This is a valuable herb to have in your medicinal garden.
Although Andrographis is not well known in North America, it has a long history of use in Asia. Andrographis paniculate has similar protective effects as Echinacea, the North American herbal that is well-known for its cold, upper respiratory and flu fighting properties.
The aerial parts of the plant are used, including the stem, leaves and small flowers.
In their scientific paper, titled “Harnessing the medicinal properties of Andrographis paniculata for diseases and beyond: a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology”, Okhuarobo and colleagues (2014) bring us up to speed about Andrographis’ attributes:
A. paniculata, commonly known as King of Bitters or kalmegh, is an annual, branched, erect handsome herb running half to one meter in height. It is native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka and is also distributed in different regions of Southeast Asia, China, America, West Indies and Christmas Island. It is cultivated because of its well known medicinal value and it grows well in most soil types thus it is widely distributed. The aerial parts and roots of the plant have been widely used as traditional medicine in China, India, Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to treat many maladies. It is known as King of Bitters (English), Mahatikta (Sanskrit), Kiryato (Gujarati), Mahatita (Hindi), Kalmegh (Bengali), or Fah Talai Jone (Thai). A wide array of studies has been conducted by researchers, especially in Asia, following reports about the medicinal properties possessed by this plant mostly according to traditional medical practitioners in the ayurvedic medical system. Phytochemical studies have revealed that A. paniculata contains diverse compounds including labdane diterpenoid lactones, flavonoids and miscellaneous compounds. It has been shown to possess a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties.
Below is a short description of its pharmacological properties from the same paper:
Andrographis paniculata Wall (family Acanthaceae) is one of the most popular medicinal plants used traditionally for the treatment of an array of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcer, leprosy, bronchitis, skin diseases, flatulence, colic, influenza, dysentery, dyspepsia and malaria for centuries in Asia, America and Africa continent.
How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Moderate. Start Andrographis paniculata indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Soak seeds overnight in warm water. Then drain water and plant seeds 5mm (¼ inch). Andrographis can be slow to germinate, a heat mat helps germination. Does well in a 1-gallon pot.
How to Use: We make a tincture using the aerial parts of Andrographis.
Location: Sun, Partial sun
Life cycle: Annual
Usable Parts: Flowers, Leaves, Stems
Uses: Tincture (or a very bitter tea)
Height: 1 foot
