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Alternate English names: woad leaf

Alternate Chinese names: 大青 dà qīng

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Isatis indigotica Fort. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Isatis indigotica Fort.*; Clerodendron cyrtophyllum Turcz.; Polygonum tinctorium Ait.; Isatis tinctoria L.; Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Brem.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Heat-clearing agents / Heat-clearing toxin-resolving agents

Properties: Bitter, salty; cold.

Channel entry: Lung, stomach, and heart channels.

Actions and indications:

• Clears heat and resolves toxin; cools the blood and disperses macules: Warm heat disease and externally contracted wind-heat patterns.
• Clears fire and resolves toxin; disinhibits the throat and disperses swelling: Exuberant heat toxin in the blood causing cinnabar toxin (erysipelas), mouth sores, or painful swollen throat.

Dosage and method: Oral: 10–15g in decoctions. Also used externally.

Warnings: Contraindicated in spleen-stomach vacuity cold.

Quality: Large leaves without petioles are the best.

Production area: Héběi, Jiāngsū, Húnán, Jiāngxī.

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