✵The article records the herb Natural Indigo—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—namely, the leaf-derived deep blue powder from Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these species; the characteristics of the herb; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Indigo Naturalis (Natural Indigo)
Pinyin Name: Qīnɡ Dài
English Name: Natural Indigo
Latin Name:Indigo Naturalis Properties and Flavor: Cold; salty
Brief Introduction:Indigo Naturalis is a deep blue powder prepared from the fermented and processed leaves of Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. (Acanthaceae), Polygonum tinctorium Ait. (Polygonaceae), Indigofera tinctoria L. (Fabaceae), or Isatis indigotica Fort. (Brassicaceae). It is primarily used to treat eruptive febrile diseases and high fever in children, and externally for oral ulcers, mumps, and cutaneous infections. It is commonly known as Indigo Naturalis, Natural Indigo, or Qīnɡ Dài.
Botanical Source:Indigo Naturalis (Natural Indigo) is a deep blue powder obtained from the fermented and processed leaves of the following plant species: (1) Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. (Acanthaceae); (2) Polygonum tinctorium Ait. (Polygonaceae); (3) Indigofera tinctoria L. (Fabaceae); or (4) Isatis indigotica Fort. (Brassicaceae). It is sometimes colloquially referred to as "Natural Indigo" or "Common Baphicacanthus Rhizome and Root" — though this latter term is misleading, as Indigo Naturalis is derived exclusively from leaves, not rhizomes or roots. Species (2) and (3) are described in preceding sections under "Folium Polygoni Tinctorii (Indigoplant Leaf)" and "Folium Indigoferae (Indigo Leaf)", respectively. The most pharmacologically significant source is introduced below:
(1) Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek.
Botanical Description:Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. — also known as Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) O. Kuntze — is commonly called Mǎ Lán. It is a perennial herb reaching 30–70 cm in height. Stems and leaves appear blue or atrovirens (greenish-black) when dried. The rhizome is thick and stout, with a blue fracture surface. The basal portion of the aerial stem is slightly lignified, quadrangular in cross-section, sparsely branched, and bears swollen nodes covered with brownish trichomes in the seedling stage. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 1–4 cm; leaf blades are obovate-elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 6–15 cm long and 4–8 cm wide; the apex is acute or subobtuse; the base tapers gradually; margins are shallowly serrated, undulate, or entire; the upper surface is glabrous and densely marked with tapering, striate lines; the lower surface bears sparse, brownish trichomes along the veins in young plants; lateral veins occur in 5–6 pairs.
Flowers are sessile and arranged in sparse, terminal or axillary spikes. Bracts are foliaceous (leaf-like), narrowly obovate, and caducous. The calyx has five linear lobes, 1–1.4 cm long; one lobe is typically enlarged and spatulate, glabrous. The corolla is funnelform, mauve (lilac), 4.5–5.5 cm long; its five lobes are nearly equal in length (6–7 mm), with emarginate apices. There are four didynamous stamens; pollen grains are elliptic, striated, with two undulating ridges. The ovary is superior; the style is slender and elongated.
The capsule is narrowly spatulate, 1.5–2 cm long. Each capsule contains four mucilaginous seeds. Flowering occurs from June to October; fruiting from July to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows wild in open fields or is cultivated in moist, shaded habitats—such as mountainous regions and forest margins.
Characteristics of the Herb:Indigo Naturalis appears as a midnight-blue (navy-blue) powder, light and readily airborne; or as irregular, porous, friable masses that readily crumble into fine powder upon rubbing or gentle pressure. It possesses a faint grassy odor and a mild, bland taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Inhibitory activity against Bacillus anthracis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella spp., Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis; however, it shows no inhibition against Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus spp. (broadly), or Mycobacterium tuberculosis—a discrepancy likely attributable to differences in extraction methods and compound solubility.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood, clearing liver and reducing fire, stopping convulsions. It is indicated for epidemic heat syndrome with maculae, warm disease with pyretic toxin and maculae, blood-heat-induced hematemesis and epistaxis, liver-fire-induced fright epilepsy, liver-fire invading the lung causing cough, chest pain with hemoptysis, maculae, oral ulcers, mumps, carbuncles and swellings, pharyngitis, sore throat, infantile convulsive epilepsy, erysipelas, and snake or insect bites.
Administration of Indigo Naturalis (Qīnɡ Dài):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Indigo Naturalis (Qīnɡ Dài)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 1.5–3 grams; preferably formulated into pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount. (2) Internally: water decoction, 5–8 fēn (≈1.5–2.4 grams), or formulated into pills or powders. External use: sprinkle dry powder or apply as a paste. (3) Internally: finely ground herb powder, 1.5–6 grams, or formulated into pills. External use: appropriate amount; sprinkle dry powder or apply as a paste.
✵The article records the herb Natural Indigo—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—namely, the leaf-derived deep blue powder from Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these species; the characteristics of the herb; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Qīnɡ Dài
Botanical Description: Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. — also known as Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) O. Kuntze — is commonly called Mǎ Lán. It is a perennial herb reaching 30–70 cm in height. Stems and leaves appear blue or atrovirens (greenish-black) when dried. The rhizome is thick and stout, with a blue fracture surface. The basal portion of the aerial stem is slightly lignified, quadrangular in cross-section, sparsely branched, and bears swollen nodes covered with brownish trichomes in the seedling stage. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 1–4 cm; leaf blades are obovate-elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 6–15 cm long and 4–8 cm wide; the apex is acute or subobtuse; the base tapers gradually; margins are shallowly serrated, undulate, or entire; the upper surface is glabrous and densely marked with tapering, striate lines; the lower surface bears sparse, brownish trichomes along the veins in young plants; lateral veins occur in 5–6 pairs.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows wild in open fields or is cultivated in moist, shaded habitats—such as mountainous regions and forest margins.
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