Lets talk about the common cold. We often hear that there is no cure for it, but is that true? Well, actually, the cure for the common cold is within each of us - the immune system! Alas, sometimes it functions better than others. When it functions well, a cold is really nothing more than a little inconvenience. Can you support your body's own immune system with herbs?

Oh, yes! You can use Echinacea, for example as a tea infusion. The purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has been used for centuries by Native Americans to treat headaches, bites, stings, stomach pains, convulsions and sore throats. The recommendation is to use Echinacea daily for a limited period of time (e.g. approximately 2 months, twice per year) during seasons when our bodies are exposed to more germs and maybe a little run down (for many people, especially those with asthma, this is typically October / November and late February - early April). It has been proven in clinical trials[1] to reduce symptoms of the common cold and Dolyang Herbals provides three different blends containing Echinacea:

First Aid for Colds - Echinacea is combined with Eucalyptus (a strong antiseptic and a calm stimulant), Field Horsetail (a diuretic and astringent aiding the removal of toxins), Cowslip (to strengthen the nerves and the brain), and Basil (which is carminative and alleviates pains).

Autumn Glow - this blend is designed particularly for people with Asthma. Echinacea is combined with Ribwort (a demulcent to ease the pain of a hacking cough, which is used for the respiratory tract in traditional Austrian medicine), Hibiscus & Rosehips (which both taste lovely and contain Vitamin C), Basil (carminative and in Greece associated with healing the bronchi), Orange Peel (which is used to treat the lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine), and Lemongrass (which is used for relieving cough and nasal congestion in Ayurveda).

Winter Prophylaxis -  a blend which can be used every day throughout the winter, containing Echinacea with Celery (a carminative traditionally used for calming), Hibiscus (to give a fruity flavour and provide Vitamin C), Basil (in Greece traditionally used to support the respiratory system), Lemon peel (packed with Vitamin C), and Orange peel (which is considered to support the lungs in Traditional Chinese Medicine).

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Goel, V. & Lovlin, R. & alti (2004) Efficacy of a standardized Echinacea preparation (EchinilinTM) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Vol. 29, pp.75-83 [available at www.sciencedirect.com]