Andrographis paniculata is a commonly used herb in India and China, but it is not as well known here in the West. It is best known for its antimicrobial and immune boosting properties and is often called “Echinacea india”, but its benefits are widely varied for a much larger number of conditions. It has many benefits for general immunity during cold and flu season, and may have applications for those with chronic infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease or AIDS. It can also be beneficial for people with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. These last two conditions can also be caused 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 bacterial spirochete infection, which is extremely difficult to clear from the body in its tertiary stage. Because diagnosis and testing for this condition are so poor today, many people never realize they have this debilitating disease until years have passed since they were infected and the bacteria are well ingrained in their system. The bacteria also form cysts that allow it to hide from the body’s own immune system. It also creates an overproduction of fibrin, which basically means that a person with this disease produces an abnormal amount of scar tissue and that their blood will be thick 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 unhealthy blood clots from forming. Andrographis may help Lyme sufferers, as a result of possible antimicrobial and immune activity, and also as a result of its potential ability to break down excess fibrin in the blood.

For those with CFS 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 mycloplasma infections have been implicated in fibromyalgia. Dr. Garth Nicholsen, an orthomolecular medicine practitioner, has successfully treated many diseases such as CFS, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War syndrome using therapies similar to those used to treat Lyme disease, primarily involving long-term use of a combination of antibiotics. Some of the bacteria implicated 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 it is 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 hinted that it may be as effective as tamoxifen, the commonly used drug in preventing the regrowth of breast cancer cells.

Andrographis has been shown to be active against the HIV virus. It is to prevent the virus from infecting healthy T cells and it also appears to fight the HIV virus in cells that have already taken over. It seems to prevent the multiplication of the virus.

As you can see, andrographis is an amazing herb that can have a wide variety of applications in all kinds of chronic diseases that often don’t have many simple solutions.