Single Herb Glossary
Qīng Dài 青黛
| Pharmaceutical name | Indigo naturalis Polygonum tinctorium levis, Indigo |
| Category | Clear Heat, Resolve Toxicity |
| Key Properties | Clears Heat, Resolves Toxicity Cools the Blood, Reduces maculae Drains the Liver, Clears the Lungs Dispels summerheat, Settles convulsions |
| Properties | Salty Cold |
| Tropism | LV, LU, ST |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Clears Heat, Resolve Tox, Cools Blood, Reduces Maculae 2) Clears Heat, Resolve Tox, Cools Blood, Reduces Swelling 3) Drain LV Fire, Dispels Summerheat, Extinguishing Wind (Stop Tremors) 4) Clear LV Fire, Drain LU Heat & Cools the Blood |
| Dosages | 1.5-3g difficult to dissolve in water, used in pill/powder form or added to strained decoctions |
| Contraindications (TCM) | Caution with Deficiency & Cold of ST. |
| Contraindications (Western) | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or hematochezia may occur with overdose |
| Chemical Composition | Indigotin, indirubin, qingdainone, isatin, tryptanthrin, qingdaiin, laccerol, isoindigo |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Antineoplastic: indirubin associated with moderate inhibitory influence against tumor cells in animals; subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections of indirubin at 200 mg/kg for 6 to 7 days found to inhibit growth of tumor cells in mice with lung and breast cancers • Antibiotic: decoction has inhibitory influence against S. aureus, Bacillus anthracis and Vibrio cholerae |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | • Sulfonylurea antidiabetics and sulfonamide antibiotics: patients who are allergic to sulfonylureas and sulfonamides may also be allergic to Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis), Da Qing Ye (Folium Isatidis) and Ban Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis) |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Ke Xue Fang (Coughing of Blood Formula) 咳血方 Dang Gui Long Hui Wan (Tangkuei, Gentian, and Aloe Pill) (delete she xiang) 當歸龍薈丸 （減麝香） Hao Qin Qing Dan Tang Sweet Wormwood and Scutellaria Decoction to Clear Gallbladder) 蒿芩清膽湯 |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.