LeavesHeat-clearingIsatidis Folium

Da Qing Ye (Indigowoad Leaf)

A practical guide to Da Qing Ye: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 29, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin NameIsatidis Folium
Chinese Name & Pinyin 大青葉 · Da Qing Ye
Medicinal PartLeaves
The itemDa Qing Ye is the dried leaf of Isatis indigotica. Ban Lan Gen is the root of the same plant, not this leaf. It usually goes into decoctions or light home tea.
Nature and channelsBitter, cold. Enters the Heart and Stomach. Bitter cold clears heart-stomach fire toxin, cools the blood, and dissolves macules.
Pharmacopoeia lineClears heat and resolves toxin, cools the blood and dissolves macules. Traditionally used for heart-stomach excess heat-fire toxin, sore swollen throat, mouth and tongue sores, erysipelas, and purple-red macules of heat entering the blood aspect.
Pattern cuesRed swollen sore throat. Mouth and tongue sores. Purple-red macules. Erysipelas.
In this articleDa Qing Ye versus Ban Lan Gen. Clearing qi-aspect throat heat versus cooling blood-aspect macules. Why it is added late in the pot. Why long-term daily drinking is a poor idea. Why fever with macules needs a clinic. Who should skip it.

What Is Da Qing Ye?

Da Qing Ye (大青叶; Dà Qīng Yè; Latin: Isatidis Folium; English: isatis leaf, dyer's woad leaf) in the current pharmacopoeia is the dried leaf of Isatis indigotica of the Brassicaceae family, gathered in summer when the leaves are lush and sun-dried in small bundles; a stir-fried version is also made to ease its bitter-cold nature. It is bitter and cold, enters the Heart and Stomach channels, and its core actions are to clear heat and resolve heart-stomach fire toxin, and to cool the blood and dissolve macules. It usually goes into decoctions, or is lightly steeped as a home tea. The usual amount is 6–15 g; a home tea uses about 3–5 g. As a leaf herb, it is added late in the decoction — put it in near the end and cook 5–10 more minutes, as long boiling loses the active constituents.

It is not Ban Lan Gen. Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root) is likewise bitter-cold, but its texture is moister and it is gentler on the spleen and stomach; it leans to the heat toxin of the throat and head-face, the qi aspect, while this leaf leans to the blood aspect and macules. Overdosing may bring nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Use caution in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, usually fearing cold and passing loose stool, is a poor match. Fever with purple-red macules needs a clinic first. Sore throat and mouth sores need pattern diagnosis. Do not drink it as daily tea for more than a few days.

It is used most often for three patterns:

  • Red swollen sore throat, mouth and tongue sores, swollen painful gums
  • Purple-red skin macules, possibly with fever and irritability — seek care
  • Red, burning erysipelas on the skin — seek care

Bitter and cold, it is not a daily “summer cooling tea” to keep drinking. Cold herbs with no fire toxin present damage the spleen and stomach.

When heat toxin fills the qi and blood, or fire toxin attacks upward, high fever, macules, mouth sores, and a swollen throat are common. Da Qing Ye is bitter and cold. It clears heart-stomach fire toxin, cools the blood, and dissolves macules, which is why it appears in Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Epidemic-Clearing Toxin-Defeating Drink)–type formulas. It drains more than it protects. A cold weak spleen and stomach, with no excess fire, get worse if more is added.

Da Qing Ye is not a catch-all summer cooling tea. In spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, with no excess fire toxin, or in pregnancy, taking it alone is a poor match. Raw or stir-fried, and whether it belongs in a formula, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Da Qing Ye

Da Qing Ye: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Isatidis Folium

Botanical Origin

The dried leaves of Isatis indigotica Fort. (Brassicaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Hebei, Shaanxi.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has large leaves without leaf stem, dark grayish-green.

