Ban Lan Gen: The TCM Herb for Cooling Heat and Soothing Sore Throats
- Health Lab
- Jun 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19
Ban Lan Gen, commonly known as Isatis root, is a well-known herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) valued for its ability to clear heat, detoxify, and soothe throat-related issues.
It is widely used to prevent and treat colds, flu, and other infections. Its history traces back to the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica), though early records likely referred to the root of Baphicacanthus cusia (Woad) rather than the modern Ban Lan Gen, which is primarily the root of Isatis indigotica. Over time, its medicinal use became more defined.
Ancient texts like the Mingyi Bielu noted its use for epidemic heat toxins and rashes, while the Yaoxing Lun highlighted its role in treating fever and head pain.
In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen’s Compendium of Materia Medica clarified that Ban Lan Gen, traditionally used for dyeing, became a key remedy for epidemic diseases, emphasizing its heat-clearing and detoxifying properties.
Properties of Ban Lan Gen
Nature and Channels
Taste: Bitter
Nature: Cold
Channels: Heart, Stomach
Main Benefits
Clears heat and detoxifies
Cools blood and soothes the throat
Dosage
Internal use: 9–15 grams, boiled in decoctions.
External use: As needed.
Growing Regions
Found in northern China, including Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shandong.
Identification
Shape: Cylindrical, slightly twisted, 10–20 cm long, 0.5–1 cm in diameter.
Color: Grayish-yellow or brownish with longitudinal wrinkles and lenticel-like protrusions.
Texture: Hard, brittle, with a grayish-white or light brown cortex and pale yellow core.
Scent and Taste: Mild scent, slightly sweet then bitter taste.
Clinical Uses of Ban Lan Gen
Ban Lan Gen is used in TCM to treat various conditions:
Early-Stage Febrile Diseases: It relieves fever, headache, and sore throat.
Sore Throat: It reduces redness, swelling, and pain in the throat, easing swallowing difficulties.
Mumps (Suo Sai): It alleviates swelling and pain in the parotid glands.
Erysipelas: It treats red, swollen, and painful skin.
Toxic Sores: It addresses red, swollen, and pus-filled skin conditions.
Flu and Common Cold: It helps prevent and relieve symptoms of viral infections.
Specific Benefits
Clearing Heat and Detoxifying: Ban Lan Gen’s cold nature combats heat-related toxins, inhibiting bacteria and viruses.
Cooling Blood and Soothing Throat: It reduces swelling and pain in the throat, improving comfort.
Ban Lan Gen in TCM Formulas
Ban Lan Gen is often combined with other herbs in TCM formulas to enhance its effects. Here are some examples:
Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle and Forsythia Powder): Combines Ban Lan Gen with Honeysuckle, Forsythia, Mint, and Platycodon to clear heat, detoxify, and relieve early-stage febrile symptoms.
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin (Universal Benefit Decoction to Eliminate Toxins): Includes Ban Lan Gen with Scutellaria, Coptis, Bupleurum, and Cimicifuga to clear heat, detoxify, and reduce swelling in conditions like mumps.
Qing Yan Li Ge Tang (Clear Throat and Diaphragm Decoction): Pairs Ban Lan Gen with Scrophularia, Ophiopogon, Platycodon, and Licorice to clear heat, nourish yin, and soothe chronic pharyngitis.
Comparison with Similar Herbs
Ban Lan Gen shares effects with other TCM herbs but has unique strengths:
Honeysuckle (Jin Yin Hua): Clears heat and detoxifies, with stronger effects on sores and swelling compared to Ban Lan Gen’s throat-focused action.
Forsythia (Lian Qiao): Clears heat and disperses wind-heat, better for early-stage colds and wind-heat symptoms.
Isatis Leaf (Da Qing Ye): Similar to Ban Lan Gen, it clears heat and cools blood but is stronger for rashes caused by heat toxins.
Ban Lan Gen stands out for its balanced heat-clearing and throat-soothing effects.
Modern Applications and Research
Modern research highlights Ban Lan Gen’s benefits:
Antiviral Effects: Its extracts inhibit viruses like influenza and mumps.
Antibacterial Effects: It combats bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Anti-Inflammatory: It reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory mediators.
Immune Support: It enhances the body’s immune response.
Clinically, Ban Lan Gen is used to prevent and treat flu, mumps, and upper respiratory infections. Preparations like Ban Lan Gen granules and injections are widely used in modern TCM.
How to Use Ban Lan Gen Safely
Precautions
Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with Cold: Use cautiously, as its cold nature may harm digestion.
Syndrome Differentiation: Best for heat-toxin conditions, not suitable for cold-pattern colds.
Usage Tips
Ban Lan Gen is typically boiled in decoctions for internal use or applied externally. Consult a TCM practitioner for proper dosage and suitability.
Conclusion
Ban Lan Gen is a powerful TCM herb known for clearing heat, detoxifying, and soothing throat discomfort. It effectively treats conditions like colds, flu, sore throat, and mumps, with modern research supporting its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. To ensure safe and effective use, consult a TCM practitioner for guidance on dosage and application.
Chinese Name | 板藍根 |
Chinese Pinyin | Banlangen |
English Name | Indigowoad Root |
Latin Pharmaceutical Name | Isatidis Radix |
Category | Roots and rhizomes |
Origin | The dried root of Isatis indigotica Fort. (Brassicaceae). |
Production Regions | Primarily produced in the provinces of Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Jiangsu, and northeastern China. |
Macroscopic Features | Long cylindrical, 10~20~30cm long, 3~8mm diameter. Externally pale grayish-yellow, rough, longitudinal wrinkles and horizontal spots, with supporting roots; head of root is slightly enlarged; apex has one concave, surrounded by dark green remnants of petioles; relatively thick root has dense verrucous protrusions and grayish-brown petiole scars are arranged in a wheel-like shape. Firm and brittle texture; fractured surface has yellowish-white to pale brown cortex, with yellow xylem. faint odor; taste slightly sweet. |
Quality Requirements | Superior medicinal material has straight and thick roots, firm texture, and powdery. |
Properties | Bitter; cold. |
Functions | Clears hear, resolves toxin, cools the blood, benefits the throat. Apply to eruptions due to epidemic heat syndrome, headaches caused by chronic fever, epidemic disease characterized by swelling and redness of face, dark purple crimson tongue, scarlet fever, erysipelas, mumps, pharyngitis, swelling sores, chicken pox, measles, hepatitis, influenza, epidemic meningitis, Japanese B encephalitis, pneumonia, coma, hematemesis and non-traumatic hemorrhage, swelling throat, acute scleritis, sore and eruption. |
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