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Indigofera tinctoria, Nila

Dyers Indigo
Nila (Ayurveda)
Nili (Siddha)
Habb-ul-Neel (Unani)
Indigofera tinctoria
C.J. Trew, G.D. Ehret, Plantae selectae, vol. 6 (1760)

a–c, Indigofera anil, d–h Indigofera tinctoria
Hand-Atlas Medicinisch-Pharmaceutischer, 1884

Botanical name:
Indigofera tinctoria
I. suffruticosa (syn. I. anil) and I. oblongifolia (syn. I. paucifolia) have also been used
This is one of the sources of Indigo

Parts used:
Whole plant; Leaf; Root

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry. Bitter

Uses:
1. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Skin diseases, Abscesses, Erysipelas, Leucoderma
-Whooping Cough
-Liver and Spleen enlargement
-Hepatitis (root); hepatoprotective
-against various Poison (root)
-Hydrophobia, Rabid bites (wineglassful of the juice)
-Syphilis

2. Stops Wind, Calms the Mind and Spirit, Moves Qi:
-phobia, delusion, mental disorders (API)
-Depression
-Nervous disorders, Epilepsy (whole plant)
-Palpitations

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Clears Stones:
-Edema
-Stones (root)

4. Externally:
-Bites, Rabid Dog bites, Snake bites
-poultice or plaster of the leaves is applied to skin diseases
-Burns and Scalds
-Ulcers (Ayurveda, Dioscorides)
-Hemorrhoids (poultice)


DOSE:
Whole Plant in Decoction: 10–20 grams (API); taken in doses of 25–50mls
Dried Leaf in Decoction: 50–100 grams (API); taken in doses of 25–50mls
Juice in doses of 25–50mls., for Hydrophobia, a wineglassful (150mls) each morning for 3 days after being bitten

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Ipomoea hedracea is also used as a source for Habb-ul-Neel in Unani
2. When the plant is unavailable, Indigo has been used in its place.
3. Indigofera tinctoria has been used as a substitute for Lawsonia inermis in Unani medicine.

COMMENT:
This is one of the plants that can be a source of Indigo.

Main Combinations:
1. Syphilis, Indiofera with China root
2, Skin diseases, combine with Fumitory and Senna
3. Hepatitis, Indigofera with Swertia
4. To dye the hair, decoct green walnut hulls with Indigofera, Henna and Clove, and use as a wash.

Major Formulas:

Cautions:
Cold, so use cautiously in Cold and weak Stomach

Main Preparations used: