The key difference between Astragalus and Andrographis is that Astragalus is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for chronically depleted immunity and supporting the immune system under adverse conditions, while Andrographis is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for acute viral and bacterial infections.
Astragalus and Andrographis are two well-known genera of herbs and shrubs used in ayurvedic medicines. They are adaptogens. Adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help the body to respond to stress, anxiety, fatigue, and other problems. People can use these adaptogens by adding them to food or beverages. Adaptogens can bring back human body to a steady balance by addressing both mental and physical stressors.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Astragalus
3. What is Andrographis
4. Similarities – Astragalus and Andrographis
5. Astragalus vs Andrographis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Astragalus vs Andrographis
What is Astragalus?
Astragalus is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for chronically depleted immunity and supporting the immune system under adverse conditions. Astragalus genus belongs to flowering plants. This genus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Astragalus plants are well-known adaptogens. Adaptogens are a class of chemical substances that are believed to stimulate the resistance of the human body to physical, environmental, and emotional stressors. The chemicals present in the Astragalus plants may also stimulate the immune system and reduce swelling. People normally use Astragalus plants for hay fever, diabetes, kidney disease, and many other conditions.
Figure 01: Astragalus
Astragalus is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species. This is because it contains over 3000 described species. This genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (North America). Moreover, there is evidence that the species in this genus can be used for COVID-19 infection. However, some species contain a nerve toxin and are linked to livestock poisoning. These species include A. lentiginosus, A. mollissimus, and others. But these species are not normally found in dietary supplements. Most of the time, Astragalus supplements contain A. membranaceus species.
What is Andrographis?
Andrographis is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for acute viral and bacterial infections. The plants of the genus are flowering plants. The species in the genus are native to the Indian subcontinent and include Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the West Himalayan region. The leaf and stem of plants belonging to the Andrographis genus can work by stimulating the immune system. There are a number of plant species in this genus that can prevent the binding of flu viruses to the cells of the human body. Moreover, plant species in this genus are commonly used in the common cold, osteoarthritis, infection of the throat, tonsils, and bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. Some species, such as A. alata and A. lineata are also used in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to that, some species in the Andrographis genus are used as food sources.
Figure 02: Andrographis
Furthermore, Andrographis can cause side effects when consumed in higher doses. The side effects may include diarrhoea, vomiting, rash, headache, runny nose, and fatigue.
What are the Similarities Between Astragalus and Andrographis?
- Astragalus and Andrographis are two well-known genera of herbs and shrubs used in ayurvedic medicines.
- They are well-known adaptogens.
- The species of these genera can enhance immunity.
- They are highly important in ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine.
- The species of these genera are well tolerated, but when consumed in high doses, they can cause side effects.
What is the Difference Between Astragalus and Andrographis?
Astragalus is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for chronically depleted immunity and supporting the immune system under adverse conditions, while Andrographis is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for acute viral and bacterial infections. Thus, this is the key difference between Astragalus and Andrographis. Furthermore, Astragalus is a genus that contains over 3000 species, while Andrographis is a genus that contains about 44 species.
The below infographic presents the differences between Astragalus and Andrographis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Astragalus vs Andrographis
Astragalus and Andrographis are two well-known genera of herbs and shrubs. The species of these genera are widely used in ayurvedic medicine and Chinese traditional medicines. Astragalus is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for chronically depleted immunity and supporting the immune system under adverse conditions, while Andrographis is a genus of herbs and shrubs mainly used in ayurvedic medicine for acute viral and bacterial infections. So, this summarizes the difference between Astragalus and Andrographis.
Reference:
1. “Astragalus.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
2. Okhuarobo, Agbonlahor, et al. “Harnessing the Medicinal Properties of Andrographis Paniculata for Diseases and beyond: A Review of Its Phytochemistry and Pharmacology.” Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease, Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Press.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Astragalus bisulcatus (4001369198)” By Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA – Astragalus bisulcatusUploaded by Jacopo Werther (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Andrographis paniculata 002” By H. Zell – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia