Population-Based Strategy Urged to Cut U.S. Obesity Rate (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing the high rate ofobesity in the United States requires a comprehensive, population-basedstrategy, says a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientificstatement.

Echinacea is the name of a plant native to North American that has been used by Native Americans for centuries to treat infections. At $300 million in annual US sales Echinacea is the most popular herbal remedy for the common cold. Echinacea is used now for the treatment of colds and other upper respiratory tract infections. Echinacea has been shown in animal studies to increase immunologic activity. Yet despite promotions for prevention, Echinacea has not been shown to be useful in the prevention of colds. Based on some small earlier trials that were performed primarily in Germany with variable quality of methodology, echinacea was initially claimed to reduce the length of colds. Results of more recent randomized, double blind trials, conducted in the U.S. with appropriate methods, however, have not been consistent with this.

For instance, one study gave 148 students with new onset common colds either Echinacea or a placebo for 10 days. The duration of colds for those who took the plant was 6.27 days, and 5.75 days for placebo (1). In another study 408 children age 2-11 were given either Echinacea or placebo immediately after the development of cold symptoms buy bulk l-theanine powders There were no differences in number of days of symptoms (9 v 9), or severity of symptoms. Echinacea-treated patients had statistically significantly more rash (7.1%) than placebo (2.7%).

In another study 399 volunteers were given either Echinacea or placebo and then were exposed to the cold virus. There were no differences in the percent of volunteers who became infected in the Echinacea group (81%) versus the placebo group (85%) or in other laboratory measures of infection.

Based on these studies Echinacea treatment of the common cold is not justified.

1. Barrett, B.P., Brown, R.L., Locken, K., Maberry, R., Bobula, J.A., D'Alessio, D. Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. December 17, 2002 2002;137(12):939-946.

2. Taylor, J.A., Weber, W., Standish, L., Quinn, H., Goesling, J., McGann, M., Calabrese, C. Efficacy and safety of Echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association. December 2, 2003 2003;290(21):2824-2830.

Learn more about the efficacy of supplements, alternatives to medications and hidden risks of prescription medications in Before You Take That Pill: Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements, by researcher and physician J. Douglas Bremner, MD.

http://www.beforeyoutakethatpill.com