Andrographis Side Effects: Who Should Skip.

The short answer: Andrographis side effects on the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) list are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, skin rashes and fatigue. ODS reports no safety concerns when the herb is used as directed, but it flags a possible effect on fertility and interactions with some prescriptions. Our Turmeric & Andrographis Strips carry 15 mg of andrographis extract per 1 Oral Strip (165 mg) serving, and their other ingredients include licorice extract.

Key takeaways

• The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements lists nausea, vomiting, dizziness, skin rashes, diarrhea and fatigue as possible side effects of andrographis.
• ODS says andrographis might affect fertility, and that some scientists recommend avoiding it if you're pregnant or planning a baby.
• ODS says andrographis could interact with blood-thinning medicines, immune-suppressing medicines and some heart and circulation medicines.
• On Betterly's Turmeric & Andrographis Strips, the panel lists 15 mg of andrographis extract per 1 Oral Strip (165 mg) serving, licorice extract appears with no amount, and the suggested use is 1 strip daily.

Before you read on, know that andrographis is in exactly one product we sell, a mango-and-orange oral strip. We'd rather you pass on it for a good reason than buy it blind, so this guide uses only federal sources and the strip's actual label, missing numbers and all. For what the herb is and why people take it, see our explainer on what andrographis is.

What are the most common andrographis side effects?

The andrographis side effects ODS lists are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, skin rashes, diarrhea and fatigue.

Andrographis is the herb Andrographis paniculata, which our panel prints as "paniculate." The side-effect list comes from an ODS page for consumers, the immune function supplements fact sheet. Half of it is your gut talking: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Is andrographis safe, then? ODS says no safety concerns have been reported when it's used as directed, though it adds fertility and medicine cautions, covered below.

ODS gives no rates or amounts, so the list shows what to notice, not how likely it is. If one turns up soon after you start andrographis, question the new herb first.

Can andrographis cause a rash or an allergic reaction?

Andrographis can cause a rash, since skin rashes are on the ODS side-effect list, and any plant extract can set off an allergic-type reaction in someone sensitive to it.

With our strip, a rash is hard to trace: seven plant extracts, two flavors and licorice extract could each be behind it. Stop the strip, let your skin settle, and take the full ingredient list to your provider.

Some signs can't wait. Swelling of your lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or fast-spreading hives call for emergency care right away.

What should you do if you notice a side effect?

If you notice an andrographis side effect, stop taking the product and tell your healthcare provider, especially if the reaction is strong or doesn't fade.

According to the ODS guide Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know, your provider may pass a bad reaction on to the FDA. Filing your own report works too: phone 800-FDA-1088 or fill in the agency's online form. ODS also suggests letting the company know, using the contact details printed on the label.

Who should not take andrographis?

People who are pregnant or trying to conceive, and anyone who's reacted to andrographis before, should skip it. Several other groups should ask a healthcare provider first.

Two rows say to skip it outright: a pregnancy plan and a past reaction. Medicines, surgery, age and nursing are reasons to ask before you start, not automatic no's.

Is andrographis safe during pregnancy or while trying to conceive?

Andrographis is a poor fit during pregnancy or while you're trying to conceive, because ODS says it might affect fertility and some scientists recommend avoiding it then.

ODS doesn't say whether "might affect fertility" applies to one partner or both, so raise it with a provider whoever would take it.

Our strip gives you two further reasons to leave it for later. It lists 20 mg of Curcuma longa (turmeric) extract, and turmeric supplements carry their own pregnancy caution, covered in our guide on who should not take turmeric. It also contains licorice extract, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says large amounts of oral licorice extract during pregnancy are unsafe. The label gives no licorice amount.

Does andrographis interact with medications?

Andrographis could interact with some prescriptions: ODS names blood-thinning medicines, medicines that suppress the immune system, and some heart and circulation medicines.

