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Echinacea combination formula effective against
common cold
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving
263 people showed than a proprietary herbal formula was significantly
more effective than placebo in relieving cold symptoms. The herb
formula used was Esberitox® N, manufactured by Schaper &
Brummer GmbH & Co. of Salxgitter, Germany. Esberitox N is
an alcohol extract containing Echinacea purpurea and E.
pallida root, wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) root,
and white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) leaf. Patients took
the formula (three tablets three times daily) or placebo for seven
to nine days. During treatment, the patients recorded the severity
of 18 different cold symptoms. Results showed that treatment with
Esberitox N improved all major cold symptoms. Treatment response
was seen as early as day 3 for people taking Esberitox N (18.4
percent vs. no response for placebo); response increased by day
5 to 55.4 percent for Esberitox N patients, compared with about
28 percent for placebo. Best results were seen in people who started
treatment with the Esberitox N early, before symptoms peaked.
Henneicke-von Zepelin HH, Hentschel C, Schnitker J, et al.
Efficacy and safety of a fixed combination phytomedicine in the
treatment of the common cold (acute viral respiratory tract infection):
results of a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, multicentre
study. Current Medical Research and Opinion 1999; 15(3):
214-227.
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