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Lan Shi (Buddleja Fruit / Indigo Plant Fruit)

Pungent in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats the resolution of various toxins, kills parasites, (pronounced "qi", referring to pediatric zhu-gui evil spirits), treats zhu-qi ghostly pathogens, and stinging toxins from insects like bees and scorpions. Long-term consumption prevents hair whitening and lightens the body. The juice of its leaves can resolve the toxicity of a hundred medicines, including wild wolf poison (Aconitum ferox) and she-wang poison (Veratrum). Its stems and leaves can be used to dye blue. It grows in the plains and marshes of Henei.

Tao Hongjing states: This is what is currently used to dye (pronounced "jin") green-blue. As for resolving toxins, when people suddenly cannot obtain indigo plant juice, washing cloth water can also be used to resolve it, which is also effective. Applying the juice to the five centers (palms and soles) stops irritability. The variety with pointed leaves is superior, especially effective for treating bee stings. The Tang Bencao commentary notes: There are three types of Lan Shi: one type has a circumference of about two cun and is three to four fen thick. It comes from Lingnan, said to treat swelling toxins; the Taichang Temple calls this herb "Mulanzi" (Wood Indigo Seed). As cited by Tao, this is actually Isatis root (Isatidis Radix), whose juice, when beaten, precipitates into indigo paste (Dian). According to the Classic, what is used is actually the fruit of Polygonum tinctorium (Polygoni Tinctorii Folium/Fructus); its seedling resembles Polygonum but tastes not pungent. The juice of this herb treats heat toxins; other indigos are incomparable. Both types of indigo can now be used for dyeing; Isatis can make indigo paste, suitable only for dyeing blue. Polygonum tinctorium cannot make indigo paste, only dyes green-blue.臣 Yuxi et al. carefully followed the Shu Ben Tu Jing: Leaves resemble water pepper, flowers are red-white, seeds are like pepper seeds but larger, black. Now found in low, wet places everywhere, people cultivate it. The Erya says: Ma Lan. Commentary: This is the current large-leaf winter indigo. Sub-commentary: This is what is used to make indigo paste. The Yao Xing Lun records: Lan Shi is the sovereign herb, sweet in flavor. It can fill the marrow, brighten eyes and ears, benefit the five zang organs, harmonize the six fu organs, facilitate joints, treat qi stagnation in meridians and collaterals, make people robust, reduce sleep, and enhance heart power. Indigo juice stops mental restlessness and resolves gu poison. Ri Huazi says: Wu Lan is pungent, sweet, cold, and non-toxic. It treats epidemic heat mania, carbuncles, wandering wind, heat toxin swellings, wind rashes, removes irritability and thirst, kills childhood malnutrition worms, resolves drug poisons, venomous arrows, metal wounds, blood stagnation, insect/snake bites, toxic thorns, epistaxis, hematemesis, expels pus, treats chills/fever headaches, red eyes, postpartum blood vertigo, resolves mineral drug poisons, wild wolf poison, she-wang poison, pediatric high fever, and heat-related malnutrition. Chen Cangqi says: Su Gong stated that Isatis makes indigo paste. Note that most indigo paste is made from Sophora flavescens (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix). Polygonum tinctorium-made paste is superior for medicinal use. Indigo paste is cold. Applied to heat sores, it resolves various toxins. The residue applied to pediatric alopecia areata. For early-stage heat swelling, the foam on top can be dyed like Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis) for detoxification. For pediatric erysipelas with heat, mix with water and ingest. There are several types of indigo; Polygonum tinctorium is best for medicine. Cabbage indigo (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is eaten by northerners to remove heat jaundice. Also, blue cloth is salty, cold. It primarily resolves various material toxins, epidemic irritability/toxins, pediatric chills/fever, erysipelas; soak in water, take juice orally. Burn to black ash, apply to malignant sores unhealed for years, or moxibustion sores to stop bleeding and prevent wind-water invasion. Mix with wax, fumigate malignant sores; they won't rot in water. Fumigate coughs to kill parasites. Fumigate tiger/wild wolf bite wounds to drain water toxins. Burn in a vessel until smoke emerges, use the vessel mouth to fumigate sores caused by wind-water evil lochia etc.; downward discharge of evil fluid brings pain/itch sensation, indicating cure. Add to various plasters to treat carbuncles, fox-thorn and other malignant sores. Soak juice, boil with fresh ginger, ingest to stop cholera. Authentic ones are used medicinally; fake ones are ineffective.

