Baptisia tinctoria (Wild Indigo)

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminoseae

Part Used: Root and leaves

Active Constituents:

Alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, resin

Medicinal Actions:

Alterative, anti-catarrhal ( thus good for cold), anti-microbial, antiseptic, emetic, febrifuge, lymphagogue

Medicinal Uses:

1)Baptisia is most commonly used for localized infections or inflammation of the mucous membranes.

2)It is used for pharyngitis, both viral and bacterial, especially if there is ulceration present.

3)It reduces the catarrh of respiratory viral illness. It has cured aphthous stomatitis and cleared herpes ulcerations inside the mouth.

4)It has been used for treatment of gingivitis (use it as a gargle and swallow the gargle to have a better affect), reducing the pain and the inflammation or infection.

5)The eclectics describe baptisia as a circulatory stimulant, antiseptic with tonic and laxative actions.

6)They used it in combination with echinacea in treatment of typhoid fever.

7)It seems to stimulate function in the cardiac and respiratory systems. Dr. Bill Mitchell and Dr. John Bastyr used it to treat ulcerative colitis.

8)I have seen it successfully used when treating chronically or acutely enlarged tonsils with lymphadenopathy. It is especially indicated when there is a dark red to bluish color to the inflamed tissue.

9)It can be used externally to treat infected ulcerations (bed sore) of the skin and inflamed aerola. Historically, it has also been used topically as a treatment for topical cancers.

10)I have also used it as a douche for vaginitis, of bacterial or fungal etiology.

Contraindications:

The constituent Sparteine has been classified as oxytocic, so it is not indicated for ingestion during pregnancy. In large doses, Baptisia is an emetic.

Pharmacy:

Decoction: 1 tsp/cup

Tincture (1:5): 1-2 ml/TID

If nausea occurs, decrease dosage