According to the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), the use of herbal supplements is increasing among Americans. In a 2007 NCCAM survey, nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults indicated that they used one or more types of complementary and alternative medicine, such as herbal supplements. The best herbal supplements for cold and flu can reduce your risk of getting sick and alleviate the symptoms when you do.
Echinacea
According to a 2007 report in "Alternative Medicine Reviews," Echinacea is the most recognized herbal supplement for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. In vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (animal) studies in two species of Echinacea, E. purpurea and E. Augustifolia, have demonstrated the herb's efficacy in activating both cellular and humoral (antibody). However, randomized clinical trials have shown mixed results, with some studies reporting a significant reduction in the severity and duration of symptoms in patients treated with Echinacea while others have failed to find a benefit. Taken orally, says NCCAM, Echinacea rarely produces side effects with one caveat. Echinacea is a member of the daisy family, so people with history of asthma or other allergies to other plants in the daisy family such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds and daisies should not take Echinacea.
Elderberry
According to the respected German Commission E Monographs, which were translated into English by the American Botanical Society in 1998, elderberry provides effective relief for colds, fevers and catarrh (excessive respiratory tract secretions). Elderberry-treated influenza-infected cells demonstrate diminished ability to infect other cells, compared to untreated cells. Elderberry also activates phagocytes, which are specialized cells that engulf and digest cells that are infected with viruses such as cold and flu. In clinical trials, elderberry appeared to reduce the duration of influenza symptoms from seven to eight days to three to four in treated individuals. NCCAM recommends that only cooked, ripe, black or blue elderberries or supplements prepared from these be consumed. Other kinds of elderberry can cause nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea.
North American Ginseng
Panax quinquefolium, also called North American ginseng, has been shown in controlled trials to reduce the incidence, duration, and severity of colds and flu in both sick and healthy people, according to "Alternative Medicine Reviews." In a four-month study among healthy adults who reported a history of two or more colds during the previous year, participants who took the standard dose of the supplement reported a 12.8 percent decrease in the risk of developing a cold, a 31 percent decrease in self-assessed symptom severity and a 34.5 percent reduction in the number of days of symptoms (duration) compared to participants who received a placebo. In a second study conducted among elderly people who also received a flu shot, 32 percent of treated patients developed an upper respiratory tract infection compared with 62 percent of patients who received a placebo and the average symptom duration was reduced by one week (a little more than five and a half days for treated people vs. 12.6 days for placebo). According to NCCAM, the most common side affects of Panax species are headache and sleep and gastrointestinal problems. Products containing Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) have been associated with breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities and elevated blood pressure, but these effects may have been due to another component of the product or they may be an effect of Panax ginseng, but not Panax quinquefolium. People taking ginseng or any other supplement should always report this information to their healthcare provider.
References
- NCCAM: Use of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States
- Alternative Medicine Reviews; Colds and Influenza; M. Roxas and J. Jurenka; 2007
- "Complete German Commission E Monograph;" American Botanical Council; M. Blumenthal; 1998
