Andrographis
Commonly used for
Immune SupportImmunity
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What is it? / Overview
Andrographolides exert immunomodulatory, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects that together plausibly reduce the severity and duration of upper-respiratory infection symptoms -- one of the stronger evidence bases among traditional immune botanicals for this specific use.
How is it used? / Administration
Form: Andrographis paniculata extract standardized to andrographolides (often branded KalmCold or Kan Jang, sometimes combined with eleuthero)
Typical dose studied: Commonly standardized to ~60-120 mg andrographolides/day
Timing: At symptom onset, for the duration of an acute illness
Traditionally used as an abortifacient and shown to have antifertility/testicular effects in animal studies -- the pregnancy caution here is a genuine, specific finding for this herb, not just the platform's general pregnancy handling, and the breastfeeding caution is a reasonable clinical extension of that same concern.
How well does it work? / Evidence
~ Moderate evidence
Who should avoid it?
Avoid with: Breastfeeding; Organ transplant (on immunosuppression); Cholelithiasis / Gallstones
Interacts with: Anticoagulants, antiplatelets -- theoretical additive bleeding risk; Antihypertensives, antidiabetics -- theoretical additive effects; Immunosuppressants -- theoretical antagonism
Already taking it? Reasonable to continue for acute cold/flu symptom relief -- among the immune botanicals in this batch, andrographis has some of the better URTI symptom evidence, though animal data show reproductive/testicular effects worth being aware of if trying to conceive.
Research & references
Veldman LBM et al. (2023). Mechanistic Evidence of Andrographis Paniculata... in the Treatment of Acute, Uncomplicated Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Literature Review. Pharmaceuticals.
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