Tu Jing states: Lan Shi grows in Henei plains/marshes, now found everywhere. Cultivated in vegetable gardens in rows. Seedlings emerge in March/April, growing 2-3 chi tall. Leaves resemble water pepper, flowers red-white, fruits like pepper seeds but larger, black. Harvest fruits in May/June. Note there are several types of indigo: Wood Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) comes from Lingnan, not used in medicine; Isatis (Isatis tinctoria) can make indigo paste, also called Ma Lan, as mentioned in Erya; Polygonum tinctorium only dyes green-blue, cannot make indigo paste, and is what medical formulas use. Additionally, Fuzhou has a type of Ma Lan available year-round, leaves resembling bitter celery; locals harvest roots, dry, grind, sieve, take with wine (size of a coin slice), excellent for treating women's blood stasis. Jiangning has a type of Wu Lan emerging in Feb/Mar, resembling mugwort, leaves green, flowers white, cold nature, removes heat/toxins, stops hematemesis. Though these two differ, both bear the name "Lan". Ancient formulas often used Wu Lan, possibly this one, so included here. Han Dynasty Zhao Qi wrote "Ode to Indigo", preface says: I sought medical treatment in Yan Shi, passed through Chenliu, where locals made a living planting indigo for deep blue dye. Indigo fields stretched as far as the eye could see, millet and sorghum were not grown. Even today near the capital, indigo cultivation is prosperous; it is said indigo juice treats insect bites. Liu Yuxi's "Chuan Xin Fang" records the method: Take one bowl of large indigo juice, add realgar (Realgar) and musk (Moschus), grind finely according to need, pour into indigo juice, apply to bite site. If toxic, ingest the juice finely; extremely miraculous. Formerly, Yuanwai Zhang Jian served as judge for Zhang Tingshang in Jiannan. Suddenly bitten on the neck by a spotted spider. Overnight, two red lines appeared at the bite, thin as chopsticks, encircling the neck, extending from chest to heart. After two nights, head and face swelled to the size of several bowls, abdomen gradually swelled, nearly fatal. Zhang Xiang valued Zhang Jian highly, offered 500,000 cash from his own wealth plus hundreds of thousands from Zhang Jian's wealth, recruiting healers. A man responded, claiming he could cure. Zhang Xiang was skeptical, wanted to verify the formula, ordered him to prepare it on the spot. The man said: Not sparing the formula, but saving lives. Took a porcelain bowl of large indigo juice, threw the spider in. After a long while, removed it; very lethargic, unable to move. Separately ground indigo juice, added musk powder, threw the spider in again; died upon entering the juice. Again took indigo juice, musk, added realgar, mixed, threw another spider in; instantly turned to water. Zhang Xiang and others were amazed, ordered application to the bite site. Within two days, completely healed. Only the bite site formed small scabs and fell off as before. In the Middle Grade section under Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis): Imported from Hu countries, and from Taiyuan, Luling, Nankang etc. for dyeing paste, also applicable for heat toxins. Foam from dye vats, purple-green color, has same efficacy as Qing Dai.

Shenghui Fang: Treats seasonal qi heat toxin, mental restlessness. Use half a large spoonful of indigo paste, taken with one cup of freshly drawn water. Another prescription: Treats pediatric gu poisoning with bloody diarrhea, near death. Grind green indigo juice, frequently ingest half he. Qianjin Fang: Treats sores on lips unhealed for years. Use one jin of August indigo leaves, grind to extract juice, wash over the sore; heals within three days. Another prescription: Treats hanging death, irrigate with indigo juice. Must calm the mind, slowly untie the rope, do not cut the rope. Hold the person, if chest is still warm, prick rooster comb (for males) or hen comb (for females) blood into mouth; revive. Another prescription: Bear bite wounds. Burn blue cloth to fumigate wound to expel toxin, then boil kudzu root (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) for strong juice to wash wound, ten times daily. Also grind kudzu root into powder, boil kudzu juice, ingest one cun cube dose, five times daily, heals. Another prescription: Treats turtle syndrome. One jin indigo leaves, grind with three sheng water, squeeze juice, ingest one sheng, twice daily. Qianjin Yi Fang: Treats acute malnutrition eating nose/mouth, near death in days. Apply indigo paste thoroughly, ten times daily, four times nightly, heals. Zhouhou Fang: Treats heavy body, lower abdominal urgent heat rushing to chest, heavy head unable to lift, eye opacities, knee/calf spasms near death. Take one handful of indigo, five sheng water, fourteen mouse droppings with pointed ends. Boil to two sheng, ingest all, cover warmly to induce sweat. Ge Shi Fang: New venomous arrow wound. Grind indigo blue, squeeze juice to drink, apply to wound. If no indigo, soak blue cloth, squeeze juice to drink, also apply to wound. Another prescription: Water toxin poisoning. Grind indigo blue juice, mix with little water, apply to head/face/body thoroughly. Another prescription: Irritability/death-like state from overdose or poisoning. Grind indigo, take juice, ingest several sheng. If no indigo, wash clean silk, take juice to drink, also good. Another prescription: Almond poisoning. Indigo seed juice resolves it. Mei Shi Fang: Treats tiger bite wounds. Roll blue cloth tightly, burn tip, insert into bamboo tube, shoot smoke into wound, good. Another prescription: Treats upper jiao qi cough, wheezing, throat sounds, sticky saliva. Soak indigo fruit/leaves in water for long time, grind/squeeze to get one sheng juice, ingest frequently on empty stomach. Soon after, take almond juice, cook porridge and eat. Rest for 1-2 days, repeat previous method, continue until phlegm is expelled and cured. Zimu Milu treats pediatric red dysentery. Grind green indigo juice two sheng, divide into four doses. Another prescription: Treats pediatric erysipelas, apply indigo paste, change when hot. Guang Wuxing Ji: During Yonghui era, monk in Jiangzhou suffered from dysphagia. Told disciple: After my death, open my chest/throat, see what is inside. Died immediately. Disciple opened as instructed, found an object in chest, fish-shaped with two heads, covered in fleshy scales. Placed in vessel, jumped incessantly. Playfully put various flavors in, all dissolved. Summer was peak indigo paste production season. A monk put indigo paste in the vessel; the creature ran around the vessel, instantly turned to water.

Yanyi states: Lan Shi is Da Lan Shi. Calling it Polygonum tinctorium is incorrect; it refers to what Erya describes. Resolves various drug toxins, indispensable. Both fruit and leaf are used. Commentaries fail to explain the fruit, only explaining the leaf is incomplete. The Classic has explained it fully. One indigo plant yields multiple colors: bamboo green, cloud green, azure, blue-yellow. Does this not prove "blue comes from indigo but is bluer than indigo"? Fresh leaf juice resolves drug toxins. This is large-leaf indigo, not Polygonum tinctorium. Polygonum tinctorium can be kneaded for juice to dye emerald green, flowers form long spikes, small, pale red.