Qing Dai - Indigo Naturalis
TCM Materia Medica
Qing Dai TCM Herb Classifications and Usages
The TCM herb "qing dai" which in english is "indigo naturalis", is categorized within the "herbs that clear heat and relieve toxicity" functional grouping. It is thought to enter the liver, lung and stomach channels and exhibits cold (han) and salty (xian) taste/temperature properties.
Dosages and preparations will vary according to each individual and the overall approach of a formula, but generally this herb has the following dosage and/or preparation guidelines:
- Dosage: 3-20g
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
- Cools the blood - can be useful for bleeding disorders, nosebleeds, bruising/blotches at the skin level.
- Clears heat/toxic heat - cough, particularly with yellow mucus, sore throat, mouthsores, mumps.
- Drains liver fire/calms liver wind - convulsions, clear summerheat affecting the liver system in particular.
Qing Dai has some precautions to be considered (see our precautions list).
- Use with caution in patients with cold in the stomach and/or very deficient spleen/stomach qi.
- Some patients may have skin allergic reactions to the herb.
A single herb is not often thought of as an empirical way to influence a TCM diagnostic pattern. Qing Dai, however, is a strong candidate to be considered when needing to influence liver fire, lung wind invasion - wind heat and/or summer heat.
Qing Dai may potentially be used, in coordination with a well tailored formula (in most cases), to influence the following conditions: convulsions, mouth sores (ulcers) and/or sore throat
As noted above, qing dai is within the herbs that clear heat and relieve toxicity functional group. All the herbs in this category are listed below.
(truncated intro "... toxins for the purpose of this categorization means fevers and other adverse effects of infectious diseases where patients are clinically sick. )".
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