Study: Echinacea Not a Cold Cure

Think Again

Updated Apr. 24, 2017 5:02PM EDT / Published Dec. 20, 2010 4:14PM EST

This is not the best news heading in cold and flu season. Echinacea, the popular herbal remedy, does not really help anyone get better any sooner. The study of more than 700 adults and children showed that only a few hours was shaved off of a week-long cold and slightly milder symptoms—which could have happened by chance. Echinacea is one of the top cold and flu products in terms of sales, although it has its critics. University of Wisconsin’s Dr. Bruce Barrett used participants between the ages of 12 and 80 and gave them either the herb, a dummy pill, or nothing at all and compared results. The ones who took echinacea had shorter and slightly less severe colds, but the researchers said echinacea’s benefits did not justify its cost and the trouble of taking it.

Read it at Associated Press

R.F.K. Jr.’s Old Environmental Pals Tell Him to Get Lost

“His actions are a betrayal to our environment,” the candidate’s former mentor said of him.

Iconic Hotel From ‘The Shining’ Goes Up in Flames

Crews responded late Thursday night to an attic fire at the famous Oregon lodge.

John Cleese Cancels His Own Cancel Culture Show

The “Monty Python” star has stalled the show for three years.

Susan Sarandon Joins Protesters at Columbia University

“Especially in a place of education, and supposedly higher thought, to be attacked with racism and intolerance is not acceptable,” the actress said.

New Deets Surface on Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer’s Beef

Despite the two being bitter rivals, Sawyer also conceded, “We spent a lot of time laughing and forging a real friendship.”

Stock Slips After Netflix Stops Sharing Subscriber Numbers

Despite a strong first quarter, investors were seemingly rattled by the company’s decision to stop reporting their favorite metric.

A D.C. ‘Skinny’ Home Is Listed for $600K—It’s 6 Feet Wide

A change in zoning laws forced the owners to put their building plans on a serious diet.

Ethics Panel Wants to Know if Gaetz Got High at Parties: ABC

The House committee has reportedly obtained a woman’s statement claiming the Republican attended an event where drugs were present.

Study: Echinacea Not a Cold Cure