Re: Echinacea is ineffective

[Guest guest]

--- Al Pater <old542000@...> wrote:

> Hi All,

>

> " These rigorously controlled studies found no evidence that

> echinacea is effective in treating or preventing the common cold. "

>

> See:

>

> http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,163871,00.html

>

> The pdf is available for the paper corresponding to the below table.

>

> N Engl J Med 2005;353: 340. July 28, 2005. Number 4

> Article Summaries

> Echinacea for Rhinovirus Infections

>

> Either placebo or a preparation of chemically defined extracts from Echinacea

> angustifolia root was administered to 399 volunteers before or after

inoculation

> with rhinovirus. These rigorously controlled studies found no evidence that

> echinacea is effective in treating or preventing the common cold.

Hi All,

I forgot:

Table 1. Effect of Various Extracts of E.angustifolia Root on Rhinovirus

Infection

and Common Cold Illnesses.*

...................................

Treatment Day -7 to 0----Treatment Day 0 to 5----No.of Subjects----No. Infected

(%)†----95%CI for Difference in Infection Rate vs.Placebo ‡----P Value for

Difference in Infection Rate vs.Placebo----No.of Clinical Colds in Infected

Subjects

(%)----Mean Total Symptom Score **

..................................

CO 2 extract CO 2 extract 45 40 (89) -0.07 to 0.15 0.57 25 (62)15.45±2.34

60%extract 60%extract 52 42 (81) -0.09 to 0.17 0.46 24 (57)13.21±1.91

20%extract 20%extract 52 48 (92) -0.03 to 0.17 0.22 24 (50)12.06±1.74

Placebo CO 2 extract 48 43 (90) -0.06 to 0.16 0.48 27 (63)14.60±1.70

Placebo 60%extract 48 44 (92) -0.03 to 0.17 0.28 33 (75)19.20±2.28

Placebo 20%extract 51 44 (86) -0.11 to 0.13 0.89 28 (64)15.64±1.97

Placebo Placebo 103 88 (85)Reference group —58 (66)15.05±1.43

............................

*Plus –minus values are means±SE.CI denotes confidence interval,and CO2

supercritical carbon dioxide.

†The P value for homogeneity for the infection rates is 0.58.

‡Negative numbers indicate a higher infection rate for placebo,and positive

numbers

a higher rate for echinacea treatment.

**The total mean symptom score is the sum of symptom scores on days 1 to

5.Higher

scores indicate more severe symptoms.

Al Pater, PhD; email: old542000@...

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