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Wild Indigo

(Baptisia tinctoria or Sophora tinctoria)1
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae),
Synonyms: Indigo weed, Wilder Indigo, Indigotier savage, Radix Baptisiae tinctoriae,2 Rattle bush, Horsefly bush, Yellow indigo,3 American Indigo, False Indigo, Indigo broom, Yellow broom,4 Horse-fly weed,5 Yellow clover broom root, Blackroot.6

Downloadable PDF of this monograph

• Researchers have examined the use of Wild Indigo for upper respiratory infections in combination with Echinacea and Thuja in a German herbal remedy.

• Clinical trials so far are less rigorous than the animal studies.

• High doses can cause intoxication.

• Use with caution in combination with sedatives.
  

Indications supported by clinical trials

Effectiveness for treatment of respiratory conditions: unknown. The only clinical trials with this herb involve the proprietary product, Esberitox®, containing a combination of Baptisia, Thuja, and 2 species of Echinacea.

In the trial, the investigators enrolled URI patients at 15 primary care centers in Germany. In the double-blind study, the patients took Esberitox® tablets or placebo tablets containing the non-medicinal ingredients. Outcome measures included patient self-assessment of symptoms and physician assessment at day 4 and day 8. The statistical analysis is limited by grouping of symptom scores into summary scores. The researchers report both an intention to treat analysis (259 subjects) and a valid case analysis (238 subjects) (excluding those patients who broke the protocol).

The most significant differences between the groups were in the self-estimated general well-being scores (a validated instrument called the Welzel-Kohnen color scale) and in the summary scores including hoarseness, expectoration, chest pain, and shortness of breath: subjects in the treatment group felt better as compared with the control group, though they showed few differences in many of their individual symptoms, making interpretation difficult. Subjects in both the placebo and treatment groups had very few side effects.15

Effectiveness for treatment of wound infections: unknown. Clinical trials for this indication are lacking.

>Preparation and dosage:
0.75-1.2 ml (1:5 strength in 60% ethanol tincture) mixed with water TID (or 1.5-2.5 ml of a 1:10 tincture).2,13

Boil 1 tsp (0.5g) of herb in 1 cup of water for 10-15 minutes, strain, and drink 2 ounces (60 ml) TID13,14

Mix one part fluid extract (1:1) with eight parts base (water, ointment, or lotion) and apply externally TID2,5

Esberitox® dosage for the common cold: three tablets TID for 7-9 days.15

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