Improves
?
Red Blood Cell Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves

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