Andrographis — Frequently Asked Questions

Andrographis has arguably stronger clinical evidence than echinacea, with a Cochrane review of 33 RCTs supporting its use for cold symptoms. The effect sizes in andrographis trials tend to be larger and more consistent. Andrographis is better for treatment of active colds, while echinacea may be slightly better for prevention. They can be combined — the Kan Jang formula actually combines andrographis with Eleutherococcus (Siberian ginseng). Andrographis is much more bitter in taste.

Short-term use (5-14 days) for acute illness has the best safety data. Long-term safety data is more limited. Animal studies have shown anti-fertility effects at high doses, so andrographis is not recommended during pregnancy or for those trying to conceive. For daily preventive use, lower doses (200-300mg) and periodic cycling (8 weeks on, 2 weeks off) are prudent approaches until more long-term human data is available.