ODS says andrographis might thin the blood, so it could add to a blood thinner's effect. It might also make immune-suppressing medicines work less well. ODS says it might affect circulation too, so it could interact with some heart and circulation medicines.

The licorice extract in our strip brings one more. NCCIH's licorice root page says interactions between licorice and corticosteroid medicines have been reported.

A pharmacist can check all of this quickly. Show them the whole panel, not just the andrographis line, and list every other supplement you take.

Why does the amount of andrographis matter for side effects?

The amount of andrographis matters because ODS says side effects from supplements are most likely at high doses or when you combine many products.

In its What You Need to Know guide, ODS is direct about it: "You are most likely to have side effects from dietary supplements if you take them at high doses." Taking many different supplements is on its list of risk factors too.

The ODS botanical supplements background sheet adds that a botanical's safety depends partly on how it's prepared and how much you use, and that teas, tinctures and extracts differ in strength.

This is where our label gives you less than we'd like. It lists 15 mg of andrographis extract but no extract ratio and no andrographolide percentage (andrographolide is a compound found in the plant). So you can't compare its strength with another brand's. When you shop, those two figures are the ones to look for.

Doubling up can happen without your noticing. A multi-herb product may bury andrographis in a proprietary blend with no amount of its own, or print its Ayurvedic name, kalmegh, instead. Our guide on how to check an Ayurvedic supplement before you buy shows how blends hide each herb's share.

What else in our strip could cause a reaction?

Besides andrographis, Betterly's Turmeric & Andrographis Strips list six more plant extracts and, among the other ingredients, licorice extract, which carries cautions of its own.

So andrographis isn't the only line to clear before you try this strip, and licorice is the one printed without a number.

Why does the licorice extract matter?

Licorice extract matters because licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a compound NCCIH says can seriously affect the heart, especially when people consume a lot of it or use it for a long time.

NCCIH also ties severe reactions to even small amounts of glycyrrhizin in people who eat a lot of salt, and in people with heart, circulation or kidney concerns. Licorice with the glycyrrhizin removed is sold as DGL, short for deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

Our label says only "Licorice extract," with no amount and no word on glycyrrhizin. The seven extract rows add up to 115 mg, which leaves about 50 mg of the 165 mg strip for all nine other ingredients combined. The licorice is some unstated share of that 50 mg.

Using our Cinnamon & Licorice Root Drops as well? Add them to the tally. They list 174 mg of 1:5 extract of licorice root per 2 ml (40 drops) serving, plus 75 mg of 1:5 extract of turmeric root, so you'd get licorice and turmeric from two products each day.

The drops aren't the only overlap. Six more Betterly labels list licorice, and our DGL vs licorice root guide tables all eight.

The other five extracts are Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) at 20 mg, plus chicory (Cichorium intybus), grape (Vitis vinifera), Phyllanthus niruri and amla (Phyllanthus emblica) at 15 mg each. If you've reacted to any of those plants before, skip the strip.

From our shop: Turmeric & Andrographis Strips — mango-and-orange oral strips listing 15 mg of andrographis extract per 1 Oral Strip (165 mg) serving alongside six other plant extracts, for adults who've cleared the cautions above.

Can you take andrographis every day, and with or without food?

You can take Betterly's Turmeric & Andrographis Strips daily as labeled: 1 oral strip on the tongue each day, and the label says nothing about food.

Here are the label's directions, plus one habit we'd add:

1. One strip a day, set on the tongue to dissolve. The label warns, "Do not exceed recommended dose."
2. With or without food. Neither a meal nor a time of day appears in the directions, so either fits.
3. Our addition: while you finish your first pack, note anything new, such as queasiness, loose stools, dizziness, tiredness or a rash, and the day it started.

If one of those shows up, stop the strip instead of moving it to a meal and hoping it settles. Your dated notes give your provider something concrete to go on.

How long can you keep going? ODS sets no time limit for andrographis, which isn't proof that years of use are fine. If you plan to keep reordering 30-strip packs, raise it with your provider at your next visit.

