Isatis tinctoria

Isatis tinctoria
Family:Isatis tinctoria; Antibacterial; Antiviral; Astringent; Cancer.
Common name:Woad
Woad has rather a mixed press for its medicinal virtues. One author says it is so astringent that it is not fit to be used internally - it is only used externally as a plaster applied to the region of the spleen and as an ointment for ulcers inflammation and to staunch bleeding. However it is widely used internally in Chinese herbal medicine where high doses are often employed in order to maintain high levels of active ingredients. The leaves are antibacterial anticancer antiviral astringent and febrifuge. It controls a wide range of pathogenic organisms including viruses. It is used internally in the treatment of a wide range of disorders including meningitis encephalitis mumps influenza erysipelas heat rash etc. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be used fresh or dried. They are also macerated and the blue pigment extracted. This is also used medicinally particularly in the treatment of high fevers and convulsions in children coughing of blood and as a detoxifier in infections such as mumps. The root is antibacterial and anticancer. It is used in the treatment of fevers pyogenic inflammation in influenza and meningitis macula in acute infectious diseases erysipelas mumps and epidemic parotitis. Its antibacterial action is effective against Bacillus subtilis haemolytic streptococcus

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 03:49 []