Wild
Indigo (Baptisia
tinctoria or Sophora tinctoria)
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 septic conditions, 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.2,6,13
Other herbalists use Baptisia for wound infections, mouth lesions, and
sore nipples.1,12