SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2000
Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 97 citations in OpenAlex.
- Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- Guideline
- [Rhinosinusitis guidelines of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery].HNO · 2007Guideline
- Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis.The Lancet. Infectious diseases · 2007Pooled it
- The safety of herbal medicinal products derived from Echinacea species: a systematic review.Drug safety · 2005Pooled it
- Effects of echinacea on the frequency of upper respiratory tract symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology · 2008Trial
- Echinacea purpurea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus colds.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2004Trial
- Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2003Trial
- Placebo effects and the common cold: a randomized controlled trial.Annals of family medicineTrial
- Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Fatigue Effects of an Oral Food Supplement in Long COVID Patients.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of EZC Pak, a 5-Day Combination Echinacea-Zinc-Vitamin C Dose Pack with or without Vitamin D, in the Management of Outpatient Upper Respiratory Infections.Infection and drug resistance · 2023Article
- Phytotherapeutic and naturopathic adjuvant therapies in otorhinolaryngology.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2012Review
- Common cold.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2011Article
- Natural Products in Epilepsy-the Present Situation and Perspectives for the Future.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2010Review
- Induction of tetraploids from petiole explants through colchicine treatments in Echinacea purpurea L.Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology · 2009Article
- Does treatment with Echinacea purpurea effectively shorten the course of upper respiratory tract infections in children?Archives of disease in childhood · 2006Review
- Lower respiratory infections and potential complications in athletes.Current sports medicine reports · 2006Review
- Laboratory-derived formulations ofFocus on alternative and complementary therapies : FACT · 2005Article
- Studies of "natural" remedies for the common cold: pitfalls and pratfalls.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2005Article
- Efficacy of echinacea for upper respiratory tract infections in children.Paediatrics & child health · 2005Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundExtracts of the plant Echinacea (family Compositae) are widely used in some European countries and the USA for upper respiratory tract infections.
objectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of preparations containing extracts of Echinacea in the prevention and treatment of the common cold. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group and Complementary Medicine Field's trials registers, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Phytodok and reference lists of articles. We also contacted researchers and manufacturers. Date of last search: Spring 1998. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing preparations containing an extract of Echinacea compared with a placebo, no treatment, or another treatment for common colds. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two independent reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data. MAIN
resultsSixteen trials (eight prevention trials, and eight trials on treatment of upper respiratory tract infections) with a total of 3396 participants were included. Variation in preparations investigated and methodological quality of trials precluded quantitative meta-analysis. Overall, the results suggested that some Echinacea preparations may be better than placebo. REVIEWER'S
conclusionsThe majority of the available studies report positive results. However there is not enough evidence to recommend a specific Echinacea product, or Echinacea preparations for the treatment or prevention of common colds.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.