Holistic Health Supplements The Health Benefits of Andrographis Compounds in the Chinese Herb May Fight Inflammation By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on July 04, 2019 facebook linkedin Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Updated on November 30, 2019 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata) is an herb long used in traditional Chinese medicine and ayurveda. Also known as "Indian echinacea," andrographis is a bitter-tasting herb rich in compounds known as andrographolides. These compounds are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Health Benefits Andrographis is most widely used to treat cold and flu symptoms. Andrographis is also said to act as a natural immune-booster. The herb has been used to treat certain other conditions. These include: CancerRheumatoid ArthritisAllergiesAnorexiaHeart diseaseHIV/AIDSInfectionsLiver problemsParasitesSinus infectionsSkin diseasesUlcers There is not enough scientific evidence to support the use of andrographis for most of these health benefits. So far, scientific support for the potential benefits of andrographis is limited. Preliminary studies suggest that andrographis may offer these health benefits: Upper Respiratory Tract Infections In a research review published in 2017, scientists sized up 33 previously published clinical trials and found that andrographis appears to be beneficial for relieving symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections when compared to other herbs, standard care, or a placebo. Andrographis was also found to shorten the duration of cough, sore throat, and sick days compared to standard care. The researchers, however, noted that the overall quality of studies was poor and that well-designed clinical trials are needed. Ulcerative Colitis For a review published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers analyzed 21 previously published studies on the use of herbal remedies in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. For ulcerative colitis, andrographis extract was considered superior to a placebo in inducing remission or a response. Multiple Sclerosis Andrographis may help to reduce fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis, according to a small study published in BMC Neurology. When compared to participants who took a placebo, those taking andrographis twice daily for 12 months had a significant reduction in fatigue severity. There was no difference in relapse rate, inflammatory measures, or disability status. Possible Side Effects Andrographis may trigger adverse effects like headache, fatigue, allergic reactions, nausea, and diarrhea. Anyone using medications (including blood-thinning drugs, blood pressure medicines, and chemotherapy drugs) should consult a physician before using Andrographis. Andrographis should not be administered intravenously. Acute kidney injury has occurred after intravenous use of Andrographis compounds. Due to a lack of research, little is known about the safety of using Andrographis. It's important to keep in mind that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. Also, the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Dosage and Preparation There is no single recommended dose of Andrographis. Various doses have been studied in research. For example, in studies examining the effect of the herb on the common cold, a combination product (4-5.6 mg andrographolide, and 400 mg Siberian ginseng) was taken three times daily. Another study used Andrographis extract (KalmCold) 200 mg daily for 5 days. For the relief of sore throat, a dose of 3-6 grams Andrographis was used daily. And for ulcerative colitis Andrographis extract, 1200-1800 mg was used daily for eight weeks. The appropriate dose for you may depend on factors including your age, gender, and medical history. Speak to your healthcare provider to get personalized advice. What to Look For Andrographis is available in capsule and tincture form, Andrographis can be found at most health food stores. Due to the limited research, it's too soon to recommend Andrographis as a treatment for any condition. If you're still considering using the herb, make sure to consult your healthcare provider first rather than self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Blackadar CB. Historical review of the causes of cancer. World J Clin Oncol. 2016;7(1):54–86. doi:10.5306/wjco.v7.i1.54 Guo Q, Wang Y, Xu D, Nossent J, Pavlos NJ, Xu J. Rheumatoid arthritis: pathological mechanisms and modern pharmacologic therapies. Bone Res. 2018;6:15. doi:10.1038/s41413-018-0016-9 Morris J, Twaddle S. Anorexia nervosa. BMJ. 2007;334(7599):894–898. doi:10.1136/bmj.39171.616840.BE Dai Y, Chen SR, Chai L, Zhao J, Wang Y, Wang Y. Overview of pharmacological activities of and its major compound andrographolide. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(sup1):S17-S29. doi:10.1080/10408398.2018.1501657 Hu XY, Wu RH, Logue M, et al. Correction: Andrographis paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(11):e0207713. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207713+ Ng SC, Lam YT, Tsoi KK, Chan FK, Sung JJ, Wu JC. Systematic review: the efficacy of herbal therapy in inflammatory bowel disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013;38(8):854-63. doi:10.1111/apt.12464 Bertoglio JC, Baumgartner M, Palma R, et al. Andrographis paniculata decreases fatigue in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. BMC Neurol. 2016;16:77. doi:10.1186/s12883-016-0595-2 Jayakumar T, Hsieh CY, Lee JJ, Sheu JR. Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology of Andrographis paniculata and Its Major Bioactive Phytoconstituent Andrographolide. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:846740. doi:10.1155/2013/846740 Additional Reading Andrographis. Natural Medicines Database. Professional Monograph. 2/6/2019 Andrographis. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs, Botanicals, and Other Products. June 22, 2018 Bertoglio JC, Baumgartner M, Palma R, et al. Andrographis Paniculata Decreases Fatigue in Patients With Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A 12-Month Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study. BMC Neurol. 2016 May 23;16:77. Hu XY, Wu RH, Logue M, et al. Andrographis Paniculata (Chuān Xīn Lián) for Symptomatic Relief of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2017 Aug 4;12(8):e0181780. Ng SC, Lam YT, Tsoi KK, et al. Systematic Review: The Efficacy of Herbal Therapy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Oct;38(8):854-63.