If you want a safe, natural way to ward off the common cold, there’s something you should know about . . .

A set of new studies confirms that Echinacea really does boost your body’s ability to ward off cold symptoms – naturally. The medical community has dismissed this idea for years. I still hear doctors claim that there’s no supporting evidence for it. They can’t anymore.

The journal Lancet Infectious Diseases recently published a review of 14 studies proving Echinacea’s effectiveness, both as a preventive measure and as a treatment. Turns out taking Echinacea lowers your chances of catching a cold by 58 percent and shortens the length of a cold by an average of 1.4 days.

The next time you reach for drugs with decongestants and antihistamines, consider this: unlike Echinacea, these and other drugs come with unwanted side effects including:

• ·    Nausea
• ·    Drowsiness
• ·    Rapid Heart Beat
• ·    Nervousness
• ·    Dizziness
• ·    Hives
• ·    Difficulty Breathing
• ·    Serious Drug Interactions

What’s more, these drugs don’t boost your body’s natural immune power, and they don’t attack the germs that cause colds in the first place. All they do is suppress cold symptoms. And this undercuts your body’s natural responses.

When it comes to colds, give Nature’s cures a try before over-the-counter or prescription drugs. Boosting your body’s immune system is the best way to avoid catching cold.

If you do catch one, don’t overlook Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is often underestimated. It’s one of your body’s best immune boosters and it’s a potent antioxidant. The Lancet review cited one trial combining Echinacea with Vitamin C. They found that when taken together, they reduced colds by 86 percent.

The best approach is to take Vitamin C in doses higher than the government’s RDA. I recommend at least 500 mg a day on a daily bases for prevention and maintenance. If you have an increased chance of catching a cold, take 1000 mg.

Echinacea is a flower native to North America and is one of the most commonly used herbal supplements. There are nine different species, so you can easily find Echinacea in health food stores. When you feel a cold coming on, use 500 mg twice a day.

A final word of advice: be sure to read the label when you buy an Echinacea supplement. Of the nine species, only three are considered effective: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea. If you’re taking the wrong kind, chances are you won’t see the results.

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Dr. Al Sears has written over 500 articles and seven books in the fields of alternative medicine, anti-aging, and nutritional supplementation. His book, The Doctor’s Heart Cure, is transforming the lives of men and women everywhere by providing a clinically-proven plan of breakthrough health secrets that helps you build a powerful, disease-free heart. To learn more about Dr. Sears and his book, The Doctor’s Heart Cure, click here.

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Reference:

Sachin A. et al, “Evaluation of Echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysis.”2007. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 7:473-480.

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