The purple coneflower (E. angustifolia and E. purpurea) is one of the most popular herbal supplements in North America and Europe. Echinacea preparations are marketed to provide protection and treatment for the common cold. Reviews and meta-analyses provide modest support for the use of Echinacea in the prevention and treatment of the common cold (Can Fam Physician 2011;57:31-6; Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Jan 25;(1):CD000530; Lancet Infect Dis 2007;7:473-80; Clin Ther. 2006 Feb;28(2):174-83). One meta-analysis concluded that echinacea decreased the odds of developing the common cold by 58% and the duration of a cold by 1.4 days (Lancet Infect Dis 2007;7:473-80).