The efficacy and function of Indigo

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Indigo has great medicinal value and can treat many diseases. Let’s take a closer look at it below.

【English name】 INDIGO NATURALIS

[Other names] Indigo, indigo flower, indigo foam, blue indigo

[Source] This product is a dry powder or agglomerate made by processing the leaves or stems of Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Bremek. of the Acanthaceae family, Polygonum tinctorium Ait. of the Polygonaceae family, or Isatis indigotica Fort. of the Cruciferae family .

[Properties] This product is dark blue powder, light and easy to fly; or irregular porous lumps, which can be rubbed into fine powder by hand. It has a slight grassy smell and a light taste.

[Identification] (1) Take a small amount of this product and burn it over a low flame. Purple-red smoke will be produced.

[Content Determination] Preparation of reference solution Take 20 mg of indigo reference, weigh accurately, place in a conical flask, slowly add 15 ml of sulfuric acid, gently stir with a glass rod, place in an 80°C water bath for sulfonation for 1 hour, stir at any time, take out, and cool. Slowly transfer the solution into a 200ml volumetric flask containing an appropriate amount of water, wash the container and residue with water, add the washing liquid into the volumetric flask, add water to the scale, shake well, filter, accurately measure 5ml of the filtrate, place it in a 50ml volumetric flask, add water to the scale, shake well, and you have it (each 1ml contains 10μg of indigo).

【Nature and flavor】Salty, cold.

【return through meridians】 Return to the Liver meridian.

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and detoxifies, cools blood, and calms the nerves. It is used for rashes caused by warm toxins, vomiting and bleeding due to blood heat, chest pain and hemoptysis, mouth ulcers, mumps, throat congestion, and epilepsy in children.

[Usage and Dosage] 1.5-3g, preferably taken in the form of pills or powder. For external use, apply in appropriate amount.

【Storage】 Store in a dry place.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

【Source】 Records of Medicinal Properties

Through the introduction in the above article, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of Indigo, which is a medicinal material we are very familiar with, but it has many medicinal properties and functions. Therefore, I hope everyone will consume it based on their own situation.