Why is it a winter medicine?

Just like us, ancient communities all around the world have tried to minimise their health problems. In many cases, that has meant looking to the natural world around them – especially local plant life. In many cases, the result is a complex and sophisticated system of herbal medicine that, today, requires years of study before it can be mastered. In India, one such system of herbalism – which includes a detailed paradigm aimed at understanding human health – is called Ayurveda, or Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda utilises many herbs, and these are increasingly coming into use around the world. Indian herbs such as withania are now nearly as well known as traditional Chinese herbs like ginseng. Andrographis is a major herb within the Ayurvedic system. It is traditionally valued for helping reduce symptoms such as mild fevers. It is also sometimes recommended for digestive complaints.

Where can you get it?

Andrographis is not commonly found growing in gardens, and it is rarely available as a fresh, whole herb. That’s not a big problem though, because it is now easy to obtain in capsule or tablet form. It can even sometimes be found as a tea.

As with any herbal medicine, there’s a lot to be said for including a modern element even with a traditional approach to health: a consistent, reliable dosage using a standardised extract with known levels of active ingredients. For this kind of reliability, you’ll need to find an andrographis capsule manufactured to pharmaceutical standards.

Andrographis facts

- While many traditional herbs have been shown by modern science to have just the sort of benefits traditionally attributed to them, andrographis has yet to be studied extensively. The main evidence for its effects comes from centuries of traditional use, and not from clinical research.

- Andrographis is found in many parts of Asia, and is also utilised in traditional Chinese medicine, though less extensively than in India’s Ayurvedic tradition.

- It is believed to have originated in India and Sri Lanka.

- Ayurvedic medicine is very ancient; it arose from tribal traditions and was already extensively developed and widespread as long as 2500 years ago.