What is the Difference Between Astragalus and Andrographis?

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Astragalus and Andrographis are two well-known genera of herbs and shrubs used in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine. Both are adaptogens, meaning they help the body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other problems. However, there are some differences between the two:

  • Classification: Astragalus is a genus of herbs, while Andrographis is a genus of herbs and shrubs.
  • Species: Astragalus contains over 3000 species, while Andrographis contains about 44 species.
  • Mode of action: Astragalus is mainly used for chronically depleted immunity, while Andrographis is used for acute viral infections.
  • Immune response: Astragalus is particularly indicated for chronically depleted immunity, and it helps strengthen the immune system. Andrographis, on the other hand, helps improve the immune response and shortens the duration of common colds and flus.

Both Astragalus and Andrographis are well-tolerated, but when consumed in high doses, they can cause side effects. They are highly important in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, and people can use these adaptogens by adding them to food or beverages.

Comparative Table: Astragalus vs Andrographis

Here is a table comparing the differences between Astragalus and Andrographis:

Feature Astragalus Andrographis
Genus Astragalus genus contains over 3000 species Andrographis genus contains about 44 species
Uses Mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for chronically depleted individuals Used in ayurvedic medicine and Chinese traditional medicine for acute viral infections
Adaptogens Both genera are well-known adaptogens, helping the body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other problems Both genera are well-known adaptogens, helping the body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other problems
Immune System Enhancement Astragalus has been shown to improve immune system function, such as CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cell IL-8 and IL-1β Andrographis has been shown to stimulate the nonspecific and cell-mediated immune response in vitro and animal studies
Side Effects Astragalus generally does not cause significant side effects when consumed in reasonable doses Andrographis can cause side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, rash, headache, runny nose, and fatigue, when consumed in higher doses

Both Astragalus and Andrographis are well-known genera of herbs and shrubs used in ayurvedic medicine and Chinese traditional medicine. They are adaptogens, helping the body respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other problems. However, Astragalus is mainly used for chronically depleted individuals, while Andrographis is used for acute viral infections. Astragalus generally does not cause significant side effects, whereas Andrographis can cause side effects when consumed in higher doses.