Isatis Root – 1 lb (454 g)

Isatis Root, known in Chinese as 板蓝根 (Bǎnlángēn) and scientifically as Radix Isatidis, is a valued herb in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This TCM herb has been traditionally used to support natural wellness, maintain vitality, and encourage holistic balance. At TCMforyou.com, we provide premium-quality Isatis Root carefully sourced to preserve its therapeutic properties.

As a herbal supplement, Isatis Root helps promote overall well-being and supports natural energy, immunity, and balance. Integrating this herb into your wellness routine offers a gentle, time-tested approach to enhancing daily health. Whether brewed as tea, added to herbal remedies, or taken as part of a TCM formula, Isatis Root provides a safe, natural way to experience the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine.

Trusted for centuries, Isatis Root has been used in TCM to harmonize the body and encourage optimal functioning of key systems. At TCMforyou, we prioritize authenticity and quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure purity and potency, delivering an herbal product aligned with traditional practices.

Experience the natural support of Isatis Root, promoting immune health, vitality, and holistic well-being. Embrace the wisdom of TCM and incorporate this gentle, effective herbal remedy into your daily wellness journey.

[Overview] This herb is also known as Indigo Root or Blue Indigo Root. It is the root of Isatis indigotica Fort., a plant of the Cruciferae family. The main production areas are Anguo in Hebei and Nantong in Jiangsu, with Anhui and Henan also producing it. The roots are harvested after autumn frost, with stems, leaves, and soil removed, then cleaned and sun-dried.

[Properties] Bitter in taste, cold in nature. Enters the Heart, Liver, and Stomach meridians.

[Actions] Clears heat and detoxifies, cools the blood, benefits the throat.

[Applications]
1. Used for externally contracted wind-heat or early-stage warm diseases with fever, headache, and sore throat; taken alone as a decoction or combined with Lonicera japonica (Jinyinhua) and Forsythia suspensa (Lianqiao).
2. Used for warm-heat rash or vomiting blood, swollen head plague, and heat toxin abscesses. For warm toxin rash and high fever with headache, often combined with Isatis leaf (Daqingye), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao), and Scutellaria baicalensis (Huangqin); for warm pathogen heat entering the nutritive and blood levels with persistent high fever, delirium, purple rash, vomiting blood, and nosebleed, often combined with Rhinoceros horn (Xijiao) and Rehmannia glutinosa (Sheng Dihuang), as in the formula Shenxi Dan; for swollen head plague, rotten throat, erysipelas, mumps, and throat obstruction, often combined with Coptis chinensis (Huanglian), Arctium lappa seed (Niubangzi), Bombyx batryticatus (Jiangcan), and Scrophularia ningpoensis (Xuanshen), as in Puji Xiaodu Yin; for abscesses, can be combined with Lonicera japonica, Forsythia suspensa, and Viola yedoensis (Zihuadiding).
Additionally, it is used for chickenpox and measles, combined with Cicadae Periostracum (Chanyi), Phragmites root (Lugen), Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Zicao), and Cimicifuga (Shengma).
Currently, it is commonly used clinically to treat influenza, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, epidemic encephalitis B, and infectious hepatitis.

[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: decoction, 9–15 g; large doses may be 60–120 g; or used in pills or powders. External use: appropriate amount, decoction for fumigation and washing.

[Cautions] Use with caution in cases of spleen and stomach deficiency cold without real heat or fire toxin.

[Modern Research]
1. Chemical constituents: Radix Isatidis contains indigo, indirubin, β-sitosterol, γ-sitosterol, and various amino acids such as arginine, glutamic acid, tyrosine, proline, valine, and γ-aminobutyric acid; it also contains sinalbin, isatan B, and tryptanthrin.
2. Pharmacological effects: The water decoction of Radix Isatidis inhibits Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis; extracts inhibit viral infection and proliferation; Banlangen Qinggen has anti-Escherichia coli O157 endotoxin effects; polysaccharides from Radix Isatidis enhance animal immune function; 50% Radix Isatidis injection has strong direct cytotoxic effects on mouse Frierd leukemia 3cl8 cells.
3. Clinical reports:
1) Chronic pharyngitis: Radix Isatidis injection was administered submucosally into the posterior pharyngeal wall using a 5-gauge needle, 1 ml at four points (two points on each side, upper and lower mucosa), avoiding deep injection; the mucosa should blanch and slightly bulge at the injection site. Treatment was given three times per week for two weeks per course. Among 62 cases, 47 were markedly effective, 12 improved, and 3 ineffective, with a total effective rate of 95.2%. [Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 1990, 10(12): 739]
2) Chickenpox: Radix Isatidis 30–50 g daily decocted and taken as tea substitute in divided doses. A total of 184 cases were treated and all cured within 2–5 days. [New Medicine, 1987, 18(3): 137]
3) Hepatitis B surface antigen positive: 30 g dry Radix Isatidis prepared into 30 ml syrup, orally 10 ml three times daily after meals for 3 months per course, with monthly follow-up. Among 52 cases, 32 turned negative (62%). [New Medicine, 1980, 11(4): 198]
4) Epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis: Radix Isatidis injection (2 ml per vial, equivalent to 1 g crude drug) used as eye drops, 2–4 drops four times daily. Among 75 cases (141 eyes), all cured with an average cure time of 3 days. [Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1989, (1): 45]
5) Flat warts: Radix Isatidis injection 4 ml intramuscularly once daily for 30 consecutive days per course; if not cured, an additional 10 days. Among 30 patients, 11 cured, 12 improved, 7 ineffective. [Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1987, (5): 4]
6) Herpes simplex keratitis: 61 cases randomly divided into Radix Isatidis injection treatment group (31 cases) and western medicine control group (30 cases). The treatment group received sub-conjunctival and intramuscular injections of Radix Isatidis injection; control group received sub-conjunctival injection of Virazole; both groups used 0.1% acyclovir eye drops locally. Results: superficial and deep cure rates in the Radix Isatidis group were 94.7% and 75.0%, with average treatment durations of 16.2 and 22.7 days; control group cure rates were 83.3% and 58.3%, with average durations of 21 and 27.2 days, showing significant differences. [Journal of Hebei Medical University, 1998, 19(4): 215]
7) Recurrent oral ulcers: Radix Isatidis crude drug was defatted and biochemically refined into capsules weighing 0.3 g each (containing zinc 3.1 μg, magnesium 26.1 μg, iron 24.6 μg, soluble plant protein 2.6 mg), taken 3 capsules three times daily after meals for one week per course. Total effective rate was 80%. [Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1998, 6: 35]
8) Herpes zoster: Radix Isatidis granules 15 g and cimetidine 0.2 g orally three times daily. Among 32 cases, 18 cured, 10 markedly effective, 3 effective, 1 ineffective; total effective rate 96.87%. [Heilongjiang Medicine, 2001, 24(4): 43]