Echinacea für Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Q: Does Echinacea help with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

Based on 20 studies with 4,000 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Echinacea may support Upper Respiratory Tract Infections management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

Q: How much Echinacea should I take for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 300-500 mg standardized extract 3x/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Q: Are there side effects of Echinacea?

Reported side effects may include Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, stomach pain), Allergic reactions (especially in those allergic to daisies, ragweed), Headache, Dizziness. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

Q: How strong is the evidence for Echinacea and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 20 peer-reviewed studies with 4,000 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.

Cochrane-reviewed meta-analyses suggest echinacea may modestly reduce cold duration and severity when started at symptom onset. Daily prophylactic use may reduce cold risk. Individual trial effects are small but consistently positive across multiple preparations.

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Fazit

Key Study Findings

Meta-Analysis n=3169

Efficacy and safety of Echinacea purpurea in treating upper respiratory infections and complications of otitis …

Dose: None vs.: Placebo Outcome: URTI treatment duration, incidence, antibiotic use Wirkung: SMD=-0.19 (duration); RR=0.81 (incidence) <0.01

Population: Children with URTI and otitis media (9 RCTs)

Review

Plant-Based Support of Respiratory Health during Viral Outbreaks.

Dose: None vs.: None Outcome: None Wirkung: None None

Population: None

Meta-Analysis

Echinacea for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and …

Dose: None vs.: Placebo Outcome: Upper respiratory tract infection Wirkung: None None

Population: None

Meta-Analysis n=3135 13.0 weeks

Efficacy of vitamin C for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. A …

Dose: None vs.: Placebo Outcome: Upper respiratory tract infection Wirkung: odds ratio = 0.75 p=0.07

Population: children

In Vitro

Prevention and Treatment of Influenza, Influenza-Like Illness, and Common Cold by Herbal, Complementary, and Natural …

Dose: None vs.: Placebo Outcome: Influenza and common cold prevention/treatment Wirkung: None None

Population: General population with respiratory infections

Randomized Controlled Trial n=177 Double-blind

Antitussive effect of a fixed combination of Justicia adhatoda, Echinacea purpurea and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts …

Dose: 30 ml/day vs.: placebo Outcome: cough relief, which was assessed as the change … Wirkung: None None

Population: men

Key Statistics

Studien

4000

Teilnehmer

↑

Positive

Bewertung

Referenced Papers

Efficacy and safety of Echinacea purpurea in treating upper respiratory infections and complications of otitis media in children: Systematic review … Meta-Analysis

Clinical nutrition ESPEN 2025 2 Zitierungen

Plant-Based Support of Respiratory Health during Viral Outbreaks. Other

Journal of agricultural … 2022 9 Zitierungen

Efficacy of vitamin C for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. A meta-analysis in children. Meta-Analysis

European journal of … 2019 54 Zitierungen

Echinacea for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-Analysis

Complementary therapies in … 2019 51 Zitierungen

Prevention and Treatment of Influenza, Influenza-Like Illness, and Common Cold by Herbal, Complementary, and Natural Therapies. Review

Journal of evidence-based … 2017 134 Zitierungen

Antitussive effect of a fixed combination of Justicia adhatoda, Echinacea purpurea and Eleutherococcus senticosus extracts in patients with acute upper … RCT

Phytomedicine : international … 2015 36 Zitierungen

Echinacea and elderberry-should they be used against upper respiratory tract infections during pregnancy? Review

Frontiers in pharmacology 2014 14 Zitierungen

Treatment of the common cold in children and adults. Review

American family physician 2012

Simultaneous quantification of Echinacea species, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Scutellaria and Fructus Forsythiae combinations by rapid resolution liquid chromatography. Other

Natural product communications 2011 7 Zitierungen

Effects of echinacea on the frequency of upper respiratory tract symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. RCT

Annals of allergy, … 2008 28 Zitierungen

Colds and influenza: a review of diagnosis and conventional, botanical, and nutritional considerations. Review