Macroscopic Features

Wrinkled into lumps, sometimes mashed, grayish-green or yellowish-brown. Intact leaf is long elliptical to oval-oblanceolate, 4~11cm long, 1~3cm wide, entire leaf margin or slightly waved; apex is blunt and round, base is gradually narrowed to the petiole, appearing wing-like, some with raised spots on the upper surface and obvious middle vein on the lower surface. Leaf stem is 5~7cm long, ventral surface is slightly indented. Brittle and easily broken texture; faint odor; slightly bitter taste.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value the producing areas of several provinces of northern and eastern China, but actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. In appearance, good-quality Da Qing Ye has complete, deep-green leaves without yellowing, a flexible texture, and a fresh fragrance. The difference between the raw and the processed: the raw has a deeper green color and a stronger odor; the stir-fried has a darker green color, a fainter odor, and a slightly looser, crisper texture. The common look-alike is the leaf of the Polygonaceae plant Polygonum tinctorium — with thinner leaves and pale-red veins — clearly different from the deep-green veins of Da Qing Ye.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Bitter; ColdHeartStomach

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

  • Ming Yi Bie Lu: mentions that Da Qing Ye governs the seasonal qi with high fever, headache, and mouth sores.
  • Xin Xiu Ben Cao: records that it can resolve the plague heat toxin and the eruption of macules.
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu: supplements that it can treat throat bi and erysipelas — a commonly used herb for clearing the fire toxin of the upper, middle, and lower jiao.

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Views among physicians differ: some lean to its core fire-toxin-clearing action, mostly for the heat emergencies; others stress that its bitter-cold nature easily harms the spleen and stomach — fitting only the excess-heat patterns, and not to be used for those of a deficiency-cold constitution. This difference gradually clarified the fitting range of Da Qing Ye through the ages — keeping it from being misused for the non-fire-toxin discomfort.

Da Qing Ye

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Clears heat and resolves toxin, cools blood and dissipates macules.

1. First Direction: Clearing the Excess Heat-Fire Toxin of the Heart and Stomach

  • Traditional action: clear the excess heat-fire toxin of the heart and stomach channels — easing the discomfort of fire toxin attacking upward.
  • Typical signs: a red, sore, swollen throat, mouth and tongue sores, swollen painful gums, or the red, burning erysipelas on the skin.
  • Usual combinations: often paired with Jin Yin Hua and Lian Qiao to strengthen the fire-clearing, toxin-resolving; with dry stool, paired with Sheng Da Huang to strengthen the fire-draining.
  • Who should not self-use: those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold — usually fearing cold and passing loose stool — should not self-use.

2. Second Direction: Cooling the Blood and Dissolving Macules

  • Traditional action: clear and drain the heat toxin of the blood aspect — easing the macules of heat entering the blood aspect.
  • Typical signs: purple-red skin macules, possibly with fever and irritability.
  • Usual combinations: often paired with Chi Shao and Mu Dan Pi to strengthen the blood-cooling, macule-dissolving.
  • Who should not self-use: those without an obvious blood-aspect heat presentation — such as only mild skin redness without irritability or fever — should not self-use.

3. Classic Pairing: Da Qing Ye With Ban Lan Gen

The common pair is Da Qing Ye with Ban Lan Gen: both have the fire-clearing, toxin-resolving action — Da Qing Ye focuses on clearing the fire toxin of the upper heart and stomach, and Ban Lan Gen focuses on clearing the heat toxin of the throat and head-face. Combined, they coordinate, strengthening the overall fire-clearing, toxin-resolving effect — fitting the sore swollen throat and mouth and tongue sores of heart-stomach heat toxin. It needs the physician's pattern diagnosis — do not pair blindly on your own.

Da Qing Ye

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Main Chemical Constituents

The main constituents detected in the plant are the indole alkaloids such as indigo, indirubin, and tryptanthrin, plus flavonoids and volatile oils. In in vitro experiments, these constituents show a certain inhibitory effect on some bacteria and viruses; in animal experiments, the extract relieves the inflammatory response to a certain degree; currently, no sufficient human clinical research has confirmed the specific effects of these constituents in the human body.

