Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Baphicacanthus cusia (also known as Strobilanthes cusia or "Qing Dai"/indigo naturalis) is traditionally used in Chinese medicine to support the treatment of infectious diseases, including chicken pox. The plant has a long history in East Asian herbal medicine, where it is used for its purported antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties. Classical Chinese medical texts describe its use for various skin eruptions, fevers, and conditions thought to involve "heat toxins," a category under which chicken pox and other viral exanthems would fall.

Phytochemical studies have identified indigo, indirubin, and tryptanthrin as major active compounds in Baphicacanthus cusia. Some in vitro experiments have demonstrated that extracts from this plant possess antiviral activity against certain viruses, but direct evidence for efficacy against varicella-zoster virus (the cause of chicken pox) is lacking. Likewise, clinical trials specifically evaluating its use in chicken pox are not available in the scientific literature.

Thus, the use of Baphicacanthus cusia for chicken pox is primarily justified by traditional medical systems, with only limited and indirect scientific support. Its use remains common in certain herbal formulations for skin eruptions in East Asian medicine, but robust clinical evidence is absent.

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