Isatis Root (Ban Lan Gen)
板蓝根 · Bǎnlángēn
Isatis indigotica (Isatis tinctoria)
Family: Brassicaceae · Part used: Root · Origin: Anguo, Hebei, China
Nature
Cold
Flavor
Bitter
Meridian
Heart, Stomach
Ban Lan Gen is China's household cold-season defender — the root that became a national phenomenon as granule sachets in every pharmacy. Bitter and cold, it powerfully clears heat-toxin and cools the blood, particularly for sore throats and epidemic heat conditions at their start.
🌿 Functions & Actions
- •Clears heat and resolves toxicity
- •Cools the blood and benefits the throat
- •Disperses swellings
📋 Traditional Indications
- •Sore and swollen throat
- •Early epidemic fever and flu
- •Mumps and swollen glands (traditional)
- •Eruptive heat rashes
- •Mouth ulcers
📖 Usage & Dosage
9–15 g in decoction; short courses only (3–5 days) given its cold nature.
🍵 Classic Recipes
Ban Lan Gen Throat Tea
Isatis root 10 g + licorice 3 g, decocted 15 minutes at the first sign of sore throat.
Ban Lan Gen & Chrysanthemum
Isatis 8 g + chrysanthemum 6 g, for seasonal heat with red eyes and throat.
🔬 Modern Research
Indigotindisulfonic acid and isatis alkaloids are studied for antiviral activity; ban lan gen remains a fixture of Chinese influenza-season practice.
⚠️ Contraindications
Avoid with spleen-stomach deficiency cold; prolonged use injures digestion. Not for cold-type illness.
