12.01.05
Indication: Cold
Source: CMAJ, October 25, 2005;173(9):
doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041470.
Research: The investigators conducted a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the onset of the influenza season. A total of 323 subjects, 18–65 years of age, with a history of at least two colds in the previous year were recruited from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Participants took two capsules per day of either the North American ginseng extract or a placebo for a period of four months. The primary outcome measure was the number of Jackson-verified colds. Secondary variables measured included symptom severity, total number of days of symptoms and duration of all colds. Cold symptoms were scored by subjects using a 4-point scale.
Results: Subjects who did not start treatment were excluded from the analysis (23 in the ginseng group and 21 in the placebo group), leaving 130 in the ginseng group and 149 in the placebo group. The mean number of colds per person was lower in the ginseng group than in the placebo group. The proportion of subjects with two or more Jackson-verified colds during the four-month period was significantly lower in the ginseng group than in the placebo group, as were the total symptom score and the total number of days cold symptoms were reported for all colds.
Source: CMAJ, October 25, 2005;173(9):
doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041470.
Research: The investigators conducted a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the onset of the influenza season. A total of 323 subjects, 18–65 years of age, with a history of at least two colds in the previous year were recruited from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Participants took two capsules per day of either the North American ginseng extract or a placebo for a period of four months. The primary outcome measure was the number of Jackson-verified colds. Secondary variables measured included symptom severity, total number of days of symptoms and duration of all colds. Cold symptoms were scored by subjects using a 4-point scale.
Results: Subjects who did not start treatment were excluded from the analysis (23 in the ginseng group and 21 in the placebo group), leaving 130 in the ginseng group and 149 in the placebo group. The mean number of colds per person was lower in the ginseng group than in the placebo group. The proportion of subjects with two or more Jackson-verified colds during the four-month period was significantly lower in the ginseng group than in the placebo group, as were the total symptom score and the total number of days cold symptoms were reported for all colds.