A standardized Echinacea extract demonstrates efficacy in the prevention and treatment of colds in athletes.

摘要

Echinacea is a botanical medicine indigenous to North America. The roots and leaves of this medicinal plant were used for hundreds of years by Native Americans as a remedy for enlarged glands (mumps), coughs, sore throat, burns, snakebite, and as an analgesic.Today, Echinacea preparations constituent one of the most widely used commercial herbal preparations in North America and Europe. In modern herbal medicine, Echinacea is known for its immune modulation properties and effectiveness in treatment of common colds, reducing symptoms and duration.2 Several research studies suggest that Echinacea purpurea may provide a valuable treatment option as a prophylaxis and treatment in athletes, a population group with greater susceptibility to the common cold.