Cold comfort

Adults can get up to five colds, and children as many as ten, especially during the winter months. A new study on a herbal remedy offers some hope for sufferers.

ON average adults catch between two and five colds per year, especially during winter months. Children can get as many as 10. However, scientists have yet to come up with an effective cure.

This, say experts, is because colds and flu are caused by more than 200 types of respiratory virus. Prof Ronald Eccles, director of the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University, recently conducted research on the herbal remedy A. Vogel Echinaforce. With a total of 755 people, this four-month study is the largest clinical trial to date with echinacea.