title: Providing evidence for use of Echinacea supplements in Hajj pilgrims for management of respiratory tract infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate potential applicability of Echinacea use for management of respiratory tract infections in Hajj travelers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed database was explored with Mesh terms "Echinacea" and "Respiratory Tract Infections".
  
  
  RESULTS
  A hundred journal articles were yielded but only 66 most relevant ones used for the review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a considerable amount of evidence that shows effectiveness of Echinacea products in prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections in this setting. Although there are some controversial findings, utilization of standardized products with adequate dose or combinations with other immune-stimulants in controlled and well-designed trials will be highly encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), International Campus, School of Pharmacy, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: daneshmehr.ma@iums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Daneshmehr
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), International Campus, School of Pharmacy, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Tafazoli.m.a@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tafazoli
mesh_terms: D019587:Dietary Supplements; D020900:Echinacea; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Echinacea; Hajj; Pilgrims; Respiratory tract infections; Travelers