2. Current Research Directions

Current research mainly focuses on the in vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions of its active constituents, and the potential influence on immune regulation in animal models:

  • In vitro antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions of the active constituents.
  • The potential immune-modulating effect observed in animal models.

More human research is still needed to verify its actual effect in daily regulation or disease treatment.

3. Limitations of Current Research

  • Lab results are not clinical efficacy — the results are drawn from the laboratory or animals, and cannot be directly equated with clinical efficacy.
  • Monomers and extracts are not the same as traditional slices — the monomer constituents and concentrated extracts from the plant differ in dose form from the traditional slices — cannot be equated directly.
  • Raw materials, extraction methods, and doses vary between studies — the results are hard to compare directly.
  • A single component does not define the whole herb — the action of one constituent cannot be used to judge the whole herb's full efficacy.

Da Qing Ye

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Choosing the similar herb Ban Lan Gen, the two share these points:

  • Both have the main action of clearing fire and resolving toxin.
  • Both can be used for the heart-stomach heat-toxin patterns — sore swollen throat and mouth and tongue sores.
  • Both need the constitution and dose considered — those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold need caution with either.

2. The Key Differences: Da Qing Ye vs. Ban Lan Gen

  • Nature and flavors: Da Qing Ye is bitter-cold — focusing on clearing the fire toxin of the upper heart and stomach; Ban Lan Gen is likewise bitter-cold, but with a moister texture — slightly gentler on the spleen and stomach.
  • Focus: Da Qing Ye is better at clearing the heart-stomach fire toxin and cooling the blood to dissolve macules — mostly for the macules of blood-aspect heat; Ban Lan Gen is better at clearing the heat toxin of the throat and head-face — mostly for the red, swollen, hot pain of the head and face.
  • Qi tendency: both are bitter-cold clear-draining — both belong to the draining method — but Da Qing Ye leans to clearing and draining the heat toxin of the blood aspect, while Ban Lan Gen leans to clearing and draining the heat toxin of the qi aspect.
  • Best fit: Da Qing Ye fits the fire-toxin patterns with macules; Ban Lan Gen fits the fire-toxin patterns with head-face redness and swelling.
  • Not suitable: both are bitter-cold — those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should not use either — but the bitter-cold of Da Qing Ye is stronger and more likely to harm the spleen and stomach — the deficiency-cold constitution needs more caution.
  • Use scenes: Da Qing Ye is more often used for the patterns of heat entering the blood aspect — such as macules and erysipelas; Ban Lan Gen is more often used for the qi-aspect heat patterns — such as sore throat and head-face sores.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Da Qing Ye leans toward clearing the fire toxin of the upper heart and stomach and cooling the blood to dissolve macules, whereas Ban Lan Gen leans toward clearing the heat toxin of the throat and head-face. Both can be used for the heart-stomach heat-toxin discomfort, but they are not interchangeable.

Da Qing Ye

Classical Formulas Containing Da Qing Ye

Classic Formula 1: Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Epidemic-Clearing Toxin-Defeating Drink)

Combination logic: In Qing Wen Bai Du Yin, Da Qing Ye is the assistant, working with Shi Gao, Zhi Mu, and Huang Lian — mainly solving the high fever and macules of heat entering the blood aspect. Da Qing Ye works with these herbs, strengthening the blood-aspect heat-toxin-clearing action; because the force of a single Da Qing Ye is limited and cannot cover the heat toxin of many organs, it cannot be used alone.

Traditional use: traditionally for the warm-disease pattern of heat toxin filling the qi and blood — high fever with irritability, skin macules, and sore swollen throat.

Modern note: modern clinical use of this formula requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care — do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to a certain disease.

