Choosing Natural Products for Common Colds Prevention

by Patsy Hamilton

A product for common colds prevention is among the most commonly purchased dietary supplements, according to a recent survey. Echinacea common cold remedies are more likely to be purchased than any other herbal or natural remedies. Colds cause lost days at work and school, not to mention that the symptoms leave you feeling tired, run down and generally miserable. It's no wonder that people are interested in preventing the number of colds that they have every year. Most adults have two or three and school age children may have as many as twelve per year, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Echinacea common cold remedies are recommended by herbalists, because the plant was used historically by Native Americans. The root was used raw or boiled and applied topically to burns, wounds, boils and skin cancer lesions. The dried root was made into a tea and used as an antitoxin, a blood cleanser and to treat pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections, ulcers of the stomach or mouth, cancer and to relieve the symptoms of aging. According to the book "Earthway" by Mary Summer Rain, in which the memoirs of the late No Eyes, a Native American healer, were compiled, aspen, bayberry bark, boneset, capsicum, clover, elecampane, fennel, garlic, gingerroot, honey, horehound, lobelia, mullein, skullcap, thyme, white pine, wild cherry bark, wild onion and yarrow were all used to treat colds. Of all the things that No Eyes mentioned echinacea could be used for, common colds prevention is not among them.

Indian echinacea common cold preventatives are derived from an entirely different plant. The scientific name is Andrographis paniculata and it has a long history of use by practitioners of traditional Indian medicine (not Native Americans, who are sometimes referred to as Indians) and other Asian cultures. It is used in Scandinavian countries for common colds prevention. The active components are extracted from the leaves and stems, not the roots. The plant grows wild in many areas in southeastern Asia and is cultivated in China, Thailand and the East and West Indies. It was used traditionally to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, pneumonia, tonsillitis and respiratory infections. The common cold is an upper respiratory infection.

Scientific research does not always support the use of echinacea common cold remedies. Those who believe in the effectiveness of the plant suggest that the quality of the plants used for scientific research may be lacking. It can be difficult to determine the quality of health supplements that claim to contain echinacea. Studies have shown that some health supplements do not contain exactly what they claim. When buying health supplements of any kind, it is important to choose products that are manufactured by reputable companies. Herbs and other natural products are relatively expensive; the quality of inexpensive store brands and "no-name" products may be questionable.

Andrographis paniculata or Indian echinacea common cold preventatives are not as widely marketed as other varieties and may be even more expensive to purchase, but research has shown that they effectively stimulate immune system responses. One clinical study showed that those participants who were given andrographis paniculata for common colds prevention were also less likely to become infected with the influenza virus than those who were given a placebo. Those people who did develop the flu and had been taking the health supplement had less severe symptoms of shorter duration and less complications.

For more information about andrographis paniculata and other natural products that can improve immune system responses, please visit the Immune System Booster Guide.