Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian) in Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine
Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian, kalmegh) in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine: what trials of colds and chest infections found, how weak the studies are, and the allergy and interaction cautions.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What it is
Andrographis paniculata is a bitter-tasting plant in the Acanthaceae family. Chinese medicine calls it Chuan Xin Lian. Ayurveda and other Indian traditions call it kalmegh. Reviews describe it as traditionally used in Indian and Chinese herbal medicine for cough, cold and influenza. [1] Memorial Sloan Kettering lists "Indian echinacea" and "chiretta" among its other common names. [2]This page covers the plant as one herb among many in Chinese herbal medicine. It is information only, not advice to use it.
The traditional side, in its own terms
In traditional Chinese practice, herbs are sorted by qualities such as "cooling" or "warming" and by the patterns a practitioner believes they address. These are traditional frameworks, not measurements of body chemistry. See traditional frameworks versus biomedical explanations. We did not find a source we could read that gives the pharmacopoeia entry for Chuan Xin Lian word for word, so we do not describe its traditional category here. The sources we read agree on the plant's long use for fever and respiratory complaints. [1][2]What research found
Colds and chest infections: promising but limited. A 2017 systematic review pooled 33 randomized trials (7,175 patients) of oral andrographis, alone or in herbal mixtures, for acute respiratory tract infections. It reported improvement in cough and sore throat compared with placebo, and shorter time to symptom resolution. The review also states plainly that overall trial quality was poor, and that most trials used commercial products and seldom reported manufacturing or quality control details. [1] The authors called for better-designed trials. Because patients know when they are better, and mixtures hide which ingredient did what, the benefit for any single product is hard to pin down.Other uses: insufficient evidence. Memorial Sloan Kettering describes small trials in ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis and says more studies are needed, and says lab findings on cancer have not been studied in humans. [2] We did not find a large, high-quality trial that settles any of these. For cancer, proper evidence not found in the sources we read.
| Question | What the sources found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Eases cough and sore throat in a cold | Better than placebo in pooled trials | Promising but limited; poor trial quality |
| Shortens a cold | Shorter time to resolution reported | Promising but limited |
| Treats cancer, arthritis or colitis | Small trials or lab work only | Insufficient evidence |
Product quality
Supplements and patent medicines vary widely, and the trials above rarely reported quality control. [1] For general guidance see Chinese herbal products: quality, contamination and interactions.Frequently asked questions
Is Andrographis the same as Chuan Xin Lian?
Yes. Chuan Xin Lian is the Chinese name and kalmegh the Indian one for Andrographis paniculata. [2]
Does andrographis help colds?
A pooled analysis of 33 trials reported symptom relief and shorter recovery, but the trials were generally poor in quality, so the finding is promising rather than settled. [1]
Is the injection the same as the herb?
No. Andrographolide injections are a purified drug form, and they were linked to serious allergic shock and deaths in a large review. [3]
Can it interact with my medicines?
It can. Cautions listed include blood pressure medicines and blood thinners, so ask a pharmacist first. [2]
Is it safe in pregnancy?
We did not find a readable source establishing safety, so ask a clinician before use.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Allergic reactions. Memorial Sloan Kettering lists anaphylaxis and allergic reactions with several different andrographis preparations. [2]
- Injections are a different product. A 2022 review of 262 studies found that andrographolide derivative injections (a purified drug form used in China, not the herb you drink) were linked to life-threatening anaphylactic shock in 55 patients, and three deaths were attributed to the injection. The same review found that reactions to herbal preparations were mainly mild to moderate stomach, skin and tissue problems. [3]
- Common side effects. Mostly gastrointestinal in the 2017 review. [1]
- Medicines. Memorial Sloan Kettering cautions about blood pressure medicines, anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, among others. [2] Ask a pharmacist before combining it with any medicine. See how interactions work.
- Pregnancy and children. We did not find a source we could read that establishes safety, so treat this as unknown and ask a clinician. See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
When to get care
References
- Hu XY et al. Andrographis paniculata (Chuan Xin Lian) for symptomatic relief of acute respiratory tract infections in adults and children: systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2017. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.
- Andrographis, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. www.mskcc.org. Read 2026-10-22.
- Shang YX et al. Adverse effects of andrographolide derivative medications compared to herbal preparations of Andrographis paniculata: systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-22.