Bǎn Lán Gēn (板蓝根), known in English as Isatis root (Isatis tinctoria (root)), is a cold, bitter Chinese herb from the Clear heat category. It enters the Heart and Stomach channels. Its main action: clears Heat, strongly resolves Fire toxicity.
| Pinyin | Bǎn Lán Gēn (Ban Lan Gen) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 板蓝根 |
| English | Isatis root |
| Botanical name | Isatis tinctoria (root) |
| Category | Clear heat |
| Nature | Cold |
| Flavour | Bitter |
| Channels | Heart, Stomach |
| Dosage | 9–15g |
| Cautions | Cold deficiency patterns |
Actions
- Clears Heat, strongly resolves Fire toxicity
- Cools Blood, benefits throat
Indications
- Febrile disease with sore throat
- Mumps
- Erysipelas
- Viral infections
- Scarlet fever
How to remember Bǎn Lán Gēn
Clear heat herbs are mostly cool or cold and bitter, and most enter the Stomach and Liver channels.
- You can work these out
- Cold, Bitter, Stomach channel: like most Clear heat herbs
- Learn by heart
- Heart channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Other Clear heat herbs
- Shí Gāo
- Zhī Mǔ
- Huáng Qín
- Huáng Lián
- Huáng Bǎi
- Lóng Dǎn Cǎo
- Zhī Zǐ
- Jīn Yín Huā
- Lián Qiào
- Pú Gōng Yīng
- Tiān Huā Fěn
- Lú Gēn
- Zhú Yè
- Xià Kū Cǎo
- Jué Míng Zǐ
- Kǔ Shēn
- Qín Pí
- Bái Xiān Pí
- Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng
- Bái Huā Shé Shé Cǎo
- Tǔ Fú Líng
- Shè Gān
- Dì Gǔ Pí
- Qīng Hāo
- Yín Chái Hú
- Hú Huáng Lián
- Mǔ Dān Pí
- Chì Sháo
- Xuán Shēn
- Shuǐ Niú Jiǎo
- Bái Wēi
- Bái Tóu Wēng
- Bài Jiàng Cǎo
- Yú Xīng Cǎo
- Shān Dòu Gēn
- Mǎ Bó
- Yě Jú Huā
- Lǜ Dòu
- Hé Yè
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Bǎn Lán Gēn?
Bǎn Lán Gēn is cold and bitter.
Which channels does Bǎn Lán Gēn enter?
Bǎn Lán Gēn enters the Heart and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Bǎn Lán Gēn?
Clears Heat, strongly resolves Fire toxicity; Cools Blood, benefits throat.
What is Bǎn Lán Gēn used for?
Febrile disease with sore throat; mumps; erysipelas; viral infections; scarlet fever.
Practise Bǎn Lán Gēn and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.