Chapters
Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata), the "king of bitters", sat in cold and flu capsules on Australian pharmacy shelves for years. In 2026 the TGA took it out of the ingredients allowed in listed (AUST L) medicines. This film takes that decision apart, weighing what the herb can do against the risk the TGA found.
It explains the two pathways for medicines in Australia, registered (AUST R) and listed (AUST L), and the five-step testing used to authenticate the crude herb. Andrographolide, the main marker, breaks down as the herb ages, and commercial capsules tested in Thailand ranged from about 2% to 16% total andrographolides. The film then grades the clinical trials by topic, first sore throat and uncomplicated upper respiratory infection, then prevention and COVID-19, where the results are mixed. On the risk side are the TGA's anaphylaxis reports: most reactions came within 30 minutes of a dose, often in people with no allergy history, which is faster than any label warning can help.