Andrographis - Anti-Inflammatory

[Kristen_B]

We've been using Andrographis for about 3 weeks now. It got my son out of a really bad exacerbation triggered by the flu. Has anyone else used it and what was your experience? I first heard of it in a post in one of these forums on latitudes but haven't been able to locate that post. I can't say enough good about our experience with it. The only side effect I've noticed is that in lowers blood sugar, so I've been giving my son a low dose of Chromium Picolinate, as well. I'd like to compare notes with others on this.

[sf_mom]

We have given our children Andrographis, Engystol, IMN-V by ' Beyond Balance' for high viral load of HHV6, Coxsackies, XMRV. We have had great success treating viruses too...

 

Our children have chronic Lyme et al and their bodies had difficulties dealing with these viruses on top of everything else. The combo has definitely helped. We treated with this particular combo for about six months and restart when there is an obvious virus in the household. Prior to combo, we used high dose OLE and SyImmune Tablets for at least a year plus and it was not nearly as effective. All of us had a viral response of some type between 3 and 6 weeks after starting that included mouth sores, face sores, leg sores, etc.

[LNN]

We use andrographis when any of us feels a cold coming on. It seems to be effective in shortening the duration and severity of any viral bug. But we haven't used it on a daily basis in between colds. It does seem to have some strong evidence of being a legitimate anti-viral. I found some good Pubmed research on it a while back.

[Ozimum]

So I just looked up the ingredients of a product called Andro NK (Metagenics) recommended by our integrative GP (homeopathic and DAN! training) and found Andrographis paniculata is its main ingredient. It's described as a high potency immune support. We use it in conjunction with Bioeffective A, Echinacea and increased Vit C when DS17 has cold symptoms...seems to help. I'm thinking it reduces the duration of the cold symptoms and the risk of it developing into a bacterial infection.

Edited December 20, 2011 by Ozimum

[bws]

We've been using Andrographis for about 3 weeks now. It got my son out of a really bad exacerbation triggered by the flu. Has anyone else used it and what was your experience? I first heard of it in a post in one of these forums on latitudes but haven't been able to locate that post. I can't say enough good about our experience with it. The only side effect I've noticed is that in lowers blood sugar, so I've been giving my son a low dose of Chromium Picolinate, as well. I'd like to compare notes with others on this.

Can anyone elaborate on this? Dosage, times per day etc???

[MMWG]

Is it an over the counter?

[philamom]

I'm curious as well.

[LNN]

It's an OTC available at most health food stores, probably in the same section where you'd find oregano extract or the cold remedies. Dosing is on the label. Ours says to take 1-2 pills twice a day.

 

It's something you can take when you feel a cold coming on and taking it seems to lessen symptoms and shorten duration. We haven't used it for EBV et al but others have. Even Wiki - which seems to have a strong bias against "natural" products, has good things to say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrographis

[bws]

How does this taste? My daughter is refusing to take her abx due to bad taste.

 

I am nervous about giving any kind of herb without dr supervision, because herbs are medicine... This one especially seems to be one. But I would consider this since it seems so good! Any thoughts?

[KaraD]

Does it rev autoimmune issues? Some herbs that "boost" the immune system have been said to boost antibody production. Obviously, this wouldn't be a good thing for PANDAS. However, since it pulled the OP's son out of an exacerbation it seems to work differently? Thoughts?

 

Kara

[LNN]

It doesn't have much of a taste. A little smell - about as strong as a mild herb you'd use in cooking. Nothing overpowering. The pill capsule keeps most of the smell and all of the taste encapsulated. Just not "odorless". DD who is taste sensitive, takes it without issue.

 

I would always encourage someone to discuss herbs with their doctor and to research drug interactions with any other meds you're taking. However, if your docs are all "conventional" they probably have never heard of it. It's widely used by integrative docs and if this thread were on the lyme board, a high number of patients have probably used it at some point. You could post over there to see if anyone has research articles for you, or post on www.lymenet.org with a similar question. You will have to follow your gut on this one.

 

KaraD - my understanding of andrographis is that it's an anti-viral - it works against viruses in the way we think of antibiotics working against bacteria - not the same mechanisms, but with the same outcome. I do not believe it is "immune boosting" and to my knowledge, it wouldn't stimulate the production of antibodies to anything other than a specific virus. If you had Pitands, you might be reacting to the virus itself, in which case, taking an anti-viral would be like taking an antibiotic. Andrographis would be used to treat the infection.

 

It has not been "activating" for my kids and we have all used it to lessen the impact of an oncoming cold. My DD has just been dx'd with epstein barr and our doc doesn't feel andrographis would be strong enough for her. She will be taking something stronger. But everyone is different and it comes down to your own research and putting in context of your own health situations.