LIVING & TRAVEL Echinacea and Goldenseal to Treat the Common Cold Published April 2, 1996

Colds blow. No? You blow them around, spreading a tiny virus -- one of more than 200 possible. You can also get a cold through direct contact. When you do, excess mucus builds up in your respiratory tract and, well, it's messy. I thought I'd try some herbal remedies for my cold instead of taking pharmaceuticals, which often have unpleasant side effects. Two herbs, echinacea and goldenseal, are supposed to be good for colds. Here's what I found out: Herb: Echinacea spp. (ek-a-NAY-sha) AKA: Purple Cone Flower Where found: North American plains, prairies and open woodlands. Note: Due to it's growing popularity, Echinacea angustifolia is being threatened by over-collection from the wild. Most used part: The root Scientific stuff: More than 400 scientific studies have been conducted on echinacea. Research suggests that the echinacosides in E. angustifolia (not E. purpurea) are the main anti-microbial constituents. The polysaccharides in echinacea possess the best immune-stimulating properties and are anti-viral. Echinacea helps the body rid itself of microbial infections, often effective against both viral and bacterial attacks. Indications: Echinacea is one of America's most popular herbal products, traditionally used to treat and prevent the common cold and flu, coughs, sore throats, infections and even toothaches. Try this: Put 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls of the root (available in bulk at natural foods stores) in one cup of water and bring it slowly to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three times daily. Also, tinctures and capsules are available and should be taken as directed (usually 1 to 4 ml. of tincture 3 times a day). Don't do this: Don't take echinacea every day. It doesn't work that way. Three weeks on, three weeks off is as regular as you should be using it. If you're generally healthy, only use echinacea to help fight that "uncommon" cold. Herb: Hydrastis canadensis AKA: Goldenseal Where found: Small perennial plant native to North American woodlands, damp meadows and forested highlands. Note: Goldenseal is also threatened by over-collection. Suitable herbal substitutes include barberry, Oregon grape and goldthread (which contain the active constituent, berberine). Most used part: The root Scientific stuff: Goldenseal's major alkaloids are hydrastine and berberine. Hydrastine is a vasoconstrictor and antiseptic. Berberine has many antibiotic and immune-stimulating properties and is effective against amoebae, fungi, bacteria and yeasts including candida. Berberine's immunostimulant qualities underlie its use in combination with echinacea against colds and flu. Indications: "Goldenseal soothes the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract during the congestion and inflammation of colds and flus," according to Janet Zand, O.M.D., L.Ac. Combined with echinacea, it has a potent immune enhancing and congestion reducing action. Try this: Use goldenseal with echinacea to support your immune system during colds and the flu. (Many herbal manufacturers formulate these combinations.) Goldenseal may be taken every two hours for acute cold symptoms. If taken with echinacea, use two parts echinacea to one part goldenseal in tablet, capsule, extract or tea form, according to Zand. After 72 hours, three times daily for two weeks may help. Don't do this: As with echinacea, don't use goldenseal every day but rather only when necessary as an immune system stimulant to help clear a cold or flu. There are other neat ways to treat a cold naturally: Eat garlic til you stink. Three cloves a day minimum for Americans, three bulbs a day for hairy-chested Italians. Also available in non-odorous capsules. Take vitamin C til you squirt. 1000 mg. every two hours during acute conditions. Bioflavonoids reportedly increase the effectiveness of vitamin C when taken together. Homeopathy (home-e-OP-a-thee) works. Really! Try Allium cepa for a runny nose, Bryonia for a cough, Belladonna for a fever, or Nux vomica for nausea. There are also combination homeopathic remedies formulated specifically for colds and flu. Sip hot tea: 1 to 2 teaspoons total of equal parts elderberry, peppermint and yarrow simmered 10 minutes and drunk often until symptoms pass. Try Chinese herbal remedies: Gan Mao Ling for early stage cold symptoms; Yin Chiao San for later stage symptoms. It's amazing how well natural remedies can treat simple ailments. Instead of masking symptoms like conventional treatments often do, remedies such as herbs help your body fight off an infection by boosting your natural defenses. It makes sense if you want to ward off future colds instead of just covering them up each time. Tune in next week to discover more herbal solutions to common health ailments. Stress, sleeplessness and mental fatigue are three possible areas. Email me with any other suggestions. Steve Taormina (Pisces) is managing editor for Delicious! Magazine and web editor for HealthCraze.com. This information is not medical advice, and I'm not a doctor. Send Steve mail at [email protected]