Evidence supporting the use of: Assam indigo
For the health condition: Ulcerations (external)

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Synopsis

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

Assam indigo (Strobilanthes cusia), also known as Chinese indigo, has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the processed leaves and stems, often referred to as "Qing Dai," have been applied topically to treat various skin conditions, including ulcerations, eczema, and inflammatory lesions. The traditional rationale is based on its reputed cooling, detoxifying, and anti-inflammatory properties, which are believed to help "clear heat" and "resolve toxicity" in TCM theory.

There is some preliminary scientific evidence that supports the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of extracts from Assam indigo. Several studies have identified compounds such as indirubin and tryptanthrin, which have shown anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties in vitro and in animal models. However, high-quality clinical trials on human ulcerations are lacking, and most of the evidence remains anecdotal or derived from traditional use. Therefore, the primary justification for the use of Assam indigo in treating external ulcerations is traditional, with some supporting pharmacological rationale but insufficient rigorous scientific validation to rate it higher than 2 on the evidence scale.

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