Natural
indigo (Qingdai)
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).
Dosage: 1.5-3 g
Cautions & Contraindications:
This substance is contraindicated during a
cold in the stomach. |
