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.