Acanthaceae · aerial parts
King of bitters
Andrographis paniculata
Mapped to human common-cold duration trials of standardized andrographolide products. Culinary or folk decoctions are not those products.
Safety first
Bitter aerial parts have cold-duration trial literature. Pregnancy avoid. Taste is frankly bitter. Not a flu antiviral of record. Autoimmune/transplant caution is theoretical but listed.
Tradition vs trials
Traditional record. Ayurvedic and SE Asian bitter febrifuge (kalmegh). Later European common-cold products.
Trial literature. Human URI-duration trials exist; quality and products vary. Not a substitute for influenza or COVID evaluation in high-risk hosts.
Practical ranges
Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.
standardized aerial extract (adults)
Cold-duration products in European/Asian trials often provide tens of milligrams of andrographolide daily for a few days — product-specific, not a prescription
ESCOP / EMA HMPC / trial literature summaries — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.
Pregnancy, nursing, children
- Pregnancy. Avoid.
- Nursing. Insufficient reliable data; avoid unless a clinician directs otherwise.
- Children. Not a pediatric DIY febrifuge.
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- do not delay evaluation of pneumonia, epiglottitis, or sepsis
Key interactions
- immunosuppressants · caution
Theoretical immune modulation. Transplant drugs need a clinician, not a bitter.