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Wild
indigo, a member of the pea family, grows well in dry woods in the southeastern
United States (3), though its range extends north and west to Minnesota
and New Mexico (2,7). It is a bluish perennial with many branches and
grows up to 3 feet tall (5,7). The alternating leaves are wedge-shaped
at the base, rounded at the tip and are brittle (5). The yellow, pea-like
flowers appear from May to September on upper branchlets (7). The fruit
is a bluish-black oblong pod and the roots are blackish and woody (3).
Growers and collectors dig the root in the fall and use the root and
root bark medicinally (3,5). Young shoots are available as a food source
in the spring though will cause diarrhea after they develop a green
color (2,3). Dried wild indigo can produce a blue dye as well (3).
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Biologically-active
chemicals: baptitoxine (similar to nicotine) (2), other quinlizidine
alkaloids and isoflavonoids (5). Other compounds in Baptisia include
glycoproteins (baptisin and baptin), polysaccharides (arabinogalactans),
coumarins, and isoflavones (2,5).
Herbal properties: alterative, anticatarrhal,
antimicrobial, antiseptic, emetic, emmenagogue, estrogenic, expectorant,
febrifuge, and purgative (1,2,8,9).
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How
herb was used traditionally
Native American desert tribes boiled
the stems of Baptisia to create a treatment for pneumonia, influenza,
and tuberculosis (3). The Eclectic physicians used it to heal infected
wounds (2). They also treated infections, such as diphtheria, malaria,
influenza, scarlatina, and typhus with the herb (5). Baptisia was listed
in the United States Dispensary from 1831-1842 and in the National Formulary
1916-1936 (2).
Modern herbalists consider Baptisia to be a strong herb, valuable in
herbal combination therapies for the treatment of ear, nose, and throat
infections, including laryngitis, lymphadenitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis,
and tonsillitis (2,6,9). Other herbalists use Baptisia for wound infections,
mouth lesions, and sore nipples (1,8).
Preparation and
dosage:
0.75-1.2 ml (1:5 strength in 60% EtOH tincture) mixed with water TID
(or 1.5-2.5 ml of a 1:10 tincture).(2,9)
- Boil 1 tsp (0.5g) of herb in
1 cup of water for 10-15 minutes, strain, and drink 2 ounces (60 ml)
TID(9,11)
- Mix one part fluid extract (1:1)
with eight parts base (water, ointment, or lotion) and apply externally
TID(2,5)
- Esberitox® dosage for the
common cold: three tablets TID for 7-9 days (10).
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How
herb is used today (based on scientific evidence)
German
scientists affiliated with Schaper & Brummer GmbH & Co KG have
conducted extensive investigation into the medicinal properties of Baptisia
as a component of their phytocombination product, Esberitox®, which
also contains Echinacea pallida root, Echinacea purpurea root, and Thujae
occidentalis branch tips (6).
In addition to animal studies, they have conducted clinical trials to
assess the effectiveness of Esberitox® for treating the common cold.
In their latest study, they determined that patients who took Esberitox®
felt better than those who took a placebo, although the herbal preparation
had little effect on most of the specific cold symptoms (10).
Scientists have not examined the merits of using Wild indigo to treat
wound infections or sinusitis.
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Safety
issues
Side
effects:May
cause nausea/vomiting, cramping/ diarrhea and mild intoxication at higher
doses (1,2).
Adverse
events: One case report of hallucinations and hives has surfaced
(12). Overdose may lead to respiratory failure secondary to muscle paralysis,
seizures, incoordination, sedation, headache and coma (2).
Precautions/contraindications:
-
Pregnant women and nursing
mothers should avoid (2).
-
Avoid in autoimmune conditions
(such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis).
-
Avoid in inflammatory disorders
(such as asthma)
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References
1. Duke JA, Bogenschutz-Godwin MJ, duCellier J, et al: Handbook of Medicinal
Herbs, Second ed. Boca Raton, CRC Press, 2002.
2. Low Dog T: Foundations of Herbal Medicine. Albuquerque, 2000.
3. Hutchens AR: Indian Herbology of North America. Boston, Shambhala
Publications, Inc., 1991.
4. Jellin JM, Gregory PJ, Batz F, et al: Pharmacist's Letter/ Prescriber's
Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, vol 2004. Stockton,
CA, Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2004.
5. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, et al: PDR for Herbal Medicines.
Montvale, NJ, Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.
6. Brendler T, Gruenwald J, Jaenicke C: Herbal Remedies. Stuttgart,
Germany, Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 2003.
7. Foster S, Duke J: A Field guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of
Eastern and Central North America. New York, Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
8. Tierra M: The Way of Herbs. New York, Pocket Books, 1998.
9. Hoffman D: Medical Herbalism. Rochester, Vermont, Healing Arts Press,
2003.
10. Henneicke-von Zepelin H, Hentschel C, Schnitker J, et al: Efficacy
and safety of a fixed combination phytomedicine in the treatment of
the common cold (acute viral respiratory tract infection): results of
a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, and multicentre study.
Curr Med Res Opin 15(3):214-27, 1999.
11. Hoffman D: The New Holistic Herbal. Boston, MA, Element, 1990.
12. Bergner P: Side Effects to Baptisia, Vitex., in Medical Herbalism:
a Clinical Newsletter for the Herbal Practitioner, vol 7, Medical Herbalism
& Bergner Communications, 1995.
13. Davis J, Greenfield J: Results from Strategic Reports' Analysis
of the economic viability of cultivating selected botanicals in North
Carolina, 2001 statistics. Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University,
2003.
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