Andrographis
Andrographis has been used for centuries across Asia to treat a variety of illnessesTrusted Source, from diabetes and high blood pressure to influenza and malaria.
In the United States and other Western countries, andrographis supplements are used for the following situations:
Andrographis has been shown to boost Glutathione production as well as Superoxide Dismutase. These are the two strongest antioxidants. It also increased the production of Nrt2, a protein that can slow again and cell damage. When the liver is continuously being attacked, causing cell damage, it increases the production of connective tissue to an unhealthy level, which in turn causes cirrhosis. Andrographis stops this proliferation.
- Respiratory health: The most effective use of andrographis may be to relieve cold symptoms and other respiratory infections, such as coughing and a sore throat — andrographis was used as a treatmentTrusted Source during the flu epidemic of 1919 in India. Researchers have found that taking a high dose of andrographis for 3 daysTrusted Source was just as effective improving signs of tonsilitis as paracetamol (acetaminophen).
- Anti-inflammation: Andrographis has anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers think it works by reducing the number of cytokines in your body. (Cytokines are chemicals that cause inflammation around the affected area.) ResearchersTrusted Source think that this may be able to help reduce discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis, a condition caused by inflammation in the joints.
- Osteoarthritis: A study from 2019 confirmed that after 28 days of taking a supplement containing andrographolide, men and women with mild to moderate osteoarthritis in their knees saw significant reductions in painTrusted Source. The presence of a placebo group in this finding shows the result is reliable, and suggests the supplement is an effective therapy in this situation.
Other medicinal uses
Research has shown that andrographis may also help treat the following situations:
- Ulcerative colitis: The anti-inflammatory properties of andrographis have been shown to significantly limitTrusted Source the inflammatory proteins responsible for the condition. These studies were done in a lab.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune condition. The anti-inflammatory propertiesTrusted Source of andrographis help to get rid of the immune cells that attack your joints, in laboratory conditions. Since RA is considered an autoimmune condition, this could be promising for balancing the immune system.
- Protection from hepatitis C infection: Andrographis may help protect your liver during infection of hepatitis C. The active part of andrographis, andrographolide, helps to limit the growthTrusted Source of a virus, reducing the rate at which the infection develops. This is beneficial in reducing damage to the liver.
- In Malaysia, a decoction of the aerial parts is used to treat common cold, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, malaria and snakebite
- Many studies have been done for the incidence of cancers, including cancer of the colon, and other cancer studies.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11795549211012672
https://jeccr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13046-018-0926-9
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/11/5972
https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/study-finds-botanical-effective-for-chemo-resistant-colon-cancerhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-87283-y
