About Umckaloabo
Pelargonium sidoides root extract, standardised as EPs 7630, is used for acute bronchitis and other acute respiratory tract infections. Meta-analyses of placebo-controlled trials report a significant reduction in bronchitis symptom scores by day 7 (Agbabiaka 2008; WMD ~2.8 points on the BSS). However, the Cochrane assessment rated the certainty of evidence as low: the trial base is small, geographically concentrated, subject to possible publication bias, and almost entirely sponsored by the single manufacturer of EPs 7630. Adverse events in trials were mild to moderate and dose-dependent; rare hepatobiliary reactions have been reported in post-marketing surveillance. No established RDA or UL.
What Umckaloabo supports
- Lower acute bronchitis symptom scores by day 7 in placebo-controlled trials
How much Umckaloabo to take
The RDA prevents deficiency. The effective range is what clinical trials used to actually move the outcome.
Effective
20–60
mg
Basis is the standardised dry root extract EPs 7630: 20 mg three times daily (60 mg/day) was the optimal dose in a randomised dose-finding trial (Matthys 2010). Liquid extracts (1:8–10) state a much larger extract mass on the label for the same clinical dose, so mg-for-mg comparison across forms is not valid.
Clinical evidence
Limited clinical evidence. Cochrane rated the evidence low-certainty: few trials, possible publication bias, and near-total sponsorship by the extract's manufacturer.
NIH Fact Sheet