Andrographis paniculata- Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Andrographis paniculata is an annual herb that is in the family Acanthaceae. In Ayurveda, it is called Kalmegh, Creat, King of Bitters, Green Chiretta, or Indian Chiretta. In Pinyin Chinese, it is called chun xn lián. The Acanthaceae family is found all over the world in tropical and subtropical areas. Andrographis is native to India and Sri Lanka, which are both in the tropics. It is also often grown in gardens in the Indian state of Bengal. Andrographis is an important medicinal herb in the places where it grows naturally. It is also used in herbal medicine in the west.

People often use andrographis to prevent and treat the common cold and flu (influenza). Some people say that andrographis stopped an outbreak of the flu in India in 1919, but this has not been proven.

Andrographis is also used to treat a large number of other health problems. It is used to treat digestive problems like diarrhoea, constipation, intestinal gas, colic, and stomach pain. It is also used to treat liver problems like an enlarged liver, jaundice, and liver damage caused by medications. It is also used to treat infections like leprosy, pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, malaria, cholera, leptospirosis, rabies, sinusitis, HIV/AIDS, and wounds,

Some people use andrographis to treat allergies, bronchitis, sore throats, coughs, and swollen tonsils. It is also used to prevent "hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis) and heart disease and diabetes.

It is also used to treat snake and bug bites, loss of appetite, kidney problems (pyelonephritis), haemorrhoids, and familial Mediterranean fever, which is a disease that runs in families.

Andrographis is also used as a toner, a way to kill bacteria, a painkiller, a way to bring down a fever, and a way to treat worms.

Some Internet stores sell andrographis products that have more of an ingredient called andrographolide, which is what makes the product work. Some of these items have nearly 30% andrographolide in them. But be careful, because it's not known if andrographis preparations with a lot of andrographolide are safe or if they work.

What is Andrographis Paniculata?
Ayurvedic use of Andrographis Paniculata
Traditional use of Andrographis Paniculata
Health benefits of Andrographis Paniculata:

Plugin Author?

What is Andrographis Paniculata?

Andrographis has been used for many things in the past. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is used as an alternative (to help the body get rid of toxins), a stomachic (to help digestion), and a supporter of the immune system. In Chinese medicine, it is thought that andrographis goes into the channels of the lungs and of the digestive organs (small & large intestines, stomach). People say that it "dries dampness," "clears heat," and is good for heat that shows up in the lungs and skin. Andrographis has been shown to help the immune system right away, especially when it comes to keeping the body's temperature normal. Andrographis is used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to help kids with stomach problems. Andrographis is also used to help the body digest food. Because Andrographis is so bitter (hence its English name, "King of Bitters"), it helps the gallbladder do its job, which in turn helps the liver. Andrographis is now being studied as part of modern research.

Andrographolide is a diterpene lactone made by Andrographis paniculata. It has been shown to support a healthy immune response by changing the levels of immune cells in the blood. Early research has shown that andrographolide helps maintain normal blood flow and pressure in blood vessels, a healthy balance of blood sugar, and normal liver function and lipid balance. This makes Andrographis a promising herb for supporting the cardiovascular system and metabolic functions. As an antioxidant, andrographolide has also been shown to get rid of free radicals and protect mitochondria. It does this best in the kidney and liver tissues.

Ayurvedic use of Andrographis Paniculata

Andrographis paniculata has a long history in both Ayurvedic medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used as a medicine since India's Ayurvedic medicine began around 3,000–4,000 BCE. Even though it has been used for thousands of years to help people feel healthy and well, this versatile herb is still popular among the more than 70% of Indians who use Ayurveda.

Some accounts of history say that Andrographis stopped the Indian flu epidemic of 1919, which happened right after the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. Before it was stopped, the epidemic killed between 20 and 50 million people around the world, including at least 10 million in India.

Traditional use of Andrographis Paniculata

Andrographis Paniculata is an annual plant in the same family as the Chinese violet, which is the Acanthaceae. It comes from India, where the ancient healing system Ayurveda places a high value on it. China also grows it so that it can be used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It is a beautiful herb that grows about a metre tall and has purple and white flowers. The whole plant tastes very bitter, and people like it because it helps them get rid of toxins. This is how it got the nicknames "King of Bitters" and "Bile of the Earth." The whole plant is used as medicine, including the fresh and dried leaves and the fresh juice.

Health benefits of Andrographis Paniculata:

It can help with a cold

People think that taking andrographis alone or as part of a combination of herbs may help some people with coughs and sore throats.

It can help with osteoarthritis.

People with mild or moderate osteoarthritis of the knee can feel less pain and stiffness if they take andrographis extract every day.

It has a lot of antioxidants.

Kalmegh is full of antioxidants and polyphenols, which may help fight the free radicals in our bodies that can be harmful. This, in turn, seems to keep harmful bacteria and viruses from getting into the body's cells.

Kalmegh is good for reducing inflammation

Because kalmegh is anti-inflammatory, it could help the body fight infections well. This herb may also help the body repair damaged tissues, making it a very useful substance. Kalmegh can also help reduce inflammation-related swelling and pain.

It helps with digestion.

Kalmegh is a good way to deal with digestive issues like losing your appetite. Because it is hot, it may also help to improve the digestive fire and the way the liver works.

It's good for the liver, too.

Kalmegh can also be used to treat liver problems. It can protect liver cells from damage caused by free radicals because it is an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory, and a hepatoprotective.

It also kills worms in the gut.

People think that kalmegh kills worms in the intestines and helps keep the intestines healthy.

It can even get rid of acne

The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of the Ayurvedic herb also help to treat skin problems. Kalmegh is full of antioxidants, which help fight off harmful free radicals that cause many health and skin problems.

It stops bacteria from growing.

Because kalmegh is antibacterial, it may help the body fight off bacterial infections. Even though andrographis doesn't seem to kill bacteria directly very well, it may help reduce diarrhoea and other symptoms caused by bacterial infections.

Can help take care of diabetes

Andrographolide in kalmegh helps reduce blood glucose levels. It might help the pancreatic cells make more insulin, which would help the body use glucose. Since kalmegh is full of antioxidants, it could also help to lower the risk of complications from diabetes.