Witnessed by: TCM
Isatis (Isatis indigotica), of the Brassicaceae family. Biennial herb with a stout taproot and bluish-green leaves; native range: widely cultivated across China; the dye-plant of indigo tradition. Globally recognized as ban lan gen (板蓝根) root, da qing ye (大青叶) leaf in Chinese, and woad root, indigo woad leaf in English. The part used is root and leaf. Long grey-brown root and dark blue-green leaves, both bitter and markedly cold.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ISATIS
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- isatis
- Scientific name
- Isatis indigotica Fortune
- Family
- Brassicaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and leaf
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- bitter
Temperature
- TCM
- cold
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Heart · Stomach
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- clears heat, relieves toxicity, cools the blood, benefits the throat, disperses macular rash
Cautions
- Contraindications
- contraindicated in Spleen and Stomach cold from deficiency without true heat toxin
- Toxicity
- none significant at customary dose
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