Alternative medicine review … 2007 163 Zitierungen

Echinacea purpurea and mucosal immunity. RCT

International journal of … 2007 41 Zitierungen

Echinacea purpurea L. in children: safety, tolerability, compliance, and clinical effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections. Other

Canadian journal of … 2007 20 Zitierungen

Complementary and alternative medicine for upper-respiratory-tract infection in children. Review

American journal of … 2006 51 Zitierungen

Echinacea purpurea for prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children. Other

Journal of alternative … 2005 44 Zitierungen

Use of Echinacea in upper respiratory tract infection. Review

Southern medical journal 2005 35 Zitierungen

Efficacy of a standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. RCT

Journal of clinical … 2004 109 Zitierungen

Upper respiratory tract infection. Review

Clinical evidence 2003

Upper respiratory tract infection. Review

Clinical evidence 2003

Treatment of the common cold with unrefined echinacea. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. RCT

Annals of internal … 2002 178 Zitierungen

Respiratory and allergic diseases: from upper respiratory tract infections to asthma. Review

Primary care 2002 56 Zitierungen

Upper respiratory tract infection. Other

American family physician 2002

Echinacea root extracts for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. RCT

Archives of family … 1998 162 Zitierungen

Dosage & Usage

mg = milligrams · mcg = micrograms (1,000× smaller) · IU = International Units

Übliche Dosierungen

general:: 300-500 mg standardized extract 3x/day
acuteuse:: At first sign of symptoms for 7-10 days

Obergrenze: No established UL; generally used for 10 days or less

In der Forschung untersuchte Dosierungen

Dosierung	Dauer	Wirkung	N
None	--	Positive	3169
None	--	Mixed	--
None	--	Positive	--
None	13.0 weeks	Mixed	3135
None	--	Positive	--
30 ml/day	--	Positive	177
None	--	Neutral	--
None	--	Mixed	--

Beste Einnahmezeit: At first sign of symptoms; multiple doses throughout the day

Safety & Side Effects

Gemeldete Nebenwirkungen

⚠ Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, stomach pain)
⚠ Allergic reactions (especially in those allergic to daisies, ragweed)
⚠ Headache
⚠ Dizziness

Bekannte Wechselwirkungen

● Immunosuppressant medications (may counteract immunosuppression)
● CYP3A4 substrates (may alter metabolism of various drugs)
● Caffeine (may slow caffeine metabolism)
● Anabolic steroids and methotrexate (increased hepatotoxicity risk)

Tolerierbare Höchstaufnahmemenge: No established UL; generally used for 10 days or less

Konsultieren Sie immer Ihren Arzt, bevor Sie ein Nahrungsergänzungsmittel einnehmen.Konsultieren Sie immer Ihren Arzt, bevor Sie ein Nahrungsergänzungsmittel einnehmen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Echinacea help with Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

Based on 20 studies with 4,000 participants, there is moderate evidence from clinical studies that Echinacea may support Upper Respiratory Tract Infections management. Our evidence grade is B (Good Evidence).

How much Echinacea should I take for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

Studies have used various dosages. A commonly studied range is 300-500 mg standardized extract 3x/day. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.

Are there side effects of Echinacea?

Reported side effects may include Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, stomach pain), Allergic reactions (especially in those allergic to daisies, ragweed), Headache, Dizziness. Most side effects are mild and dose-dependent. Consult your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions.

How strong is the evidence for Echinacea and Upper Respiratory Tract Infections?

We rate the evidence as Grade B (Good Evidence). This rating is based on 20 peer-reviewed studies with 4,000 total participants. The overall direction of effect is positive.

Related Evidence

Andere Inhaltsstoffe für Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Vitamin D A Zinc A Beta-Glucan A Vitamin C B Andrographis B Garlic B

Kurzfazit

Evidence Strength72%

High confidence

Studienübersicht

RCT (6)Meta (3)Other (11)

Alternativen vergleichen

Sehen Sie, wie andere Inhaltsstoffe bei dieser Beschwerde abschneiden.

Alle Inhaltsstoffe ansehen für Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Mehr erfahren

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