Skip to content
Cura x Cura

Ban Lan Gen板蓝根

Isatidis Radix · Isatis Root · Woad Root

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《新修本草》

Overview

The familiar throat-and-fever root of Chinese households: bitter and cold, it clears heat toxicity from the upper burner and cools the blood, and it is what most people reach for at the first sign of a hot, swollen sore throat, mumps or a rash-bearing febrile illness. It addresses a heat-toxin presentation, not any one pathogen, and it belongs to short acute courses rather than to daily prevention.

Nature & Flavor

Bitter · Cold

Channels

Heart · Stomach

Typical Dosage

9–15 g in decoction
板蓝根Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

2 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxicityFebrile illness with heat toxin: high fever, headache, mumps, erysipelas and hot swollen sores.
  • Cools the blood, benefits the throatRed, swollen, painful throat and heat rashes where heat has entered the blood level.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Ban Lan Gen

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Hot, swollen, painful sore throat
    - Febrile illness with heat toxin; mumps, erysipelas
    - Heat rashes and skin eruptions

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

PharyngitisTonsillitisMumpsViral upper respiratory infection

Contraindications

Cautions

Bitter and cold: prolonged or high-dose use injures the Spleen and Stomach and causes loose stools and poor appetite. It is not suited to a sore throat or fever presenting with signs of cold or of deficiency, and it is a short-course herb for an acute heat pattern, not a daily preventive. A throat that is severely swollen, that impairs swallowing or breathing, or a fever that persists beyond a few days needs medical assessment.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — practitioner supervision required

For licensed practitioners’ reference only

References

  1. Bensky, Clavey & Stöger. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd ed.
    2. 《中华人民共和国药典》.
    3. 《中药学》(standard materia medica curriculum).

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.