Does Echinacea Actually Work?

Does Echinacea Actually Work?

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    The bottom line: taking Echinacea while you are still healthy may help prevent the common cold, but Echinacea does not seem to be of significant benefit for treating colds that have already developed.

    Evidence for treatment of common colds: Although some smaller, lower quality studies suggest Echinacea purpurea may help reduce severity and duration of common colds, higher quality clinical research indicates that Echinacea does not reduce severity or duration of colds compared to placebo. Additionally, Echinacea purpurea does not seem to be effective in children.

    Evidence for prevention: Several meta-analyses have shown significant reductions (ranging from 10-58%) in the occurrence of common cold when Echinacea is taken consistently.

    Caution: It is also important to note that products containing Echinacea tend to vary significantly in purity, dose, and effectiveness. 

    References:

    1. Jawad M, Schoop R, Suter A, Klein P, Eccles R. Safety and Efficacy Profile of Echinacea purpurea to Prevent Common Cold Episodes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine [Internet]. 2012;2012:1-7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3457740/

    2. Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews [Internet]. 2014;. Available from: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/

    3. Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston S. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: A meta-analysis. Clinical Therapeutics [Internet]. 2006;28(2):174-183. Available from: https://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(06)00041-5/pdf

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    What It Actually Does

    Ashwagandha is classified as an adaptogen - a substance that helps the body adapt to physical and psychological stress. But that description undersells the specificity of the evidence.

    In peer-reviewed clinical trials, ashwagandha root extract has been shown to:

    01

    Reduce serum cortisol levels significantly in adults under chronic stress

    02

    Support testosterone levels and muscle recovery in resistance-trained adults

    03

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    04

    Improve subjective measures of stress, anxiety, and wellbeing

    05

    Improve sleep quality and reduce time to sleep onset

    Why The Form Matters

    Here is where most supplement labels become misleading.
    The clinical trials that produced the evidence above didn't use generic ashwagandha root powder. They used standardised, patented extracts - specifically KSM-66® and Sensoril®, both of which are produced from roots using proprietary extraction methods that concentrate the active withanolides to a consistent, clinically meaningful level.
    Generic ashwagandha powder can contain anywhere from 1% to 8% withanolides. KSM-66® is standardised to a minimum of 5% withanolides with a full-spectrum root extract, which means it retains the natural balance of the plant's compounds rather than isolating one component.
    When you buy a supplement that says "ashwagandha" without specifying the extract form, you have no way of knowing whether it contains enough active compounds to do anything at all.
    At Arise, we use KSM-66® in every formula that contains ashwagandha. It's more expensive. It's worth it.

    Third-party Testing

    Supplements are not regulated the same way pharmaceuticals are. In most markets, a supplement company can put almost anything in a capsule and make almost any claim about it, as long as they don't claim to treat a specific disease.
    This is why third-party testing matters. It means an independent laboratory - one with no financial relationship to the supplement company - has tested the product to verify that:

    1. The ingredients listed are actually present
    2. They're present at the stated concentrations
    3. The product doesn't contain contaminants, heavy metals, or undisclosed substances

    Look for: NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, or USP Verified certification on any supplement you take. These are the most rigorous third-party standards available.
    Every Arise formula is third-party tested before it reaches you. The results are available on request.

    The Honest Bottom Line

    Ashwagandha works. The evidence is genuinely strong. But the quality of the extract determines the quality of the outcome — and most of what's available on the market doesn't use the forms that the clinical research actually studied.
    Read the label. Ask for the extract form. Expect a specific answer.