Andrographis paniculata · Kalmegh · King of Bitters · Chuan Xin Lian
500 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 60 caps
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Andrographis paniculata is an annual herb native to India and Sri Lanka, widely used in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Thai traditional medicine. Its leaves and stems contain andrographolide, a diterpene lactone that is the primary bioactive compound. It is commonly known as the 'King of Bitters' due to its intensely bitter taste.
Andrographolide exerts immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects. It inhibits NF-κB and COX-2 pathways, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), and stimulates both innate and adaptive immune responses. Multiple RCTs show it reduces severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.
Adults seeking evidence-based herbal support for cold, flu, and upper respiratory tract infections. Also used in some traditions for liver support and fever management. Not a substitute for influenza antivirals in high-risk patients.
Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding. May cause allergic reactions including anaphylaxis in rare cases. Use caution if on anticoagulants, antihypertensives, or immunosuppressants. Discontinue if rash or itching develops.
✓ Divided dosing throughout the day maintains steady andrographolide levels during acute illness
✓ Divided dosing throughout the day maintains steady andrographolide levels during acute illness
✓ Divided dosing throughout the day maintains steady andrographolide levels during acute illness
✓ Take with food to reduce the risk of gastric irritation and nausea, common side effects at higher doses
Andrographolide exerts immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects.
Each bar = one cited trial. Effect varies by methodology, dose, and population.
Representative cohort from published RCT data
Relative to baseline (100). Data from published clinical literature.
7175
→ Meta-analysis of 33 RCTs found andrographis significantly improved cough, sore throat, and overall ARTI symptoms versus placebo, usual care, and other herbal therapies.
896
→ Systematic review of 7 double-blind RCTs concluded andrographis is superior to placebo for URTI symptom relief with mild, infrequent adverse effects.
223
→ Double-blind RCT: 200 mg/day KalmCold extract significantly reduced all URTI symptom scores versus placebo over 5 days; efficacy was 2.1 times higher than placebo.
A · One of the most evidence-backed herbal supplements for acute respiratory infections. Multiple systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and well-controlled RCTs support efficacy for cough, sore throat, and overall symptom relief. Effect size is moderate and onset is within 2-3 days. Safety profile is good at recommended doses.
A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.
Key citations: PMID 19678671 (Poolsup 2004, URTI meta-analysis), PMID 21292386 (Coon 2004, Cochrane review), PMID 24527765 (Naik 2009, anti-inflammatory mechanism).
How to use Andrographis specifically for Sore throat — the right dose, timing, blood markers to track, and how to know if it is working.
A clinical evidence review of Andrographis — RCT data, effect sizes, evidence grade, and what the numbers mean for your specific situation.
Everything you need to know about Andrographis — mechanism, dose, safety, buying guide for India, and what the research actually says.
SacredBod's longer take on Andrographis — context the structured blocks above don't capture.
Andrographis stands out in the herbal immune category because it has something most competitors lack: multiple large-scale meta-analyses and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. For a field saturated with anecdotal claims and single small studies, this level of evidence is genuinely exceptional.
The 2017 meta-analysis by Hu et al. (PMID 28783743) is the most comprehensive assessment to date, synthesizing 33 RCTs involving 7,175 patients. Andrographis significantly improved cough (standardized mean difference -0.39), sore throat (SMD -1.13), and overall acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) symptoms compared with placebo, usual care, and other herbal therapies. It also shortened the duration of symptoms and reduced sick leave time. The effect on sore throat was particularly large — a clinically meaningful reduction in pain and inflammation.
The 2004 systematic review by Coon and Ernst (PMID 15095142) evaluated 7 double-blind RCTs (n=896) and concluded that andrographis is “superior to placebo in alleviating the subjective symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection” with “mild and infrequent” adverse effects. This was an early but rigorous assessment that set the stage for subsequent research.
The 2010 KalmCold RCT (PMID 20092985) by Saxena et al. randomly assigned 223 patients with uncomplicated URTI to either 200 mg/day of a standardized andrographis extract or placebo for 5 days. By day 5, all symptoms except earache showed significant improvement in the treatment group, with overall efficacy 2.1 times higher than placebo. This was a large, well-controlled trial in a real-world primary care setting.
Andrographolide is intensely bitter — a taste that reflects its pharmacological potency. The bitterness stimulates digestive secretions (a traditional benefit) but also makes high-dose supplementation challenging for some users. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common side effects, typically at doses above 1000 mg/day of extract.
A rare but serious adverse effect is allergic reaction including anaphylaxis and severe skin rashes. Anyone who develops itching, hives, or rash after taking andrographis should discontinue immediately and seek medical attention.
Clinical trials have used extracts standardized to 4-6% andrographolide at doses of 200-600 mg/day. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses much higher doses (up to 3-6 g/day of dried herb) for fever and liver conditions, but this increases side effect risk. For immune support during cold and flu season, 500 mg/day of a 4-6% standardized extract is a reasonable, evidence-based dose.
Among immune botanicals, andrographis has the strongest evidence for acute respiratory infection symptom relief. Echinacea has mixed and largely negative recent RCTs. Elderberry has promising but smaller trials. Tulsi has supportive data but fewer large RCTs. Vitamin C and zinc are more appropriate for prevention than treatment. For reducing the severity and duration of a cold once it starts, andrographis is the most defensible herbal choice.
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