 |
| Browse Plants Articles |
 |
| Bamboo Lichen Grass Bulb Perennial Climber Tree Annual/Perennial Biennial/Perennial Annual/Biennial Shrub Annual Climber Fern Corm Climber Perennial Annual Biennial |
| Power Search! |
| Browse Botanic Names |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
| Sponsored By KhorWills |
| We would like to thank the team from Khor Wills & Associates for their support & assistance in ensuring this site is free for all.  Digital Forensic and IT Risk Experts |
Isatis tinctoria Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses Medicinal Information: Woad has rather a mixed press for its medicinal virtues. One author says it is so astringent that it is not fit to be used internally - it is only used externally as a plaster applied to the region of the spleen and as an ointment for ulcers, inflammation and to staunch bleeding[4]. However, it is widely used internally in Chinese herbal medicine where high doses are often employed in order to maintain high levels of active ingredients[238]. The leaves are antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral, astringent and febrifuge[148, 176, 218, 238]. It controls a wide range of pathogenic organisms, including viruses[218, 238]. It is used internally in the treatment of a wide range of disorders, including meningitis, encephalitis, mimps, influenza, erysipelas, heat rash etc[238]. The leaves are harvested in the summer and can be used fresh or dried[238]. They are also macerated and the blue pigment extracted. This is also used medicinally, particularly in the treatment of high fevers and convulsions in children, coughing of blood and as a detoxifier in infections such as mumps[238]. The root is antibacterial and anticancer[176]. It is used in the treatment of fevers, pyogenic inflammation in influenza and meningitis, macula in acute infectious diseases, erysipelas, mumps and epidemic parotitis[176]. Its antibacterial action is effective against Bacillus subtilis, haemolytic streptococcus, sarcina, C. diphtheriae, E. coli, Bacillus typhi, B. paratyphi, Shigella dysenteriae, S. flexneri and Salmonella enteritidis[176]. Both the leaves and the roots are used in the treatment of pneumonia[218]. The root and the whole plant have anticancer properties whilst extracts of the plant have shown bactericidal properties[218]. For further Isatis tinctoria gardening information |
