Echinacea for the Common Cold
Authors: Paul Mittman, Debra Wollner, Linda Kim
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2003)

Letters7 October 2003Echinacea for the Common ColdPaul Mittman, ND, Debra Wollner, PhD, and Linda Kim, NDPaul Mittman, NDFrom Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences; Tempe, AZ 85282; and Southwest College Research Institute; Tempe, AZ 85282.Search for more papers by this author, Debra Wollner, PhDFrom Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences; Tempe, AZ 85282; and Southwest College Research Institute; Tempe, AZ 85282.Search for more papers by this author, and Linda Kim, NDFrom Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences; Tempe, AZ 85282; and Southwest College Research Institute; Tempe, AZ 85282.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-7-200310070-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Barrett and colleagues did not perform a placebo-controlled trial (1). The study used alfalfa (Medicago sativa) for the placebo; however, alfalfa has known biological activity. In 1990, we published a randomized, controlled trial showing the efficacy of Urtica dioica compared with placebo lactose in treating symptoms of allergic rhinitis (2). During this study, we also observed that alfalfa is as effective as U. dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (Unpublished data).Alfalfa contains bioactive phytochemicals, including 15% to 22% crude protein, minerals (phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sodium, sulfur, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, cobalt, boron, molybdenum), vitamins (A, ...References1. Barrett BP, Brown RL, Locken K, Maberry R, Bobula JA, D'Alessio D. Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002;137:939-46. [PMID: 12484708] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990;56:44-7. [PMID: 2192379] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Boon H Alfalfa. 2000 Herbs: Everyday Reference for Health Professionals. Canadian Pharmacists Association and Canadian Medical Association Ontario, Canada. Google Scholar4. Hanson AA, Barnes DK, Hill RR. 1988 Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement. Monograph 29. American Soc of Agronomy Madison, WI. Google Scholar5. Alcocer-Varela J, Iglesias A, Llorente L, Alarcon-Segovia D. Effects of L-canavanine on T cells may explain the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus by alfalfa. Arthritis Rheum. 1985;28:52-7. [PMID: 3155617] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Paul Mittman, ND; Debra Wollner, PhD; Linda Kim, NDAffiliations: From Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences; Tempe, AZ 85282; and Southwest College Research Institute; Tempe, AZ 85282. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoTreatment of the Common Cold with Unrefined Echinacea Bruce P. Barrett , Roger L. Brown , Kristin Locken , Rob Maberry , James A. Bobula , and Donn D'Alessio Echinacea for the Common Cold Paul J. Millea Echinacea for the Common Cold Bruce Barrett Echinacea for the Common Cold Ethan B. Russo Echinacea for the Common Cold Seth G. Abrahams Echinacea for the Common Cold Wendy L. Applequist Echinacea for the Common Cold Steve Shober Metrics Cited byAn Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Echinacea ( E. angustifolia DC, E. pallida, E. purpurea ) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration 7 October 2003Volume 139, Issue 7Page: 600-601KeywordsAllergic rhinitisCommon coldFolic acidNutritionPhosphorusPotassiumProteinsRespiratory systemSodiumVitamin A ePublished: 7 October 2003 Issue Published: 7 October 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...