Ban Lan Gen – Isatis Root – Radix Isatidis

Ban Lan Gen

Alternate Pinyin Name: Bei Ban Lan Gen

English Name: isatis root

Pharmaceutical name: Radix Isatidis

Medica Category: Heat-Clearing and Toxin-Eliminating Herbs

Properties: Ban Lan Gen enters the Heart and Stomach channels. It is bitter in nature and cold in temperature.

What is Ban Lan Gen?:

The Chinese Herb (Bei) Ban Lan Gen is the dried root of the isatis plant (Isatis tinctoria L.), originally native to Northern China and India, but now cultivated in the West as well. The roots are harvested in the autumn, sun-dried, and sliced for use as medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Ban Lan Gen:

Ban Lan Gen has excellent properties to clear heat and remove toxins from both the exterior and interior layers of the body. It cools the blood (which helps reduce fever), benefits the throat, and eliminates toxins from the body.

–clinical notes: Nan Ban Lan Gen is the root and rhizome of Baphicacanthus cusia (native to more southerly parts of China) and considered to be of inferior quality to (northern) Bei Ban Lan Gen in its potency (source: www.americandragon.com)