Andrographis

Andrographis paniculata

Other Names:Andrographis Paniculata, Andrographolide, Bhunimba, Bidara, Carmantina, Carmantine, Chiretta, Chirette Verte, Chirreta, Chuan Xin Lian, Chuanxinlian, Chuan Xin Lin, Creat, Échinacée d’Inde, Fa-Tha-Lai-Jone, Fa-Tha-Lai-Jone, Gubak, Herba Andrographitis, Indian Echinacea, Justicia paniculata, Justicie, Kalamegha, Kalmegh, Kalmegha, Kariyat, King of Bitters, Kirta, Mahalita, Nabin Chanvandi, Poogiphalam, Roi des Amers, Sadilata, Sambilata, Shivaphala, Supari, Takila, Vizra Ufar, Yavatikta.

Special Precautions of Andrographis

• Orally, large doses of Andrographis may cause gastrointestinal distress, anorexia, emesis and urticaria.
• Androgapholide taken orally at 5 mg/kg three times a day may cause headache, fatigue, rash, abnormal taste, diarrhoea, itching, lymphadenopathy, anaphylactic reactions, etc.
• Pregnancy : Contraindicated in pregnancy, likely to be unsafe due to abortifacient effect.

The benefits of Andrographis are

• Treating the common cold. Some research shows that taking a specific andrographis extract in combination with Siberian ginseng (Kan Jang, Swedish Herbal Institute) by mouth significantly improves symptoms of the common cold when started within 72 hours of feeling sick. Some symptoms can improve after 2 days of treatment, but it usually takes 4-5 days of treatment before most symptoms go away. Some research suggests this combination of andrographis and Siberian ginseng relieves cold symptoms in children better than echinacea.
• Reducing the fever and sore throat due to tonsillitis. Some research shows that high dose andrographis (6 grams daily) works about as well as acetaminophen (Tylenol) after 3 to 7 days of treatment.
• Familial Mediterranean fever. Developing research suggests that a combination of andrographis, Siberian ginseng, schisandra, and licorice (ImmunoGuard, Inspired Nutritionals) reduces the length, number, and severity of attacks of familial Mediterranean fever in children.
• Treating flu (Influenza). There is some evidence that patients with flu who take a specific Andrographis extract in combination with Siberian ginseng (Kan Jang, Swedish Herbal Institute) feel better more quickly than patients taking amantadine, a drug approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent Asian flu and treat Influenza A. Patients who take this herbal combination also seem to have fewer complications such as sinus pain, as well as breathing problems and coughing (bronchitis), after the flu.
• Preventing the common cold. Researchers are just beginning to study whether or not andrographis can prevent colds. So far results are encouraging. People who take andrographis for two months straight seem to have half the chance of catching a cold as other people. But more work needs to be done before researchers can say andrographis really works for cold prevention.
• treating Sore Throat
• Allergies.
• Sinus infections.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Anorexia.
• Heart disease.
• Liver problems.
• Parasites.
• Infections.
• Skin diseases.
• Ulcers.
• Preventing the common cold.
• Some Internet vendors offer andrographis products that contain extra amounts of an active ingredient called andrographolide. Some of these products are almost 30% andrographolide. However, be careful; the safety and effectiveness of andrographis preparations with high andrographolide content are unknown.