science and selective low-dose Echinacea Studies

A study in The New England Journal of Medicine published in July 2005 found that echinacea was ineffective against colds, in fact, sales of echinacea hit - and the public perception - in some circles. In the UK, for example, sales have fallen from a peak of € 6,100,000 to 4.9 million in 2005. This is unfortunate, because the study was severely criticized in a number of areas.

There are three basic areas that have been questioned in the study:

The firstAssay.

The second type of echinacea products are used.

The third significance of artificially induced by a virus in young and healthy.

The dose of Echinacea used is one of the most critical points. Although the quality of extract of Echinacea has been used in the study, the same as a good business background, study participants were given approximately one third of the recommended dosage for the suffering of a cold.

Sick students in the study were given only1.5 ml of extracts of echinacea three times a day. In milligrams, the 1.5 ml is equivalent to about 300 mg of dried root powder or 900 mg of echinacea per day total. Compare this with the dosage of the World Health Organization (WHO), which is 3 grams per day of dried root. Thus, World Health Organization recommends 330% more per day for cold and flu symptoms Echinacea. When Michael McGuffin, American Herbal Products Association, said: "It 'as a study on the effects of aspirin and a third was wondering why you have headaches. "

The headaches continued for good science. Looking at the type of echinacea extract used in the study, there are other differences as compared to commercial preparations.

The study used extracts that were made in a laboratory at the University. If there is a standard method for the extraction of Echinacea, so that all agents were in the same amount, thisbe a problem. However, this is not the case. MediHerb, herbal preparations are under the guidelines of the pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices, wrote that the world after the test for other commercial echinacea products, they could not find anywhere near that level of alkylamides that had their echinacea have produced stronger. Echinacea alkylamides are an important ingredient for immune stimulation.

And 'is significant that even in commercialProducts - from companies with a vested interest in the extracts of Echinacea done right - is such a difference in quality. Even Consumer Lab, an independent test noticed quite a variance in various commercial preparations. Tests for phenols were not alkylamides, though.

But what hope is there that a laboratory study, gain experience in Echinacea has been able to improve the quality of products to provide the many commercial preparations failed? In any case, if thecoordinators of the study provide a chemical profile of Echinacea has made them, no comparisons with commercial products are without scientific basis.

One of the authors of the study, David Gangemi, also said the dosage and the extract used: "I think in retrospect if we go back and look at some of the other products that are out there we may have only one-tenth the level we should be" .

The last point was raised about the study is relevant only because it isto compare the experience of healthy college students with a good immune system, the typical consumer of echinacea supplements. As an herbalist said it is difficult to generalize their experiences: "This could not relevant to real-life situation, where people with immune systems compromised by a series of constantly evolving viruses and bacteria.

There are a number of studies have found, Echinacea, in fact, to relieve the symptoms of colds and flu and helpthe healing process. The American Botanical Council provides a summary of 21 clinical studies on various preparations of Echinacea and Echinacea species (there are three species), on its website. It 's a pity that this attempt failed for the same support that one study found defective.

References:

First American Botanical Council

According MediHerb clinical support and the process's default Web site

Third Nutraingredients

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