NATURAL APPROACHES IN SUPPORTING A HEALTHY
IMMUNE SYSTEM
No. 1 Herb Andrographis Paniculata
By John E Smith B.A (Hons.) M:URHP Dip C.H.
“Avert the Danger which has not yet come” – Yogi Patanjali
Yes the FDA are threatening to prosecute anyone offering a natural approach to treating or preventing swine flu. So lets make it clear that is not what I am doing.
OK, so everyone who has any experience with preventative medicine or simply something to sell is offering an answer to the current predicted pandemic. Some of these offerings are well informed, others are simply cashing in on public fear.
Those who stand to profit most from the current outbreak are of course the big pharmaceutical companies, regardless of the fact that although Tamiflu and other anti-virals were designed as preventatives, it is generally accepted that their only value is in reducing the effect of the virus once it has been contracted. And, of course, the media, who present us with endless possible scenarios, some very well informed, others simple sketched plots for future disaster movies.
However, it doesn’t pay to be complacent. We have been fortunate so far, in that SARS, H5N1 Bird Flu, Asian flu, German flu, CJD, and various other threats over the last fifty years or so, have not proved to be as devastating as the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918/19, which killed around 50 million people worldwide.
Some say we owe our current survival to antibiotics, antivirals etc., but we don’t have to look too far to see the downside of these; including MRSA (which probably kills many more people than any modern flu virus).
In the following articles I plan to outline a few herbs, which I personally value as great anti-virals, herbs, which have been found to be useful in both stimulating and strengthening the immune system. Some of these herbs have even been used with some success in previous pandemics (including the 1918 ‘Spanish Flu’ and the SARS virus).
ANDROGRAPHIS – The King of Bitters
(Chiretta, Andrographis paniculata).
Andrographis is a member of the gentiana family and grows prolifically throughout the east where it is used traditionally to reduce fever and other infections; other areas of use include sore throats, digestive problems, snakebites and malaria (andrographis is a major ingredient in the traditional Ayurvedic malaria powder known as mahasudarshan churna).
It was during the last year of the First World War that andrographis took on a totally new role in helping to overcome the flu virus, which killed 10 million people in India.
Modern antibiotic and antiviral medicines not only produce side effects but also help in the creation of drug resistant ‘super bugs’ whereas potent botanicals such as andrographis and golden seal – are generally safe to use when taken as prescribed by a herbalist.
The problem with golden seal is that it is now endangered in the wild, and (although it is now successfully cultivated in the U.S.) is a very expensive herb, whereas andrographis grows abundantly in Northern India, Nepal and certain parts of Africa and (unlike golden seal) can be easily cultivated in the U.K.
In a recent study involving 158 participants suffering from the common cold, andrographis and a placebo was given daily for four days; by the second day those taking the herb showed significant improvements as compared to those taking the placebo.
Andrographis appears to be faster acting than Echinacea and is often referred to as ‘Indian Echinacea’ due to its similar actions (including its ability to encourage the production of the cell protein interferon). In Scandinavia, Andrographis is even more popular than Echinacea, becoming the No.1 flu remedy.
This potent herb can also be likened in action to Milk Thistle, whose active ingredient sylmarin is known to repair liver damage.
All herbal traditions use bitter herbs to reduce fevers and treat toxic heat conditions;
in China the herbs gentian and coptis are widely used for this purpose, whereas in N.America Golden Seal would be the herb of choice; cinchona (known for its active ingredient quinine is used by the indigenous Amazonian tribes and European herbalists have traditionally used herbs such as centaury and barberry; Andrographis is India’s contribution to this area of treatment, it is referred to by Ayurvedic doctors as The King of Bitters and is used to subdue the pitta (fire) dosha.
Andrographis can also be compared in action and potency (but without the side effects*), to three commonly used drugs AZT a commonly used AIDS drug, the cancer drug Tamoxifen and loperamine (Imodium) a common drug in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Andrographis has cytotoxic properties, giving it potential use in the treatment of cancer. In a 1977 study 12 skin cancer patients given andrographis all recovered
In a very large study the overall effectiveness in using andrographis to relieve bacterial dysentery and diarrhoea was found to be 91.3%.
* the side effects of AZT range from headaches and nausea to reduced red blood cell count, those of tamoxifen include weight gain and hot flushes, loperimide may cause abdominal distension, pain, nausea and vomiting.
References: Bartameus.P, Andrographis. Health Science. (Newsletter of the Health Science Institute). May 2002.
Pole. Sebastian, Using Ayurvedic Herbs in the Western Clinic (URHP Spring Newsletter) 2003.
Smith.J, Herbal Alternatives to Antibiotic Drugs. Discovering Herbs Newsletter. Autumn. 2002.
DISCLAIMER:
Any health benefits cited in this article are based on centuries of traditional herbal use, and not, unless specified, on modern scientific findings.
The information contained is for educational purposes. It is not intended as an alternative to the advice of a qualified health professional.
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I completely rely on alternative remedies for both myself and my children unlike my husband who is very much medicins orientated. I’ve been using ECHINACEA for a long time and i will definately try ANDROGRAPHIS . Where can i buy it ? Can the children use it as well ? Thank you
Hi Manuela – echinacea should be strong enough for young children, but low doses of andrographis wd be fine also. Due to the economy, EU regulations and various other factors (check out codex alimentarius), many herbs are becoming difficult to get hold of (my regular supplier of andrographis has gone into recievership)I still have a small amount, it is available as a herb (tastes aweful)and I believe Pukka have it in capsule form. – ler me know if you get stuck as I can get it from the states (in capsule or tablet form) – best regards – john
‘Some say we owe our current survival to antibiotics, antivirals etc., but we don
Evidence? Sorry I prefer to trust common sense, common knowledge, and common experience – scientific medical evidence (although I am sure it exists in reference to my statement)is generally untrustworthy as research is almost always funded by those receiving funding from the very pharmaceutical companies that make their fortune from such things as antibiotics, antivirals etc etc. I am not totally opposed to antibiotics they have been extremely useful and have their place – but they have been used unnecessarily, overprescribed and not only destroy bad but also good bacteria.
Good news – this article was just featured in the Take Charge of Your Healthcare blog carnival: http://tinyurl.com/tch0809
Thanks for this John.
I think people forget that firstly, most medicines are based on nature – herbs/plants etc and second, the reason we have many medicines for things that can be treated with natural produce (eg: throat medicine vs natural honey) is that nature can not be “claimed” as anyones so in order to make a profit, pharmacuticals modify or synthesize natural ingredients.
This is also shown in “new medicines” due to the pharms being allowed to charge extortionate amounts for a set time. After that, the profit margin has to lower and so they “alter” the medicine and bring out a slightly “new” version – this is treated as new and so the large profit margin can be added again.
I am all for natural remedies, especially as I believe these are designed to boost immune systems, and be preventative and they work very well.
Some theories even state that the only reason we need antibiotics and some of the stronger medicines is due to many diseases and problems being man-made. Not saying people are “making illnesses” but we KNOW many chemicals are bad – such as chemicals in face creams that have hormone distruptors and the likes. If you are using things like this on your skin, in your food (fertilisers on veg or hormones in meat) then these are bound to have affects in your body.
Ergo, we MAY need a more “man-made, synthesized” drug to help deal with problems this comes from.
Anyway, these are just my thoughts on things I have learned regarding the drugs industry etc. Sorry for rambling.