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 Indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria

A small, well-branched shrub belong to the pea family, True indigo plants were traditionally used to produce indigo or blue dye. Now with synthetic dyes gaining popularity, True indigo plants are not in demand anymore. They are now seen in the wild, in empty plots, roadsides, hillsides and open areas.

These plants can grow to a height of 1-2 meters with well-branched, woody stems and small, green, pinnate leaves. The leaves are 8-10 cms long with 9-13 small, oppositely-placed leaflets.

The plants flower copiously, producing blue or violet flowers very similar to those of peas or beans. The flowers are borne on long racemes that are 3-5 cms long. These flowers then turn into green and then brown pods that are 3-4 cms long. Each seedpod contains 5-10 small seeds that are about 1.5mm in diameter.

True indigo plants have medicinal uses as well, the leaves are used in treatment of wounds, ulcers, sores, hemorrhoids, and skin diseases. An infusion of the leaves can treat nerve disorders, epilepsy, asthma, bronchitis, liver and kidney ailments, fever and spleen infections.

Roots are used to treat worm infections, toothache, gonorrhea, kidney stones, insect and scorpion stings. Twigs of True indigo plant are used as toothbrushes after crushing it lightly to bring out the fibers. Leaves are also used in cosmetic preparations such as skin conditioners and masking agents.

The color “indigo” is named after several plants in the genus Indigofera. These varieties of indigo plants are famous for the natural blue colors obtained from the plant leaves used to make a natural dye. Some indigo plant varieties are used medicinally, while others are ornamental and beautiful.

Making Dye from Indigo plants

The blue dyestuff is formed by fermenting the leaves with caustic soda or sodium hydrosulfite. Many different indigo plants are used to make the blue pigment. True indigo, also called French indigo (Indigofera tinctoria), natal indigo (Indigofera arrecta), and Guatemalan indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa). 

These varieties of indigo were the main important industry in India. The indigo cultivation for dye slowed after synthetic indigo was developed. Now these indigo dye is typically used by craftspeople. 

While even blue is produced by synthetic indigo, natural indigo contains impurities that give beautiful color variations. The shades of blue you get from the dye depends on where the indigo plant was grown and in what weather. Several indigo plant varieties have been used medicinally, however, true indigo is the most commonly utilized varieties and was popular with the Chinese to clean the liver, detoxify the blood, reduce inflammation, alleviate pain, and reduce fever.

Some indigo plants, however, like creeping indigo (Indigofera endecaphylla), are
slightly toxic. These indigo plants poison grazing livestock. Other indigo plant varieties, when consumed by humans, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.