Herbal flu treatment

Calendar Girl

Ready for the cold winds to blow? Me neither. But with August now behind us, chilly weather will soon be creeping in for most of us, along with cold and flu season.

In the December 2001 HSI Members Alert we first told you about a remarkable herbal extract (andrographis paniculata) that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) therapies and Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat everything from isolated cases of the sniffles to full-blown outbreaks of influenza. In fact, Andrographis was credited with halting the spread of the 1919 Indian flu epidemic.

Early this summer I came across a review of seven different trials that tested the effectiveness of andrographis on the relief of cold symptoms. I saved this information until now because who wants to think about wintertime colds when planning for beach trips and baseball games?

But with September looming large on the wall calendar, the time has come to prepare for the inevitable.

Seven out of seven

Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK conducted a survey of medical databases, herbal manufacturer information and World Health Organization reports to select seven studies that met the criteria for double-blind, controlled trials. The combined studies tested the use of andrographis as a treatment for respiratory tract infection in nearly 900 subjects.

As reported in the journal Planta Medica the UK team analyzed three studies that tested doses of 48 to 60 mg of andrographis per day against placebo. Three other studies examined 60 mg of andrographis per day along with a daily dose of Siberian ginseng versus placebo. And the seventh trial had subjects taking 180 and 360 mg of crude andrographis (as opposed to standardized extracts in the other six studies), measured against a medication for common colds.

In all seven of these studies, subjects who took andrographis after the onset of cold symptoms reported faster recovery, compared to subjects who took placebo or medication.

Researchers concluded that andrographis may be effective in treating “uncomplicated” infection in the upper respiratory tract (throat, sinuses and ears). Adverse effects were described as “mild and infrequent.” They also noted that preliminary evidence indicated a possible preventive effect. Further studies will be needed to confirm that, of course.

Enzyme protection

In addition to the seven studies mentioned in the UK research, previous laboratory trials have shown that andrographis extract doesn’t actually kill the organisms that make you sick – at least not directly. Instead, it boosts your immune system and stimulates natural antibodies.

Your body creates some very powerful disease-fighting enzymes. But if you become ill easily or don’t recover quickly from colds and the flu, it’s possible that your production of these antioxidant enzymes has been compromised. Andrographis protects those enzymes, enhancing your natural disease-fighting ability.

But andrographis may eventually prove to do more than just bolster disease-fighting enzymes. Here are some results from trials with lab animals:

* Research with dogs showed that andrographis may help prevent myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood circulation in the heart caused by coronary artery disease)

* A similar study found that andrographis may inhibit the formation of blood clots

* Diabetic animals treated with andrographis developed lower blood sugar levels

* Andrographis lowered systolic blood pressure in lab rats bred to be spontaneously hypertensive

* Andrographis preserved liver function in mice that were given drugs to impair liver function

The potential of andrographis to influence these conditions in humans isn’t yet known.

Northern latitudes

In the December 2001 Member Alert, we told you about Kan Jang, a brand of standardized extract of andrographis that has outsold all other cold medications in Scandinavia for 12 years running. The Swedish Herbal Institute, the formulator of Kan Jang, recommends that you take one tablet four times daily to fight colds or the flu. Extracts are standardized to 11.2 mg andrographolides per 200 mg of extract.

Extensive human trials of Kan Jang have only measured the product’s impact on cold symptoms and occurrences. And even though those trials didn’t identify any adverse side effects, you should consult with your doctor or health care practitioner before supplementing with Kan Jang, especially if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, a blood-sugar disorder, or vascular problems. The American Herbal Products Association also suggests that pregnant or nursing women avoid using Kan Jang.

Kan Jang can be purchased at dietary supplement stores and through Internet sites.

Sources:

“Andrographis Paniculata in the Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy” Planta Medica, Vol. 70, No. 4, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
“Andrographis: Uncommon Treatment for the Common Cold” Maureen Williams, ND, Healthnotes Newswire, 6/3/04, pccnaturalmarkets.com
“Over-Medication Sickens Seniors” Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc., 8/16/04, thewbalchannel.com