As part of the Charms & Harms series in the Journal of Primary Care, Dr. Joanne Barnes, from the University of Auckland, in New Zealand distilled the evidence.

Highlights

• The results of studies of echinacea to prevent and treat upper respiratory infections are conflicting.
• There’s insufficient evidence to recommend a particular preparation or dosage regimen.
• The limited data indicate that echinacea preparations are well-tolerated, although allergic reactions may occur.
• Echinacea products differ in their pharmaceutical quality
  • The implications of this for efficacy and safety should be considered.

The bottom line?

The article is a good 1-page review.

6/18/09 19:00 JR