Unfortunately echinacea isn't something I can take. I suffer from Systemic Lupus Erythematosis and echinacea has been known to cause flare ups, thus I don't use it. It seems that part of the problem is that people have been showing up at work before they have fully recovered, thus sharing their germs with others. I'll be back to work tomorrow, as what happened was a rather sleepless night. And, yes, Lupus is a rare diseasse amoungst males.