Re: Antimicrobial & Antidepressant: St. John's Wort

I would never have thought to look to St. John's Wart as an antimicrobial.

I recently found andrographis paniculata for that purpose and more. I wonder why I have just recently found it. Maybe it is the name. Hard to remember.


http://www.altcancer.com/andcan.htm


Andrographis paniculata, (AP), also known commonly as "King of Bitters," is a member of the plant family Acanthaceae, and has been used for centuries in Asia to treat GI tract and upper respiratory infections, fever, herpes, sore throat, and a variety of other chronic and infectious diseases. It is found in the Indian Pharmacopoeia and is the prominent in at least 26 Ayurvedic formulas; whereas in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Andrographis is an important "cold property" herb: it is used to rid the body of heat, as in fevers, and to dispel toxins from the body. In Scandinavian countries, it is commonly used to prevent and treat common colds. Research conducted in the '80's and '90's has confirmed that Andrographis, properly administered, has a surprisingly broad range of pharmacological effects, some of them extremely beneficial:

* Abortifacient (can abort pregnancy... although ayurvedic tradition allows it to be taken for short duration during pregnancy. We advise all women to avoid its use during pregnancy as a precaution. In almost every other respect Andrographis has an extremely low toxicity.)
* Acrid (hot: in this case, slightly rubifacient to the skin)
* Analgesic (pain killer)
* Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and cuts down exudation from capillaries... antiflammatory action probably mediated, in part, by adrenal function)
* Antibacterial (fights bacterial activity... although Andrographis appears to have weak direct antibacterial action, it has remarkably beneficial effect in reducing diarrhea and symptoms arising from bacterial infections.)
* Antiperiodic (counteracts periodic/intermittent diseases, such as malaria)
* Antipyretic (fever reducer - both in humans and animals, caused by multiple infections or by toxins)
* Antithrombotic (blood clot preventative)
* Antiviral (inhibits viral activity)
* Cancerolytic (fights, even kills, cancer cells)
* Cardioprotective (protects heart muscles)
* Choleretic (alters the properties and flow of bile)
* Depurative (cleans and purifies the system, particularly the blood)
* Digestive (promotes digestion)
* Expectorant (promotes mucus discharge from the respiratory system)
* Hepatoprotective (protects the liver and gall bladder)
* Hypoglycemic (blood sugar reducer)
* Immune Enhancement (increases white cell phagocytosis, inhibits HIV-1 replication, and improves CD4+ and T lymphocyte counts)
* Laxative (aids bowel elimination)
* Sedative (a relaxing herb, though not with the same effect as the accepted herbal sedatives: valerian root, hops, skullcap, etc.)
* Thrombolytic (blood clot buster)
* Vermicidal (kills intestinal worms)

Much more stuff at that link. Tweet