Evidence supporting the use of: Isatis
For the health condition: Fever
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Isatis, particularly the root of Isatis tinctoria (known as Ban Lan Gen in traditional Chinese medicine), has a long history of use in East Asian herbal medicine for the treatment of fever and related symptoms, often associated with "heat" or febrile diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Isatis is considered to have "heat-clearing" and "detoxifying" properties, making it a common ingredient in formulas intended to reduce fever, soothe sore throats, and manage infectious diseases such as influenza or upper respiratory tract infections. The herb is commonly prepared as a decoction or granule and is used both preventively and as a treatment.
Scientific evidence supporting Isatis’s efficacy in treating fever is limited. Some laboratory and animal studies have identified antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory compounds in Isatis extracts, such as indirubin and tryptanthrin. These substances have demonstrated activity against certain pathogens and may modulate inflammatory responses, which could, in theory, contribute to fever reduction. However, rigorous human clinical trials directly evaluating Isatis for fever management are scarce, and the quality of available studies is generally low. As such, while traditional use is strong, scientific validation is modest at best.
In summary, the use of Isatis for fever is primarily supported by traditional practices, with only limited and preliminary scientific evidence. Further high-quality clinical research is needed to substantiate its efficacy and safety for this indication.
Other ingredients used for Fever
allspicealoe vera
green chiretta
apple
waterhyssop
bamboo
barberry
basil
myrobalan
betel
black cumin
black pepper
radish
blackberry
Indian frankincense
rice
bupleurum falcatum
bасора
cassia bark
chamomile
cinnamon
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
coconut milk
Coptis chinensis
cucumber
turmeric
dog rose
melon
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
ethanol
fennel
feverfew
forsythia
gardenia
ginger
glehnia root
goldenseal
gooseberry
greek mountain tea
onion
heartwood
Indian tinospora
honeysuckle
Japanese sophora
jujube
kudzu
lemon
licorice root
lophatherum leaf
lovage
lychee
mangosteen
milk
moringa
mustard seed
nettle
spruce
orange
oregano
oregon grape
parsley
pear
perilla
phenolic acids
pineapple
plantain
plum fruit
raspberry
rosemary
sage
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
sphaeranthus indicus
sweet wormwood
triphala
watermelon
white willow
zhejiang fritillary
yellow root
boneset
chickweed
catnip
tangerine
typhonium
hyssop
cardamom
papaya
Indian bael
neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
clerodendrum indicum
ferula assafoetida
hedychium spicatum
inula racemosa
anise
pistacia integerrima gall
punarnava
commiphora
paederia foetida
tinospora cordifolia
blackboard tree
caesalpinia crista
fumaria parviflora
rubia cordifolia
swertia
chaff flower
peony
lingusticum wallichii
boxthorne
yarrow
lemongrass
myrrh
silk tree
chrysanthemum
juniper berries
amber
flowering quince
dogwood
dodder
fern
ganoderma
sweet flag
sweetgums
morinda
trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
birch
sheep's sorrel
queen of the meadow
anemarrhena asphodeloides
purslane
eucalyptus
wintergreen
camphor oil
menthol oil
aster root
peach
paw paw
white oak
Sichuan pepper
indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
soursop
Alcohol
Avens
akebia
Apple Cider Vinegar
Agastache
Alseodaphne andersonii
Anamarrhena
Angel's Trumpet
Ardisia
Angelica
Agrimony
Achyranthes
Anamu
Abrus
Alchornea
Asarum heterotropoides
Albizia
Aconite
Asafoetida
Ajuga
Andrographolide
Aerva lanata
Agarwood
American Liverleaf
Aquilegia formosa
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Alsonia scholaris
Agrimonia pilosa
Acetylsalicylic acid
Aspen
Anemarrhena
Abuta
Alstonia macrophylla
Amor seco
Arani
Arisaema
Asarum sieboldii
Atractylone
Betony
Black Seed
Blue Flag
Bryonia
Baphicacanthus cusia
Blackthorn
Broussonetia
Bulnesia sarmientoi
Blepharis
Balsam
Bishop's Weed
Bayleaf
Butea monosperma
Barleria
Berberis (unspecified)
Bitter Grass
Bougainvillea
Bael
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Banyan
Black willow
Bur-Reed
Black Nightshade
Bombax
Borassus Palm
Buddha's Hand
Borassus aethiopum
Black root
banana
Bupleurum
Baicalin
Bassia scoparia
Burning Bush
Black Hellebore
Balloon Flower
Belamcanda
Bergenia
Bignay
Boerhavia diffusa
Bottle gourd
Borneol
Centaury
Chinese Silkvine
Curry leaf
Calendula
Casearia esculenta
Cinnamomum
Croton seeds
Chinese Mountain Ant
Calotropis gigantea
Carqueja
Clerodendrum trichotomum
Coriander
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Cinquefoil
Cyathula
Citron
Cajuput
Chlorophytum
Cymbopogon Martini
Cinidium
Campylandra fimbriata
Colombo
Centipeda
Cistus
Corktree
Curcuma
Cinchona
Cowslip
Chirata
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Carlina
Calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
Chinatree
Cosmos
Cynodon dactylon
Costus
Chekiang Fritillary
Carthamus
Celosia
Clerodendrum indicum
Culvers Root
Dianthus
Didymocarpus
DIVI-DIVI
Dragonhead
Devil's Club
Dianthrone
Desmodium
Dichrostachys glomerata
European Elder
Empresstree
Erodium cicutarium
English Horsemint
Echinacea
Elder
Echinodorus
Elephant's Head
Eupatorium
Euphorbia
Embelia
Goldthread
Garlic
Galangal
Iris
Lotus
Lily
Little ironweed
Mustard
Mallow
Oak
Orchid
Poppy
Rose
Spikenard
Snakeroot (unspecified)
Sandalwood
Sumac
Sweet Orange alcohol
Vervain
Other health conditions supported by Isatis
AbscessesAcne
Adenitis
Antibiotics (alternatives to)
Bronchitis
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Carbuncles
Chills
Cholera
Colds (antiviral)
Colds (decongestant)
Colds (general)
Colds (prevention)
Colds (with fever)
Congestion
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (lymphatic)
Congestion (sinus)
Contagious Diseases
Cuts
Diphtheria
Eczema
Epstein Barr Virus
Eye Infections
Fever
Gangrene
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glands (swollen lymph)
Gonorrhea
Herpes