1. Description:
Indigo Naturalis (Chinese Pinyin: Qing Dai, Simplified Chinese: 青黛, 靛花, 青蛤粉, 青缸花, 蓝露, 淀花, 靛沫花) is the latin name for a family of botanicals that includes Baphicacanthus cusia, Polygonum tinctorium (Persicaria tinctoria), Isatis indigotica and Indigofera tinctoria. One of its most common forms is in a dried powder cultivated from the fermented leaves, blossoms and stems from these plants. Perhaps best known for its rich, highly pigmented dye used for textiles, Indigo Naturalis also has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (CTM) where it acts as antipyretic, detoxicant, antispasmodic and sedative. It is widely adopted in treating different diseases and health problems, such as hematemesis and mouth sores.
2. Odour, Properties And Channels:
Indigo naturalis is considered to have brackish and cold properties and to be associated with the liver meridians.
3. Uses, Health Benefits of Indigo naturalis & Medical Formulas:
3.1 Reducing Inflammation And Relieving Pain
Bulb of the pleione, indigo naturalis and borneol are porphyrized into powder, the powder is inhaled to treat sphagitis and quinsy.
Powdered corydalis yanhusuo rhizome, indigo naturalis and fruit of honeylocust (peeled, seeds removed) are pounded into powder; nose drops of water solution of the powder helps to treat migraine and headache.
3.2 Skin Health
Pills made with Indigo naturalis, beeswax and alum can be used in treating sores and boils.
Ointment made with Indigo naturalis powder, calcined gypsum, calcined calamine powder and Galla Chinensis can be applied externally to treat chronic eczema.
3.3 Food Poisoning
Water solution of realgar and indigo naturalis powder can be used to treat normal food poisoning.
3.4 The Excretory System
Indigo naturalis, root of scutellaria baicalensis, sea amber and medicated leaven (fried) are powdered and used in treating intestine asthenic diarrhea.
3.5 Diabetes
A mixture of pumice, indigo naturalis and musk can be pounded into powder for internal taking to treat diabetes.
The Ben Cao Medical Book (also known as Compendium of Materia Medica or Ben Cao Gang Mu; Chinese: 本草纲目) is the most famous and comprehensive medical book ever written in the history of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Compiled and written by Li Shi-zhen (1518~1593), a medical expert of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) over 27 years.
The Ben Cao Medical Book records and describes all the plants, animals, minerals, and other objects that were believed to have medicinal properties in TCM. The book reflects the pharmaceutical achievements and developments of East Asia before the 16th century. On the basis of his predecessors’ achievements in the pharmacological studies, Li contributed further by supplementing and rectifying many past mistakes and misconception in relate to nature of many medicinal substances and causes of various illnesses. Charles Darwin, originator of the biological theory of evolution, regards the book as the “ancient Chinese encyclopedia”.
Disclaimer: The Ben Cao Medical Book is translated by ChinaAbout.net . The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of CTM knowledge and information from the research and experience from the author Li Shi-zhen. Kindly be alert that the CTM knowledge and ancient formulas given above are likely NOT medically proven and may contain misconceptions.