Andrographis paniculata is a commonly used herb in India and China, but not as well known here in the West. It is best known for its antimicrobial and immune-enhancing properties and is often called “Indian Echinacea,” but its benefits are wide-ranging for a much larger number of conditions. It has many benefits for general immunity during cold and flu season, and may have applications for people with chronic infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease or AIDS. It may also be beneficial for people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. These last two conditions can also be triggered by infectious processes.
Stephen Harrod Buhner, who is a well known and respected herbalist, uses andrographis as the cornerstone of his Lyme Healing Protocol. Lyme disease is a spirochetal bacterial infection, which is extremely difficult to clear from the body in its tertiary stage. Because diagnosis and testing for this condition is so poor today, many people never realize they have this debilitating disease until years have passed since they were infected and the bacteria is well established in their system. The bacterium also forms cysts that allow it to hide from the body’s own immune system. It also creates an overproduction of fibrin, which basically means that someone with this disease produces an abnormal amount of scar tissue, and their blood will thicken and their blood circulation will be reduced. All of these things make this bacterial disease difficult to treat. Research in other countries has shown that this herb can stimulate fibrinolysis, preventing the formation of unhealthy blood clots. Andrographis may help Lyme sufferers, as a result of its potential antimicrobial and immune-enhancing activity, and also as a result of its potential ability to break down excess fibrin in the blood.
For those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, there may be underlying infectious processes that trigger the symptoms of your condition. The Epstein-Barr virus has been implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome, and mycoplasma infections have been implicated in fibromyalgia. Dr. Garth Nicholsen, a practitioner of orthomolecular medicine, has successfully treated many conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War syndrome using therapies similar to those used to treat Lyme disease, which It mainly involves the long-term use of a combination of antibiotics. Some of the bacteria involved in these conditions include mycoplasma pneumoniae, mycoplasma fermentans, and mycoplasma genitalis.
Andrographis may also have activity against these potential pathogens.
Recent research has shown that the herb improves gallbladder function by increasing bile flow, while being just as effective as milk thistle in protecting the liver.
Several studies have shown that andrographis can increase the body’s resistance to infection by stimulating the production of antibodies and macrophages.
Andrographis extracts have also been shown to kill cancer cells in vitro, and some studies have suggested that they may be as effective as tamoxifen, the drug commonly used to prevent the regeneration of breast cancer cells.
Andrographis has been shown to be active against the HIV virus. It seems to prevent the virus from infecting healthy T cells and also seems to fight the HIV virus in cells that have already been taken up. It seems to prevent the multiplication of the virus.
As you can see, andrographis is an amazing herb that can have a wide range of applications in all sorts of chronic diseases that often don’t have many simple solutions.
