Echinacea and colds
What 3 graded rows on echinacea agree on for colds, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Echinacea page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Echinacea page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
Echinacea and colds
3 rows · 10,258 peopleMostly an improvement: 2 of 3 rows, and most of the people. 1 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 3
- Rows
- 3
- Trials
- 39
- People
- 10,258
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
What the rows share
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a systematic review of 4,631 people (2014) and reported mixed results.
The rows run from 2,458 to 4,631 people, published from 2014 to 2025: 3 pooled reviews and 0 single studies.
The rows
2 improved · 1 mixed- CGrade CRespiratory infections in children · Improved
Meta-analysis, 9 studies · n 3,169 · 2025 · Children in 9 RCTs of upper respiratory infections and otitis media (1,518 echinacea, 1,651 placebo)
Varied across trials · Varied across trials
Fewer infections (RR 0.81), slightly shorter illness (SMD −0.19) and less antibiotic use (RR 0.18); fewer ear-infection episodes (RR 0.56) but no shorter ear infections. Adverse events, mostly mild, were more frequent (RR 1.38).
- CGrade CRepeat respiratory infections · Improved
Meta-analysis, 6 studies · n 2,458 · 2015 · Generally healthy children and adults in 6 selected high-quality trials
Varied across trials · Varied across trials
Recurrent respiratory infections were less likely (RR 0.65) and complications such as pneumonia and ear infection were less frequent (RR 0.50).
- CGrade CCommon colds · Mixed
Systematic review, 24 studies · n 4,631 · 2014 · Children and adults in 24 double-blind trials (33 comparisons)
Varied across trials · Varied across trials
None of 12 prevention comparisons was significant alone (post hoc pooling suggested a 10–20% relative reduction); only 1 of 7 treatment trials shortened colds.