Clinically-Proven to Treat the Common Cold and Acute Bronchitis
By
Don Brown, N.D.
It's that time of the year again; the leaves have turned, the holidays are approaching, and there is a chill in the air. With this beautiful season comes the dreaded cold and flu cycle that passes along from child to child and family to family. The respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis can really take a toll on your energy levels and enthusiasm for the holidays. Fortunately, with a little planning, you can shorten the duration of the illness and get back to the fun activities that come with this time of year.
One clinically-proven treatment for the entire family is a root extract from a member of the geranium family known as Pelargonium sidoides. Given the designator "EPs 7630," the extract has been studied extensively in over 4,000 adults and children in well-designed clinical studies and found to successfully and safely treat not only the common cold but also shorten the severity and duration of other respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis.1 Notable is the proven effectiveness and safety in young children.
Approved in Germany for the treatment of bronchitis and tonsillitis, EPs 7630 is the active ingredient in Umcka® Coldcare sold in the U.S. by Nature's Way.
Clinically-Proven
While there are many traditional remedies for the common cold, bronchitis, and other respiratory tract infections, many lack necessary clinical studies to support their effectiveness and safety. This is where EPs 7630 really shines.2 Due to its multi-action approach to treating viral upper respiratory tract infections, this unique natural medicine reduces symptom severity and duration without merely masking symptoms.
Common Cold
A 2007 study gave 93 adults suffering from the common cold either EPs 7630 (1.5 ml three times per day) or a placebo for 10 days.3 By the fifth day of the study, the majority of participants taking the herbal extract reported not only feeling better, but also back to almost 75% of their normal activity level. The poor folks taking the placebo didn't feel much better and were at only about 50% of normal activity level. By the tenth day, 82% of people taking the herbal remedy were back to their normal daily routine compared to only 54% of those taking the placebo! An independent review of this study by physicians writing for the Journal of Family Practice concluded, "In the final analysis, we think that these findings justify recommending this to our patients."4 They also add, "Our conclusion is that patients should be advised to purchase the medication to have on hand at home at the start of the cold season."
Acute Bronchitis
It's interesting to note that the medical world is actually concerned about the overuse of antibiotics for treating acute bronchitis. That's because the majority of cases are usually due to a viral infection and not a bacterial infection. A clinical study treated 468 adults with bronchitis with either EPs 7630 (1.5 ml three times per day) or a placebo.5 Treated for only seven days, symptoms such as cough, chest pain, sputum production, and shortness of breath, were reduced by almost 50% in those persons taking the herbal extract compared to those taking the placebo. Coughing either improved or disappeared in 89% of those taking EPs 7630 compared to only 57% of those taking the placebo. Notable is the fact that the extract has also been shown to be effective in treating children with acute bronchitis as well.6
Recommended Use and Safety
The proprietary EPs 7630 extract of Pelargonium sidoides root used in these clinical studies is available in the product Umcka® Coldcare from Nature's Way. For a cold, acute bronchitis, or non-bacterial sore throats, I recommend that people use it for seven to 10 days. Available in a variety of different delivery forms, the product is best taken at the first signs of a cold, so be sure to have it on hand in the medicine chest to ensure that your holiday season is a pleasant one!
References:
1. Brown D, Natural Med J 2009;1:1-6.
2. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008, Issue 3, Art No: CD006323.
3. Explore. 2007;3:573–84.
4. Family Practice 2008;57:157-61.
5. Phytomedicine . 2003;10(Suppl 4):7–17.
6. Intern J Clin Pharm Ther 2010;48:1-8.
7. Curr Med Res Opin 1999;15:214-27.
8. European J Clin Nutr 2006;60:9-17.
9. Pediatrics 2009;124:3172-3179.
