Andrographis
DEFENDER - ACUTE IMMUNITY - PURIFYING BITTER
This intensely bitter, cold and sharp herb is your go-to for clearing heat, infection, and inflammation fast. The taste is intensely bitter and the herb feels like it is moving in the downward, cooling direction, clearing upper body immune and digestive heat and decongesting infection as it moves to the liver to detoxify. It is no wonder that is is known as the “King of Bitters” with a long history of use in Traditional Asian medicine.
Traditional uses:
Infection – Used at the hot onset of viral, bacterial or parasitic illness. Very cooling, dries damp, and supports immune activity. Perfect for acute sore throats, sinus, and upper respiratory infections.
Detox & Liver support – Stimulates bile flow, reduces liver inflammation, and supports digestion and metabolic detox pathways.
Fever & Inflammation – Cools excess heat and fire in the body, especially helpful with swollen glands, fever, and inflamed tissues.
Immune resilience – Best for short-term use in active conditions or seasonal support.
As a tincture …
It’s bitter! Take 20–40 ml per week or 2.5 – 6ml per day (1:2 herb with 45% alcohol) at the first sign of heat and infection. Often combined with echinacea or licorice for respiratory support.
As a tea …
Bitter! Combine with cooling herbs like mint, lemongrass, or licorice to soften the taste. Steep 1 tsp in hot water for 10–15 mins.
Most like:
Echinacea – Both are used at the onset of infection. Echinacea is cooling and drying also with immune stimulant and lymphatic clearing effects. Andrographis is more heat-clearing and anti-inflammatory, intense antiseptic and liver cooling action.
Olive leaf – Similar broad-spectrum antimicrobial action, but Andrographis is more cooling and bitter for acute heat.
Goldenseal – Comparable in clearing mucus and infection, but Andrographis is less drying and more available.
Neem – Both detox and clear heat; Neem is more antimicrobial for skin and digestion, Andrographis more for respiratory and systemic infection.
Caution:
Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Not for long-term use.
Can cause allergy or digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
Use with care if on blood pressure or immune-modulating medications.
DEFENDER - ACUTE IMMUNITY - PURIFYING BITTER
This intensely bitter, cold and sharp herb is your go-to for clearing heat, infection, and inflammation fast. The taste is intensely bitter and the herb feels like it is moving in the downward, cooling direction, clearing upper body immune and digestive heat and decongesting infection as it moves to the liver to detoxify. It is no wonder that is is known as the “King of Bitters” with a long history of use in Traditional Asian medicine.
Traditional uses:
Infection – Used at the hot onset of viral, bacterial or parasitic illness. Very cooling, dries damp, and supports immune activity. Perfect for acute sore throats, sinus, and upper respiratory infections.
Detox & Liver support – Stimulates bile flow, reduces liver inflammation, and supports digestion and metabolic detox pathways.
Fever & Inflammation – Cools excess heat and fire in the body, especially helpful with swollen glands, fever, and inflamed tissues.
Immune resilience – Best for short-term use in active conditions or seasonal support.
As a tincture …
It’s bitter! Take 20–40 ml per week or 2.5 – 6ml per day (1:2 herb with 45% alcohol) at the first sign of heat and infection. Often combined with echinacea or licorice for respiratory support.
As a tea …
Bitter! Combine with cooling herbs like mint, lemongrass, or licorice to soften the taste. Steep 1 tsp in hot water for 10–15 mins.
Most like:
Echinacea – Both are used at the onset of infection. Echinacea is cooling and drying also with immune stimulant and lymphatic clearing effects. Andrographis is more heat-clearing and anti-inflammatory, intense antiseptic and liver cooling action.
Olive leaf – Similar broad-spectrum antimicrobial action, but Andrographis is more cooling and bitter for acute heat.
Goldenseal – Comparable in clearing mucus and infection, but Andrographis is less drying and more available.
Neem – Both detox and clear heat; Neem is more antimicrobial for skin and digestion, Andrographis more for respiratory and systemic infection.
Caution:
Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Not for long-term use.
Can cause allergy or digestive upset in sensitive individuals.
Use with care if on blood pressure or immune-modulating medications.