Re: [escepticos] Re: própolis, equinácea y otras hierbas

[marmi <oswaldo@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A ver si esto te ayuda. Parece el típico remedio de la abuela que puede 
que ayude o puede que no, dudosamente mejor que un placebo y peor que 
paracetamol, hidratación y vitamina C.
Salud,

Marmi



Chochrane Review: Echinacea extracts are widely used by patients and 
practitioners in certain parts of Europe and the United States for 
preventing and treating upper respiratory tract infections. Despite the 
widespread use, there is considerable debate about the effectiveness of 
Echinacea. A detailed Cochrane review published in 2005 assessed the 
available evidence from randomized clinical trials investigating the 
effectiveness of Echinacea extracts for the prevention and the treatment 
of the common cold. To be included in the overview, trials must include 
clinical outcome measures related to occurrence, severity or duration of 
infections. Sixteen trials, 8 prevention trials and 8 treatment trials, 
with a total of 3,396 participants were reviewed. The overall results 
suggest that some Echinacea preparations may be better than placebo, 
effective in both the treatment and prevention of the common cold, and 
may be more effective for treatment when taken at the onset of symptoms, 
however, more research is needed to confirm this effect.13

    * In the 5 prevention trials with a placebo control, 2 found a 
statistically significant lower incidence of infection in the treatment 
group. 14 15 One (Forth, 1981) used an herbal preparation containing 
various herbs including Echinacea angustifolia and pallida roots and was 
given in drops or tablets for 16 weeks. The second study (Hoheisel 1997) 
used a pressed juice of Echinacea purpurea given in drops for 10 days. 
Hoheisel and colleagues also found that the duration of illness was 
significantly shorter in the treatment group. The remaining trials found 
only trends in favor of the treatment groups.
    * In all 3 prevention trials with no treatment controls (Helbig 
1961, Kleinschmidt 1965, Freyer 1974), the number of children with 
infection was significantly lower in the group receiving the Echinacea 
combination compared to the no treatment group. All 3 trials lasted 6 
weeks and used an herbal preparation containing various herbs including 
Echinacea angustifolia and pallida roots administered in drops. 16 17 18
    * 6 of the 8 treatment trials suggest significantly positive 
results for the tested preparations over placebo. Preparations found to 
be effective included Echinacea purpurea root extract drops, Echinacea 
pallida root extract drops, a combination tablet containing Echinacea 
purpurea root, a combination tablet containing Echinacea angustifolia 
and pallida roots, and a combination tincture containing Echinacea 
angustifolia. 12 19 20 21 22 23 In the remaining trials, one found 
significant results for a subgroup only (Henneicke 1997) and two found 
no difference after treatment (Braunig 1992 low dose, and Dorn 1989.)24 25