Ginseng and the Common Cold

I heard an interesting news item on CBC radio this morning that is germane to last night's class discussion. The efficaciousness of ginseng to fight the common cold is unproven according to experts. The popularity of Cold fX, a ginseng-based cold remedy developed at the University of Alberta, has spawned a number of other ginseng-based products making similar claims. According to the CBC report, Cold fX has shown to be of some benefit but further studies are needed. However, scientific evidence have not substantiated the claims made by manufacturers of other herbal-based cold remedy products according to Heather Boon, pharmacy professor at University of Toronto and an expert in alternative medicine. Health Canada is reviewing the claims made by manufacturers of such products but, according to the radio report, there is a backlog at Health Canada in evaluating these types of products.

I tried Cold fX once myself, but didn't feel that it made any difference in fighting my cold. It is, as stated in the CBC online article, an expensive treatment if one uses it as a preventive measure. Taking two tablets a day as participants in a study did, would cost $30 a month. However, there are those like Margaret Atwood and Don Cherry who swear by it as reported in a Maclean's article from 2005.

Here is a consumer information page from the manufacturers of Cold fX.