What is Andrographis ?

Due to an array of questions from my last post regarding my “I can’t afford to be sick” protocol, I thought I’d dive into this particular supplement. Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) is an herb used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. Also known as "Indian echinacea," andrographis is a bitter-tasting herb rich in compounds known as andrographolides. These compounds are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties, although more research is going to be required for this herb to become a household staple in the west. 

Andrographis is most widely used to treat cold and flu symptoms, which is exactly what I’ve been using it for these last couple of years.. Andrographis is also said to act as a natural immune-booster, but I don’t recommend it as a preventative wellness supplement at this point due to it’s lacking research and side effects. . The herb is also used to treat a variety of other conditions traditionally, everything from cancer to ulcers, to anorexia to tonsillitis, but again, more research needs to be done to make these claims definitively even though the preliminary studies look mostly positive. 

Andrographis is not without its downside. It may trigger adverse effects like headache, fatigue, allergic reactions, nausea, and diarrhea. Personally, I’ll trade a day of fatigue or diarrhea with days of dealing with a bad cold or flu. And in my personal experience, I only recall experiencing a negative effect one time while taking it...and I probably took too much. 

Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of using Andrographis. Anyone using medications (including blood-thinning drugs, blood pressure medicines, and chemotherapy drugs) should consult a physician before using Andrographis.

Also, the safety of andrographis with pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. 

The complex I take is made by Standard Process, and it’s combined with echinacea and holy basil to increase its effectiveness.