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Baptisia tinctoria (wild indigo)

Baptisia tinctoria, commonly known as wild indigo or rattleweed, is a member of the Fabaceae (legume) family. It's native to the eastern United States and Canada, flourishing in prairies, pastures, woodlands. The plant earned the nickname "rattleweed" due to the rattling sound produced by its ripe seed pods. Traditionally, the fresh roots of wild indigo have been utilized medicinally for addressing various ailments, including sinus infections, influenza, fever, cholera, constipation, lymphatic stagnation, laryngitis, pharyngitis, and gastrointestinal infections. Notable chemical constituents of wild indigo encompass alkaloids, glycoproteins, resins, isoflavones, flavonoids, coumarins, polysaccharides, and the bitter principle baptisin. It's recognized for its immunostimulatory and immunomodulatory properties. Additional properties attributed to wild indigo are antimicrobial, lymphagogue, antioxidant, alterative, cholagogue, choleretic, and antipyretic. A 2012 case report PMID: 22850071 suggested Baptisia tinctoria extract could be effective in preventing and treating typhoid fever.  Historically, the root of wild indigo was used to make blue dye and was employed by European herbalists for the treatment of ulcers and various infections, including those affecting the mouth, gums, lymph nodes, throat, and GI tract. 

Colorful vibrant meadow of yellow flowers in Kebler Pass forest in Colorado in summer in R

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