Real Immune System Support
Monday March 23, 2015
I recently endured a major health challenge in the form of a brutal viral respiratory infection that lasted more than ten weeks. Just when it seemed like it would never end I turned the corner the very day I started taking a new supplement. What the medical physicians, acupuncturist, body workers, over-the-counter medications, expensive vitamins, exotic teas, a special diet, and extra rest could not do to boost my immune system was apparently done by a plant extract called Andrographis Paniculata.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses like colds, flu, most sore throats, bronchitis, and many sinus and ear infections. Usually medications and other remedies are for symptom relief only. Not that symptom relief is a bad thing. I had an unrelenting cough (and resultant sprained ribs), chronic fatigue, headache, night sweats, on/off cold and sore throat, lost ten pounds, and as Web MD puts it “a general feeling of ill health.” But symptom medications did not help fight the infection.
Andrographis Paniculata is from Southern and Southeastern Asia and is one of the most bitter plants used in traditional medicine. You know when it tastes bad it’s probably good for you! There are a handful of studies that show Andrographis can shorten the duration and reduce the symptoms of some common viral infections. My experience confirms that.
Andrographis is not expensive and available in herbal formulas such as Counter Attack or Andrographis Respiratory Wellness which can be found on Amazon.
Being encouraged by my experience with the performance of non-pharmaceutical medical grade supplements, we now stock six highly rated natural products for the most common general health issues encountered in daily chiropractic practice (aside from the musculoskeletal problems we treat everyday): systemic inflammation, pain, insomnia, digestive disorders, and immune system support. We simply redistribute these at the provider invoice or encourage patients to buy from Amazon. Because sometimes herbal formulas can help what medication cannot, and they nicely complement the physical medicine body work we do.