Natural indigo (Qingdai)
Baphicacanthus cusia (Acanthaceae)
Pharmaceutical Name: Indigo Naturalis
Botanical Name: A blue powder prepared
from: 1. Baphicacanthus cusia (Acanthaceae);
2. Indigofera suffruticosa Mill. (Leguminosae);
3. Polygonum tinctorium Ait.
(Polygonaceae); 4. Isatis indigotica
Fort. (Cruciferae)
Common Name: Natural indigo
Source of Earliest Record: Yaoxing Lun.
Part Used & Method for Pharmaceutical
Preparations: The combination of pigments from Baphicacanthus cusia,
Indigofera suffruticosa, Polygonum tinctorium and Isatis tinctoria is prepared
and dried into a blue powder.
Properties & Taste: Salty and cold.
Meridians: Liver, lung and stomach.
Functions: 1. To clear heat and release
toxins; 2. To cool blood and reduce swelling
Indications & Combinations:
1. Eruptions due to toxic heat in the blood.
Natural indigo (Qingdai) is used with Gypsum (Shigao) and Fresh rehmannia
root (Shengdihuang) in the formula Qingdai Shigao Tang.
2. Hemorrhagic disease due to extravasation
of the blood by heat manifested as vomiting of blood, epistaxis and cough with
blood and sputum. Natural indigo (Qingdai) is used with Biota tops
(Cebaiye) and Imperata rhizome (Baimaogen).
3. Infantile convulsions due to high fever.
Natural indigo (Qingdai) is used with Ox gallstone (Niuhuang) and Uncaria stem
(Gouteng) in the formula Liang Jing Wan.
4. Heat in the lungs manifested as cough,
asthma and cough with thick yellow sputum. Natural indigo (Qingdai) is used
with Trichosanthes fruit (Gualou), Tendrilled fritillary bulb (Chuanbeimu) and
Costazia bone (Haifushi) in the formula Qingdai Haishi Wan.
5. Acute mumps, boils and carbuncles.
Natural indigo (Qingdai) is used with Scrophularia (Xuanshen), Honeysuckle
flower (Jinyinhua) and Forsythia fruit (Lianqiao).
6. For ulcers in the mouth, mumps, and pharyngitis, it is used
internally or topically. It can be used alone or with Radix Scrophulariae (Xuan
Shen), Flos Lonicerae (Jin Yin Hua), and Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae (Lian
Qiao).
Dosage: 1.5-3 g used as pills or powder; cannot be used in decoction.
It can also be mixed with water for external use.
Cautions & Contraindications: This
substance is contraindicated during a cold in the stomach.
Comparision:
Indigo
Naturalis (Qing Dai) and Folium Isatidis
(Da Qing Ye): they have a similar function, but the former is more effective in clearing Heat
from Blood and checking Endogenous Wind.
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