Green chiretta (andrographis paniculata)

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Other names for this ingredient

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Synopsis of green chiretta

Green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata), also known as kalmegh, king of bitters, or bhunimba, is a bitter annual herb native to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia. It is best known for its use in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and Thai traditional medicine for treating infections, inflammation, and liver disorders. The leaves and aerial parts are used medicinally and contain potent bioactive compounds such as andrographolide, neoandrographolide, and flavonoids, which give the herb its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, immune-stimulating, and antipyretic effects.

In modern herbal medicine, green chiretta is most widely used as a natural immune booster and antiviral agent, particularly for upper respiratory infections, colds, flu, and sore throat. It has shown the ability to modulate immune responses, reduce symptoms of infection, and shorten illness duration. It is also used for fevers, gastrointestinal complaints (like diarrhea and dysentery), and liver support, especially in cases of hepatitis, jaundice, or sluggish bile flow.

Andrographis is often found in capsules, tablets, or tinctures, and is commonly included in cold and flu formulas or detox blends. Due to its intensely bitter taste, it is rarely consumed as a tea.

Historical Use
In Ayurveda, green chiretta is known as kalmegh, meaning “dark cloud,” a reference to its cooling and detoxifying nature. It is used to clear heat, expel toxins, and support liver function, often prescribed for fevers, skin eruptions, and digestive upset. It is classified as bitter, cooling, and light, and is used to pacify Pitta and Kapha doshas. Classical texts describe its usefulness in treating malaria, indigestion, and inflammatory conditions.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Andrographis paniculata is known as Chuan Xin Lian and is used to clear heat, dry dampness, and resolve fire toxins, especially in the lung, stomach, and intestines. It is prescribed for coughs with yellow phlegm, sore throat, and diarrhea due to heat or damp-heat.

In Southeast Asian folk medicine, green chiretta has been widely used for snake bites, fevers, and as a liver tonic, often made into decoctions or powders. It was also included in traditional malaria treatments before the advent of synthetic antimalarials.

Today, green chiretta is considered a broad-spectrum botanical for supporting immune resilience, liver detoxification, and systemic inflammation, and is especially valued for acute infections and febrile illnesses. Its legacy as a bitter yet powerful healer remains strong across traditional and integrative health systems.

Green chiretta is used for these health conditions

Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Acid Indigestion (Traditional)
Blood Poisoning (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Traditional)
Chills (Traditional)
Cholera (Traditional)
Cholesterol (high) (Scientific)
Colds (general) (Scientific)
Colds (prevention) (Scientific)
Colds (with fever) (Scientific)
Cuts (Traditional)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Gastritis (Traditional)
Gonorrhea (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Hemorrhoids (Traditional)
Hepatitis (Traditional)
Indigestion (Traditional)
Infection (Scientific)
Inflammation (Scientific)
Influenza (Scientific)
Jaundice (adults) (Traditional)
Liver Detoxification (Traditional)
Malaria (Scientific)

green chiretta is used to support these body systems

Digestive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Scientific)
Immune System (Scientific)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Scientific)
Respiratory System (Scientific)
Spleen (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)