Osteomyelitis, hepatitis treated with TCM Isatis Root

What is Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root)? Normally it refers to the rhizome of one flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, which is also known as Isatis tinctoria, woad, dyer’s woad, and Isatis indigotica (thought as an invalid name by the majority). Accordingly, the same name has been shared by a few different species.

In terms of medicinal herbs used in Chinese herbal treatments, they are classified into two major categories with similar characteristics – Isatis tinctoria L. and Isatis indigotica Fort. in the north China (Bei Ban lan) and Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Brem. in the south China (Nan Ban Lan). Actually the former is in the family of Brassicaceae while the latter of Acanthaceae. Else, other common names for it include Isatidis Radix (Radix isatidis), indigowoad root, banlangen, isatis indigotica root, Da Qing Ye, woad root, and indigo root, etc.

It has an elongated cylindrical body, about 10 to 30cm long, and 3 to 8mm in diameter. The surface is light greyish-yellow, rough, with lognitudinal wrinkles, horizontal blackspots, and rootlet scars, hollowness on top, dark green petiole residue surrounded, and dense verruca and greyish brown petiole scars arrayed in ring shape in thicker rhizome. The texture is solid and crisp. The transverse section is with yellowish white to light brown cortex and yellow xylem. It has little odor and slightly sweet taste. Medicinally the thicker, solider, and better mealiness is preferred.

What is it used for?
Being one of traditional Chinese herbs, it is believed as bitter and cold in nature and covers meridians of liver and Stomach. Main functions are to clear heat-toxicity, cool blood, and relieve sore throat. Main usage and indications are macula due to pestilential toxicity invasion, high fever, Headache, infection with swollen head, dark reddish purple tongue, scarlet fever, erysipelas, mumps, Pharyngitis, sore boils and bunacles, chicken pox, measles, Hepatitis, cold and flu, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, epidemic encephalitis B, Pneumonia, unconsciousness, Hematemesis, bleeding from five sense organs or subcutaneous tissue, swollen throat, pinkeye causing by inflammation, shingles, and osteomyelitis, etc. Usual dosage is 15 to 30 grams.

Newly found functions
Now modern pharmacological studies show that it also has following extra functions:
(1). Antibacterial and antiviral effect;
(2). Anti-Leptospira effect;
(3). Detoxication;
(4). Improvement of immune functions;
(5). Elimination of leukemia cells.