When don't you need andrographis?

You can skip andrographis entirely: it's an herb with no Daily Value, not a nutrient you must get, so any caution in this guide is reason enough.

Our panel's footnote agrees: "Daily Value (DV) not established." You can also leave it out when:

• Your stomach reacts easily. Three of the six effects ODS lists are digestive, so a sensitive stomach has the most to lose here.
• You already get licorice from another label. The strip adds more, and it doesn't say how much.
• You already take a long list of supplements. ODS counts that as a side-effect risk, and each extra product makes a reaction harder to pin on one thing.
• You like the strip format but not these ingredients. A different strip may suit you better.

For that last group, we sell strips without andrographis or licorice. Mushrooms carry their own cautions, though, and that strip prints the same caution line as this one. Compare the amounts per serving across our focus and clarity collection.

From our shop: Lion's Mane & Maitake Focus Strips — a chocolate oral strip listing 30 mg of lion's mane and 25 mg each of maitake and cordyceps per 1 Oral Strip (260 mg) serving, with no andrographis or licorice on the label.

Who should talk to a healthcare provider before trying andrographis?

Before starting andrographis, ask a healthcare provider if you take a blood thinner, an immune-suppressing medicine or a heart or circulation medicine, use a corticosteroid (our strip contains licorice), or once had a plant-extract rash.

The same goes if you're pregnant, trying to conceive, nursing, under 18, on any other prescription, due for surgery or managing a medical condition. Four of those come straight from our strip's own caution. The ODS fact sheet adds the fertility note, possible blood thinning and the medicine interactions.

To make that visit count, bring the pack or a photo of both ingredient sections, and name every supplement you take, including teas, drops and gummies.

FAQ: andrographis side effects

Can andrographis affect your liver or kidneys?

The ODS summary of andrographis is silent on this: it never mentions liver or kidney effects, so it can't rule them in or out. If you manage any medical condition, ask before you start. If you feel unusually unwell after beginning any new supplement, stop it and call your provider. For the licorice in our strip, NCCIH links even small amounts of glycyrrhizin to severe reactions in people with kidney concerns.

Can andrographis cause headaches or diarrhea?

Andrographis can cause diarrhea, which is on the ODS side-effect list alongside nausea and vomiting. Headache isn't on that list. If either one starts after you begin andrographis, stop taking it and see whether it clears. Tell your provider if it doesn't.

Is andrographis safe while breastfeeding?

Andrographis has no safety answer yet for breastfeeding: the ODS andrographis summary doesn't address nursing, and no source we cite calls it safe. The ODS What You Need to Know guide advises caution with supplements beyond a standard prenatal while you're nursing, since many haven't been well tested in that group. Our strip's label says to consult a physician if nursing, and NCCIH says little is known about licorice while breastfeeding. Ask your provider first.

Can teenagers take andrographis?

Teenagers shouldn't start andrographis on their own, because our strip's label tells anyone under 18 to consult a physician. The ODS What You Need to Know guide adds that many supplements haven't been well tested for safety in children. It also advises care about giving a child supplements unless their provider recommends them.

Should you stop andrographis before surgery?

Possibly, and your surgical team should make that call, so tell them about andrographis as soon as a procedure is booked. ODS says andrographis might thin the blood. ODS's What You Need to Know guide says some supplements can increase the risk of bleeding and, if taken before surgery, can change your response to anesthesia. Your surgeon or anesthesiologist can tell you how far ahead to pause it.

Sources

• Dietary Supplements for Immune Function: Fact Sheet for Consumers, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
• Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
• Botanical Dietary Supplements: Background Information for Consumers, NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
• Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

If this left you looking for somewhere to start, read 15 mg andrographis extract oral strips — its amounts per serving are listed on the page. For the practical questions this raises, how dosing, sourcing and subscriptions work is answered in one place.