Does Echinacea REALLY work?

[missmoopy]

My dd (5) has spent the vast majority of winter with various viruses and bugs. She has always been a poorly child in winter but this year wins the prize! Think its because of new germ 'pool' since starting school!
She is currently luxuriating in my king size bed with tonsillitus!

Anyhoo, we have tried various vitamins and not convinced they make any difference. Looking on t'internet at things to help with immune system, Echinancea is cropping up quite a lot. I am almost at point of trying anything, but does Echinacea REALLY work or is it utter bunkum?

[duckyfuzz]

yes it does!

[Collision]

DH utterly SWEARS by it!

He had been prone to throat infections forever but since taking the stuff I cannot remember the last time he was ill.

It really is worth a try and if the boys and I were prone to similar things then I would be on it too.

[Tortington]

i read that it was all bollocks - but i can't remember where.

helpful aren't i

[thegrowlygus]

Think there was a review article about it (British Medical Journal?) that said it was bunkum.

I was once told the statistic that on average a child will get 4-6 coughs/colds (viral) a year - so generally those are over the winter, and given that a viral cough can last over 6 weeks, then most children are snotty and coughing most of the winter. And most of the rest of the time too

[LynetteScavo]

I find boots own rubbish, and the tablets rubish, but the bioforce stuff is briliant.

It gives an immediate boost, adn really does help.

[LynetteScavo]

this stuff

[missmoopy]

Thanks Lynette, just ordered some from Holland and Barrett as think worth a try. Poor little bugger gets full on can't function colds - not just a sniffle. She has already had 10 days off school sick and she only started in September! Is that normal?

[nickytwotimes]

Tis bunkum sadly, imo.
I spent a fortune on it over the years - Echinaforce good stuff too. Utter waste of dosh.
Better spending the cash on copious amounts of fruit and veg imo.

Unfortunately, being ill like your dd is normal part of growing up. It shows her immune system is working and developing normally.

Utter misery though!

[tonyee]

I swear by bee propolis! That stuff is amazing. I take it when I feel a cold coming on and it really knocks it out. it has natural anti viral and anti biotic properties.

MUCH better than echinacea which didn't do much for me. Elderberry extract is good too..sambucol. I take this stuff n barely get sick anymore, give to my children too and they are now sick a lot less too. Good luck!

[thumbwitch]

I find it very helpful in conjunction with vitamin C - keeps the colds short or away. Also sambucol excellent for throaty things.

[missmoopy]

Thank you all, I will give echinacea a go and if that doesn't help will move on to the bee stuff! Tried sambucol when she was younger and it didn't help much.