Andrographis is a shrub found throughout India and other Asian countries. It has become popular in Scandinavia as a treatment for colds. Astragalus herb is often used for immune system help. Oregano herb and oil also have health benefits you can consider.

Buy Andrographis Planetary Herbals with 10% andrographolides

Andrographis paniculata is an herb commonly used in China, India and other countries in subtropical and Southeast Asia. Both the fresh and dried andrographis leaves, as well as the fresh juice of the whole plant, have been used in a variety of cultures. In traditional Chinese herbalism, Andrographis is used to support healthy digestive, cardiovascular and urinary systems. In Sweden, it has been used for more than 10 years as a primary herb for the winter season for immune support.

Supplement Facts
buy Andrographis Standardized 300 mg and herbal powder 100 mg
   Extract (10% andrographolides)

What's in Andrographis herb?
Some of the compounds in andrographis are diterpene lactones known as andrographolides. Andrographis contains andrographolide, deoxyandrographolide and neoandrographolide.

Potential uses and benefits
There has been a great deal of research done with andrographis. Here's a summary of some of the benefits:

Anti-inflammatory
Andrographis contains many flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Andrographolide, an active component, inhibits inflammatory responses by rat neutrophils.

Anti-tumor
Andrographis paniculata has anti-carcinogenicity properties.

Anti-oxidant and liver protection
Andrographis paniculata treatment prevents BHC induced increase in the activities of enzymes y-Glutamyl transpeptidase, glutathione-S-transferase and lipid peroxidation. The activities of antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and the levels of glutathione were decreased following BHC effect. Administration of androgrpahis showed protective effects in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase as well the level of glutathione. The activity of lipid peroxidase was also decreased. The result indicate antioxidant and hepatoprotective action of andrographis.

Protective activity of andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins from Andrographis paniculata Nees. against ethanol-induced toxicity in mice.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2006; Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Human Physiology with Community Health, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore 721 102, West Bengal, India; Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, IIT, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.
To find out the active principles against ethanol-induced toxicity in mice, andrographis paniculata was chosen and isolated andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins. The mice are pretreated intra-peritoneally (i.p.) with different doses of andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins for 7 days and then ethanol (7.5g/kg of body weight) was injected, i.p. Besides, silymarin was used as standard hepatoprotective agent for comparative study with andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins. The ameliorative activity of andrographolide and AGP against hepatic renal alcohol toxicity was measured by assessing GOT, GPT, ACP, ALP and LP levels in liver and kidney. It has been observed that pretreatment of mice with andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins could able to minimize the toxicity in compare to ethanol treated group as revealed by the different enzymatic assay in liver and kidney tissues and the results were comparable with silymarin. Hence, out of several ill-defined compounds present in Andrographis paniculata, andrographolide and arabinogalactan proteins are the potential bioactive compounds responsible for protection against ethanol-induced toxicity.

Andrographis for colds and flu
Long known in traditional Asian medicine as an immune system booster, Andrographis has demonstrated significant activity in fighting common cold, flu, and upper respiratory infections. Two randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group clinical trials were performed to investigate the effect of a standardized extract (SHA-10) of Andrographis paniculata fixed combination (Kan jang) in the treatment of uncomplicated upper-respiratory tract infections. In both studies throat symptoms/signs, were found to show the most significant improvement.

Andrographis Planetary Formulas
Andrographis Standardized Extract (10% andrographolides)
Andrographis Herb (Andrographis paniculata)

Diabetes
The ethanolic extract of Andrographis  possesses antidiabetic property. Its antidiabetic effect may be attributed at least in part to increased glucose metabolism.

Familial Mediterranean Fever
Androgrphis, in combination with other herbs, may be helpful (see the study below).

Andrographis and HIV
Andrographolide may inhibit HIV-induced cell cycle dysregulation, leading to a rise in CD4(+) lymphocyte levels in HIV-1 infected individuals.

Immune system
Most flavonoids have anti-microbial activity and have a positive effect on the immune system.

Mind
Andrographis extract exhibited a significant alteration in behavior pattern and a reduction in spontaneous motility in animals. The extract also produced a prolongation of the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time and lowered the body temperature in different experimental animal models.

Andrographis Research Update
Andrographis paniculata in the Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy.
Coon JT, Ernst E. Planta Med. 2004.
Acute respiratory infections represent a significant cause of over-prescription of antibiotics and are one of the major reasons for absence from work. The leaves of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall ex Nees (Acanthaceae) are used as a medicinal herb in the treatment of infectious diseases. Systematic literature searches were conducted in six computerised databases and the reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant publications. Information was also requested from manufacturers, the spontaneous reporting schemes of the World Health Organisation and national drug safety bodies. No language restrictions were imposed. Seven double-blind, controlled trials met the inclusion criteria for evaluation of efficacy. All trials scored at least three, out of a maximum of five, for methodological quality on the Jadad scale. Collectively, the data suggest that Andrographis is superior to placebo in alleviating the subjective symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. There is also preliminary evidence of a preventative effect. Adverse events reported following administration of Andrographis  were generally mild and infrequent. There were few spontaneous reports of adverse events. Andrographis  may be a safe and efficacious treatment for the relief of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection; more research is warranted.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, pilot clinical trial of ImmunoGuard--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees, with Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim, Schizandra chinensis Bail. and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extracts in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.
Phytomedicine. 2003. Amaryan G, Astvatsatryan V, Gabrielyan E, Panossian A. Republican Children's FMF Center, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.
Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled pilot study of ImmunoGuard--a standardized fixed combination of Andrographis paniculata Nees., Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim., Schizandra chinensis Bail., and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. special extracts standardized for the content of Andrographolide (4 mg/tablet), Eleuteroside E, Schisandrins and Glycyrrhizin, was carried out in two parallel groups of patients. The study was conducted in 24 (3-15 years of both genders) patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), 14 were treated with tablets of series A (verum) and 10 patients received series B product (placebo). The study medication was taken three times of four tablets daily for 1 month. Daily dose of the andrographolide--48 mg. The primary outcome measures in physician's evaluation were related to duration, frequency and severity of attacks in FMF patients (attacks characteristics score). The patient's self-evaluation was based mainly on symptoms--abdominal, chest pains, temperature, arthritis, myalgia, erysipelas-like erythema. All of 3 features (duration, frequency, severity of attacks) showed significant improvement in the verum group as compared with the placebo. In both clinical and self evaluation the severity of attacks was found to show the most significant improvement in the verum group. Both the clinical and laboratory results of the present phase II (pilot) clinical study suggest that ImmunoGuard is a safe and efficacious herbal drug for the management of patients with FMF.

questions
Q. Does andrographis help Impotence?
   A. We have not seen such research. For sexual enhancement, see tongkat ali website, yohimbe product or Home - tribulus terrestris extract information.

Q. Is there a danger combining andrographis with asparagus extract? Has there been an andrographis study to look into this?
   A. We don't see any problmes with the combination of one pill a day of each but we have not seen such studies.

Regarding andrographis and the common cold. If this herb improves the immune system, should it be taken daily throughout the winter common cold season?
    The influence of andrographis herb used daily on the upper respiratory system in terms of common cold prevention is not fully understood due lack of comprehensive human studies.