Andrographis paniculata a great help against colds and sore throats

 

We are already in the middle of winter and the most common thing is to hear from family and friends who have colds, with discomfort and sore throat, abundant mucus, headache… These are not worrying symptoms, but they are very annoying. Andrografis (Andrographis paniculata) is a very interesting plant, which can help us with this common and annoying symptomatology

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The common cold is one of the major drawbacks of both the drop in temperatures in winter and air conditioners in summer. It is a widespread health problem, it is not serious, but it is true that it is very contagious. When one member of the family begins with symptoms, the rest follow. In fact, its one of the most common reasons for work and school absenteeism

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The symptoms are generally very annoying, nasal congestion that prevents good breathing, a lot of itching and swelling of the throat, constant runny nose, headache, fever, muscle aches, generalized discomfort… Treating symptoms from the start is the best option, to prevent the common cold from being complicated by superinfections that cause more serious complications such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Winter is one of the times of the year when we must take maximum care of our immune system to keep our defense barrier strong. Andrografis is one of those plants that nature gives us. In this article, we are also going to talk about another plant of great interest, such as Eleutherococcus, and about a nutrient that is very beneficial to health, such as grapefruit seed extract

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Andrographis paniculata: an essential

Perhaps it is a little-known plant, but with a long ancient tradition of use in India, China and other Asian countries. Belonging to the Acanthaceae family, the aerial sump of Andrografis is rich in active ingredients such as sesquiterpenes, flavonoids and lactones, including andrographolide, which is the main bioactive component. This adaptogenic plant will help us increase the bodys resistance to multiple stressors such as adverse environmental conditions. In India it is known by the name “Maha-Tita”, which means “king of bitters”, and in Malaysia as “Hempedu Bumi”, which means “the bile of the earth”, since it is one of the most bitter plants in the Ayurvedic tradition.

Its long experience of use and multiple pharmacological studies have shown that its active ingredients justify its effective aid for colds, in treating respiratory tract and throat infections in a natural way, and other ailments. It is a plant that promotes the bodys defenses against external agents. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) in its monograph on Andrographis, in which it collects scientific information, indicates that its use can help with upper respiratory tract conditions

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Andrografis may be a recommended option to have at home. It is important that when choosing a dietary supplement containing Andrografis, we read the label carefully and that a standardized andrographolide extract is clearly indicated. This way we will know that we are going to consume a quality product, which can provide us with the benefits that scientific evidence indicates that it has

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Interesting plant combinations

Another very interesting adaptogenic plant that we must consider when talking about colds is Eleutherococcus (Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim.) . Known as Siberian Ginseng, it is a plant of the Araliaceae family that grows spontaneously in the mountains of Northeast Asia (China, Russia, North Korea and on the island of Hokkaido in Japan

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root and rhizomes of Eleutherococcus are used, which mainly contain substances called eleutherosides and other components that are responsible for its interesting health activity. It has traditionally been used in cold regions of Russia and China to increase body resistance, as a tonic against fatigue and to promote mental function. It can help soothe the throat as well as the upper respiratory tract.

Scientific evidence has shown that when Andrografis and Eleutherococcus ^{(1,2) (exclusive Kan Jang ® Plus formula)} are combined, their active ingredients are more effective, since they act in synergy. As we have indicated with Andrografis, it is important that when choosing a supplement with Eleutherococcus it is standardized on eleutherosides. One thing we must take into account to trust the quality of the product we are going to consume is that the extracts have their own clinical studies, which demonstrate their health-supporting properties

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