Classic Formula 2: Lan Ye San (Woad-Leaf Powder)

Combination logic: In Lan Ye San, Da Qing Ye is the lord, working with Sheng Ma, Xuan Shen, and Gan Cao — mainly solving the mouth and tongue sores and sore swollen throat of heart-stomach fire exuberance. Da Qing Ye works with these herbs, strengthening the fire-clearing, toxin-resolving action; because a single Da Qing Ye can hardly attend to the heat toxin of multiple areas, it cannot be used alone.

Traditional use: traditionally for the heart-stomach fire exuberance — mouth and tongue sores, swollen painful gums, and red, swollen throat.

Modern note: modern clinical use of this formula requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care — do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to a certain disease.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is many herbs working together — forming an overall effect through the lord-minister-assistant-courier pairing. A single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect; the doses and combinations in a formula are holistic. If a herb works in a formula, it does not mean taking it alone produces the same effect. Do not build formulas from online articles, because the pairings and doses of professional formulas have been verified by long-term clinical practice — self-formulating may fail to reach the expected effect, or even bring discomfort.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Tea

Da Qing Ye Dan Zhu Ye Tea: Da Qing Ye 3 g, Dan Zhu Ye 2 g, green tea 1 g. Put the materials in a cup, steep in boiling water, cover 5 minutes, and drink. Suited to the mild throat discomfort and mouth and tongue sores of summer heart-stomach fire. Not for those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold — those who usually fear cold. Suggested: 1–2 times a week; not for long-term continuous drinking. Note: Da Qing Ye is a medicinal slice — do not drink it in large amounts as ordinary tea, and do not confuse it with ordinary food.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The raw Da Qing Ye has a stronger bitter-cold nature — more fitting the medicinal scenes of clearing fire toxin; the stir-fried Da Qing Ye has a slightly gentler bitter-cold — more fitting the gentle scenes of home regulation. For home decoction, Da Qing Ye is a leaf herb and needs late addition: when the other herbs are about to finish decocting, add the Da Qing Ye and cook 5–10 more minutes — avoiding the loss of the effective constituents from prolonged boiling. Different forms cannot be converted directly — for example, the slice dose differs greatly from the Da Qing Ye content in Chinese patent medicines — do not equate them directly.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose in traditional prescriptions is 6–15 g; in food-therapy scenes, halve the dose — generally 3–5 g — do not increase the dose on your own. The difference between the food-therapy and medicinal doses: food therapy is gentle regulation with a smaller dose, and medicinal use is treatment with a slightly larger dose. Long-term continuous use is not advised — generally do not drink or take it for more than 3 days continuously; if the discomfort does not ease, consult a physician or pharmacist.

Da Qing Ye

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

  • Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold — usually fearing cold, passing loose stool, and easily uncomfortable when the abdomen gets cold — not advised.
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding — consult a physician before considering use.
  • Children and the elderly — weaker body regulation — use under a physician's guidance.
  • Liver or kidney impairment — reduced metabolism — use with caution.
  • Allergy to Brassicaceae plants — such as allergy to Isatis — not advised.
  • Those in special treatment — such as chemotherapy or immunosuppressant treatment — consult a physician before use.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

Da Qing Ye may affect the absorption or metabolism of some drugs — such as anticoagulant, blood-pressure, glucose-lowering, and sedative medications — those taking such drugs should consult a doctor or pharmacist first. There is no sufficient evidence of a general "food clash" between ordinary foods, but certain herbs can interact with specific drugs — those on medication should consult a doctor or pharmacist first, and do not combine on your own.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Overdosing on Da Qing Ye may cause spleen-stomach discomfort — nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If marked discomfort, allergy signs (such as rash or itching), persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms appear, stop at once and seek medical care — do not delay.

