Supplement

Umckaloabo

Umckaloabo is a herbal extract made from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides, a South African geranium, traditionally used for chest and airway complaints and thought to influence how the body responds to respiratory infections. People mostly look at it for bronchitis, and the evidence is strong: pooled trials, including one in children and adolescents, found bronchitis symptoms improved. Smaller studies pointed to eased asthma symptoms during colds, but that rests on a single trial of 61 children, so it is limited.

Sources: PMID 18222667; PMID 22360575

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
22 studies cited

Best evidence: Grade A
Conditions studied: 9
Outcomes: 42
Graded outcomes: 3321

Evidence by condition

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

9 conditions

Acute Bronchitis

Acute Bronchitis: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bronchitis Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	4 studies	1,012 people
Studies that measured bronchitis symptoms Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine · PMID 18222667 Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescentsPediatr Int · PMID 22360575 Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 on acute cough and quality of life - a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Multidiscip Respir Med · PMID 36051888 Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 24146345
	Appetite Small Increase	Worsens (the measure goes up)	Small effect		620 people
	Lung Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		10 studies	4,241 people
Studies that measured lung function Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialExplore · PMID 16781588 EPs 7630 improves acute bronchitic symptoms and shortens time to remission. Results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trialPlanta Med · PMID 18449849 Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 17184981 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in patients (aged 6-18 years old) with acute bronchitisActa Paediatr · PMID 20070280 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 tablets in patients with acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoidesCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 20387996 EPs 7630-solution--an effective therapeutic option in acute and exacerbating bronchitisPhytomedicine · PMID 17184984 Treatment of acute bronchitis with a liquid herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre studyCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 17288687 Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 12807337 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in children and adolescents with acute bronchitis - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides rootsInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther · PMID 20197012 Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of EPs 7630 in adults with COPDRespir Med · PMID 23478193
	Fever	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	3,237 people
Studies that measured fever Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialExplore · PMID 18005909 The efficacy of Pelargonium sidoides in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancyPhytomedicine · PMID 22809962
	Common Cold Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	693 people
Studies that measured common cold symptoms Treatment of signs and symptoms of the common cold using EPs 7630 - results of a meta-analysis.Heliyon · PMID 31844762
	Cough	Changes; see studies		1 study	719 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			3,641 people
	Headaches	Improves (the measure goes down)			4,261 people
	Nausea Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)			620 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			1,111 people

Common Cold

Common Cold: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bronchitis Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	4 studies	644 people
Studies that measured bronchitis symptoms Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine · PMID 18222667 Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescentsPediatr Int · PMID 22360575 Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 on acute cough and quality of life - a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Multidiscip Respir Med · PMID 36051888 Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 24146345
	Fever	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	131 people
Studies that measured fever Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialExplore · PMID 18005909 The efficacy of Pelargonium sidoides in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancyPhytomedicine · PMID 22809962
	Common Cold Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	832 people
Studies that measured common cold symptoms Treatment of signs and symptoms of the common cold using EPs 7630 - results of a meta-analysis.Heliyon · PMID 31844762
	Cough	Changes; see studies		1 study	746 people
Studies that measured cough Herbal Medicine for Cough: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Forsch Komplementmed · PMID 26840418
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	131 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with the preparation from Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialRhinology · PMID 19382496
	Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	28 people
	Headaches	Improves (the measure goes down)			103 people

Acute Bronchitis

Bronchitis Symptoms: improves
Appetite: worsens
Lung Function: improves

Acute Bronchitis: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bronchitis Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	4 studies	1,012 people
Studies that measured bronchitis symptoms Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine · PMID 18222667 Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescentsPediatr Int · PMID 22360575 Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 on acute cough and quality of life - a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Multidiscip Respir Med · PMID 36051888 Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 24146345
	Appetite Small Increase	Worsens (the measure goes up)	Small effect		620 people
	Lung Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		10 studies	4,241 people
Studies that measured lung function Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialExplore · PMID 16781588 EPs 7630 improves acute bronchitic symptoms and shortens time to remission. Results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trialPlanta Med · PMID 18449849 Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 17184981 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in patients (aged 6-18 years old) with acute bronchitisActa Paediatr · PMID 20070280 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 tablets in patients with acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoidesCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 20387996 EPs 7630-solution--an effective therapeutic option in acute and exacerbating bronchitisPhytomedicine · PMID 17184984 Treatment of acute bronchitis with a liquid herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre studyCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 17288687 Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 12807337 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in children and adolescents with acute bronchitis - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides rootsInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther · PMID 20197012 Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of EPs 7630 in adults with COPDRespir Med · PMID 23478193
	Fever	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	3,237 people
Studies that measured fever Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialExplore · PMID 18005909 The efficacy of Pelargonium sidoides in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancyPhytomedicine · PMID 22809962
	Common Cold Symptoms	Changes; see studies		1 study	693 people
Studies that measured common cold symptoms Treatment of signs and symptoms of the common cold using EPs 7630 - results of a meta-analysis.Heliyon · PMID 31844762
	Cough	Changes; see studies		1 study	719 people
	Fatigue Symptoms	Changes; see studies			3,641 people
	Headaches	Changes; see studies			4,261 people
	Nausea Symptoms	Changes; see studies			620 people
	Subjective Well-Being	Improves (the measure goes up)			1,111 people

Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI)

Bronchitis Symptoms: improves
Common Cold Symptoms: improves
Nasal Congestion: improves

Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI): outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bronchitis Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	4 studies	341 people
Studies that measured bronchitis symptoms Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine · PMID 18222667 Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescentsPediatr Int · PMID 22360575 Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 on acute cough and quality of life - a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Multidiscip Respir Med · PMID 36051888 Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 24146345
	Common Cold Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	1,771 people
Studies that measured common cold symptoms Treatment of signs and symptoms of the common cold using EPs 7630 - results of a meta-analysis.Heliyon · PMID 31844762
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	1,771 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with the preparation from Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialRhinology · PMID 19382496
	Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	990 people
Studies that measured upper respiratory tract infection symptoms Herbal Medicine in Children With Respiratory Tract Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Acad Pediatr · PMID 28610802

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection

Asthma Symptoms: improves
Fever: improves
Cough: changes; see studies

Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	61 people
Studies that measured asthma symptoms Can the Pelargonium sidoides root extract EPs® 7630 prevent asthma attacks during viral infections of the upper respiratory tract in childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 23142309
	Fever	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	61 people
Studies that measured fever Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialExplore · PMID 18005909 The efficacy of Pelargonium sidoides in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancyPhytomedicine · PMID 22809962
	Cough	Changes; see studies		1 study	746 people
Studies that measured cough Herbal Medicine for Cough: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Forsch Komplementmed · PMID 26840418
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	61 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with the preparation from Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialRhinology · PMID 19382496

Immune Health

Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression: improves
Immunoglobulin A: improves

Immune Health: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect		25 people
	Immunoglobulin A	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	25 people
Studies that measured immunoglobulin a Immune responses induced by Pelargonium sidoides extract in serum and nasal mucosa of athletes after exhaustive exercise: modulation of secretory IgA, IL-6 and IL-15Phytomedicine · PMID 20850953

Aerobic Exercise Performance

Aerobic Exercise Metrics
Immunoglobulin A: improves
Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression: improves

Aerobic Exercise Performance: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect		NoneNo effect		25 people
	Immunoglobulin A	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	25 people
Studies that measured immunoglobulin a Immune responses induced by Pelargonium sidoides extract in serum and nasal mucosa of athletes after exhaustive exercise: modulation of secretory IgA, IL-6 and IL-15Phytomedicine · PMID 20850953
	Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression	Improves (the measure goes up)			25 people

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Lung Function: improves

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Lung Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		10 studies	199 people
Studies that measured lung function Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialExplore · PMID 16781588 EPs 7630 improves acute bronchitic symptoms and shortens time to remission. Results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trialPlanta Med · PMID 18449849 Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 17184981 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in patients (aged 6-18 years old) with acute bronchitisActa Paediatr · PMID 20070280 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 tablets in patients with acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoidesCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 20387996 EPs 7630-solution--an effective therapeutic option in acute and exacerbating bronchitisPhytomedicine · PMID 17184984 Treatment of acute bronchitis with a liquid herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre studyCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 17288687 Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 12807337 Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in children and adolescents with acute bronchitis - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides rootsInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther · PMID 20197012 Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of EPs 7630 in adults with COPDRespir Med · PMID 23478193

Sinusitis

Nasal Congestion: improves

Sinusitis: outcomes studied for Umckaloabo
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	203 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with the preparation from Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialRhinology · PMID 19382496

Key findings

Bronchitis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
AppetiteWorsens (the measure goes up)
Asthma SymptomsUpper Respiratory Tract InfectionImproves (the measure goes down)

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Third-party tested Umckaloabo products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.

Grade A

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Studies cited

22 studies from PubMed

Treatment of acute bronchitis in adults with a pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialExplore · PMID 16781588
EPs 7630 improves acute bronchitic symptoms and shortens time to remission. Results of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trialPlanta Med · PMID 18449849
Pelargonium sidoides preparation (EPs 7630) in the treatment of acute bronchitis in adults and childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 17184981
Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in patients (aged 6-18 years old) with acute bronchitisActa Paediatr · PMID 20070280
Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 tablets in patients with acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-finding study with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoidesCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 20387996
EPs 7630-solution--an effective therapeutic option in acute and exacerbating bronchitisPhytomedicine · PMID 17184984
Treatment of acute bronchitis with a liquid herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre studyCurr Med Res Opin · PMID 17288687
Efficacy and safety of an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) in adults with acute bronchitis. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialPhytomedicine · PMID 12807337
Efficacy and tolerability of EPs 7630 in children and adolescents with acute bronchitis - a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial with a herbal drug preparation from Pelargonium sidoides rootsInt J Clin Pharmacol Ther · PMID 20197012
Pelargonium sidoides for acute bronchitis: a systematic review and meta-analysisPhytomedicine · PMID 18222667
Treatment of acute bronchitis with EPs 7630: randomized, controlled trial in children and adolescentsPediatr Int · PMID 22360575
Effects of Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 on acute cough and quality of life - a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.Multidiscip Respir Med · PMID 36051888
Treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with the preparation from Pelargonium sidoides EPs 7630: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialRhinology · PMID 19382496
Can the Pelargonium sidoides root extract EPs® 7630 prevent asthma attacks during viral infections of the upper respiratory tract in childrenPhytomedicine · PMID 23142309
Herbal Medicine for Cough: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Forsch Komplementmed · PMID 26840418
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of EPs 7630 in adults with COPDRespir Med · PMID 23478193
Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialExplore · PMID 18005909
The efficacy of Pelargonium sidoides in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in children with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancyPhytomedicine · PMID 22809962
Treatment of signs and symptoms of the common cold using EPs 7630 - results of a meta-analysis.Heliyon · PMID 31844762
Immune responses induced by Pelargonium sidoides extract in serum and nasal mucosa of athletes after exhaustive exercise: modulation of secretory IgA, IL-6 and IL-15Phytomedicine · PMID 20850953
Herbal Medicine in Children With Respiratory Tract Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Acad Pediatr · PMID 28610802
Pelargonium sidoides extract for treating acute respiratory tract infections.Cochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 24146345

Evidence by condition

Acute Bronchitis

Key findings

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

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