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Cura x Cura

Qing Dai青黛

Indigo Naturalis · Natural Indigo · Indigo Powder

Herbs that Clear Heat 清热药《药性论》

Overview

The deep blue pigment precipitated from the leaves of Baphicacanthus, Polygonum or Isatis species and dried to a fine powder. Salty and cold, it enters the Liver and Lung to clear heat toxin, cool the blood and drain Liver fire. Because it barely dissolves in water it is swallowed as powder or in pills rather than boiled, and it is also dusted directly onto sores and mouth ulcers.

Nature & Flavor

Salty · Cold

Channels

Liver · Lung

Typical Dosage

1.5–3 g
青黛Photography for this entry is on its way.

Actions

3 core actions

  • Clears heat, resolves toxicityMouth and tongue ulcers, sore swollen throat, febrile rashes and toxic skin sores; taken internally and dusted on locally.
  • Cools the blood, disperses maculaeBlood-heat bleeding: nosebleed, blood-streaked sputum, vomiting of blood, purpuric macules in warm disease.
  • Drains Liver fire, settles frightLiver-fire cough with sticky blood-flecked phlegm, and high fever with convulsion in children.

In Formulas

Formulas containing Qing Dai

Indications & Clinical Uses

  • Mouth ulcers, sore throat, toxic sores and febrile rash
    - Blood-heat bleeding and purpuric macules
    - Liver-fire cough with blood-streaked sputum
    - High fever with convulsion in children (practitioner supervision)

Western Medical Keywords

Searchable condition terms

Mouth ulcersSore throatNosebleedPsoriasisFebrile seizures

Contraindications

Cautions

Very cold: not for Spleen and Stomach yang deficiency, poor appetite or cold-type loose stools. It is not suitable for decoction — boiling wastes it. Internal use belongs under a practitioner: sustained or high internal doses have been linked with abdominal pain, nausea and raised liver enzymes, so keep to the prescribed amount and stop if digestive symptoms appear.

Contraindicated in pregnancy: Use with caution in pregnancy — cold and blood-cooling; internal use only if a practitioner directs it.

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. 《中药大辞典》.

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.