Frequently Asked Questions About Da Qing Ye

What is Daqingye? Is it the same as Banlangen or Qingdai?
Daqingye is the dried leaf of Isatis indigotica, Latin name Isatidis Folium. It is a common Chinese medicine centered on clearing heat and detoxifying, and cooling the blood to eliminate macules. Banlangen clears heat and detoxifies while benefiting the throat. Qingdai clears heat and detoxifies while cooling the blood. They cannot be used interchangeably in equal amounts. Prescribe as Daqingye. Caution in spleen-stomach deficiency cold.
What are the composition and effects of Daqingye?
Pharmacopoeial name Daqingye, Latin Isatis indigotica Fortune. Bitter in taste, cold in nature, enters the Heart and Stomach meridians. Functions to clear heat and detoxify, and cool the blood to eliminate macules. Used for warm disease high fever, clouded spirit, macules and eruptions, mumps, throat bi, erysipelas, and abscesses. Clears heat and eliminates macules.
How to choose between raw and processed? Can Banlangen replace it?
Leaves are used raw. Banlangen emphasizes benefiting the throat rather than strongly eliminating macules, and cannot replace it in equal amounts. Commercial products are standardized; do not adjust arbitrarily.
What is the dosage of Daqingye? Can it be used daily as a heat-clearing tea?
Decoction, 9-15g. Modern use requires physician-determined dosage. It is not a year-round "Daqingye tea." Spleen-stomach deficiency cold will be further injured by prolonged use. Macules require short-term, physician-determined dosage and cannot replace evaluation.
What are the contraindications of Daqingye? Can pregnant women use it?
Not suitable for spleen-stomach deficiency cold. Pregnant women require physician evaluation. Stop if loose stools or abdominal pain occur. Seek immediate medical care for severe high fever or macules.
Can Daqingye clear heat and eliminate macules?
It can assist warm disease high fever, clouded spirit, macules and eruptions, mumps, throat bi, erysipelas, and abscesses. It clears heat and detoxifies, and cools the blood to eliminate macules, but is not a specific remedy for all high fever or all macules.
Can Daqingye be taken daily as a heat-clearing or macule-eliminating tea?
Warm disease high fever can be used short-term in formulas; spleen-stomach deficiency cold will be further injured. The idea that "Daqingye must clear heat" cannot replace evaluation. Clearing heat and eliminating macules requires physician-determined formulation and dosage.
How to choose between Daqingye, Banlangen, Qingdai, Jinyinhua, and Lianqiao?
Daqingye clears heat and eliminates macules, suited to macules. Banlangen clears heat and benefits the throat. Qingdai clears heat and cools the blood. Jinyinhua clears heat and disperses. Lianqiao clears heat and dissipates nodules. Choose Daqingye for eliminating macules; Banlangen for benefiting the throat; Qingdai for cooling the blood; Jinyinhua for dispersing; Lianqiao for dissipating nodules. Pattern differentiation applies, but large doses of Daqingye are contraindicated in spleen-stomach deficiency cold.
How is Daqingye commonly modified? What is a representative usage?
Modifications depend on the pattern. Add Qingdai for macules; add Jinyinhua for high fever. Specify Daqingye; do not substitute Banlangen in equal amounts for eliminating macules.
How to select and store Daqingye?
Choose regular Chinese medicinal materials with intact leaves. Discard if moldy, damp, or abnormal in odor. Store in a ventilated, dry place. Purchase "Daqingye"; do not substitute Banlangen or Qingdai in equal amounts for clearing heat and eliminating macules.

Related Products

Nong's Da Qing Ye Concentrated GranulesNong's Da Qing Ye (Isatis Leaf) Single Herb 5:1 Concentrated Granules $61.63 Hoi Tin Da Qing Ye (Indigowoad Leaf) Single Herb 10:1 Concentrated Granules, 100 g TCM Herbal SupplementHoi Tin Da Qing Ye (Indigowoad Leaf) Single Herb 10:1 Concentrated Granules $30.51

Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.

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Da Qing Ye (Isatis Leaf): Clears heat, resolves toxicity, and cools the blood