While Ayurveda teaches us many fundamentally simple ways to build a healthy immune system, life happens to all of us (and so do holiday parties, travel plans, and the end of another year…fast approaching!). Basic self-care may have taken the wayside, and this is where our herbal allies can lend a helping hand.
Kalmegh (also known as Andrographis paniculata) is one such ally that might be less well known than its immune-enhancing counterparts, like echinacea, elderberry, or OSHA root, but it is certainly no stranger in eastern herbalist. For thousands of years it has been used under many different names for many different healing effects.
What is Kalmegh?
Kalmegh (Andrographis particulate) is a widely cultivated herb in Asia that grows 30 to 110 cm in height. The plant bears yellowish brown seeds with a very bitter taste. The plant part appearing above the ground is harvested in the autumn season. It is a widely used in Ayurveda and used in about 26 Ayurvedic herbal formulations. It serves as an immunostimulant and rids the body of fevers and toxins.
Kalmegh in the Body
So, what are all of these uses, and how does this herb affect our bodies and our health? It turns out kalmegh is helpful for more than just immune support. The dry and penetrating qualities of the herb help to cut through thick phlegm caused by increased kapha, and it also reduces pitta and kapha in the head and chest, helping to maintain a normal body temperature.Additionally, it supports a healthy respiratory tract, sinuses, and throat, and can even be used externally to help balance excess pitta in the skin. Due to kalmegh bitter and cooling qualities, it helps balance elevated pitta in the blood and stagnant pitta in the liver (ranjaka pitta), enhancing liver function, and stimulating the production of bile.And if all of that isn’t enough, kalmegh can also burn and eliminate ama, helping to kindle Agni, improve the appetite, and support comfortable digestion.
Medicinal Use Of Kalmegh (Andrographis Paniculata)
Kalmegh uses in ayurvedic medicines and information like how to use to treat chronic fever, constipation, skin problems. Know what are health benefits and medicinal uses of Kalmegh plant in Ayurveda. Learn some remedies of Kalmegh plant to treat your health problems.AnupamaSeptember 16, 2013
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) is bitter tonic and is useful in treating fever, the liver disorders, worms, abdominal gas and constipation. Kalmegh has antipathetic (lowers fevers), anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti parasitic and hepatoprotective (the liver protecting) activities. It can also be used to treat children suffering from the liver and digestive system related problems.
Kalmegh is a very important medicinal plant of traditional medicine system. It is used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy to treat broad variety of diseases. It is found growing wild throughout the plains and hills of tropical India, from Uttar Pradesh to Kerala, and also in Bangladesh, Pakistan and all South East Asian countries. It is cultivated as an ornamental garden plant. All part of the plant are extremely bitter due to which plant is known as king of bitter. This plant is called Hempedu Bumi (meaning bile of earth) in Malaysia.
This medicinal herb effectively treats all type of fevers. It is also indicated in the treatment of the liver diseases and jaundice. It has antiviral and the liver protecting action.
Incorporating Kalmegh into Your Routine
Although the benefits of this bitter powerhouse herb are many, kalmegh has a tendency to provoke the light, dry, and rough qualities inherent to the vata dosha when used in excess.9 Luckily, Ayurveda has a plethora of balancing herbal allies to use in formulation with kalmegh to balance its effect and enhance its supportive actions. We’ve harnessed kalmegh bitter and cooling aspects and added complementary herbal buddies to detoxify and rejuvenate the liver and gallbladder in our Liver Formula. Kalmegh can also be found in our Immune Strong formula (of course) which combines a dynamic blend of herbs to bolster the body’s natural defenses all year round.
If powdered kalmegh sounds more like your style, we’ve got that too! As mentioned, make sure to balance those cool, bitter qualities with other more heating herbs if there are any signs of vata imbalance, or use the powder under the guidance of a practitioner. It’s also important to note that kalmegh isn’t recommended during pregnancy due to its vats-aggravating tendencies.
I don’t know about you, but with all of these assets, kalmeghbitter taste is starting to get a little sweeter! Whether you choose to use kalmegh on its own or in a formula, rest assured you’ve got an ally to help you maintain health during seasons and situations where immunity might be challenged.