I need to know more about a chinese herb called Nanbanlangen Chongji.
All I know now is that it is used to strengthen the immune system. 
What is it actually and what is it used for, is it possible to obtain
outside China and how. (in Europe?) I want to know as much as possible
about this herb, but I only find chinese web-pages, and I dont speak
chinese. Does the herb contain any stimulants that would make it
difficult to be approved by the health department in some countries? 
How can I import this herb to Europe, who can I contact?

Hello.

"Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji" is actually a Chinese herbal tea (or an
"infusion").  The actual herb is called "ban lan gen" (sometimes "bei
ban lan gen" or "pan lan ken"). The herb is also known as "Isatis
Root" ("Radix Isatidis") or "Dyers' Woad." The terms "ban lan gen" and
"nan ban lan gen" are also used refer to a related herb
"baphicacanthus cusia."

"Ban Lan Gen Chongji is an instant beverage made from Baphicacanthus
cusia or Isatis tinctoria (a.k.a. isatis, wild indigo.) An herbal
anti-biotic, it cools and clears skin irritations and reduces fevers
and sore throats. This Chinese instant beverage made from 70% indigo
root, 25% indigo leaf and 5% cane sugar is sweet enough to use as a
sugar substitute. The original dried herb, banlangen, is very bitter.
It is a powerful remedy used in China for fever, infections,
hepatitis, malaria, and meningitis because it is highly detoxifying
for the entire body, especially the blood."
Source: Winghopfung.net 
http://www.winghopfung.net/newsletter/view2002.asp?news=122

"Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji," from TCMshop
http://tcmshop.bizhosting.com/radix_isatidis_infusion_ban_lan_gen_chong_ji_.html

"BAN LAN GEN CHONG JI" from Mayway
http://www.mayway.demon.co.uk/infuse.htm

"Ban Lan Gen" from Winghopfung
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/winghopfung/banlangencho.html

------------------------------

Two web page list information about the chemical components of these
plants:

"Isatis root contains indigo, indirubin, beta-sterol, uridine,
hypoxanthine, uracil, indigo ketone, daucosterol, etc.  The root of
common baphicacanthus contains indigo, beta-sitosterol,
anthraquinones, triterpines, etc. "
Source: ENaturalHealthCenter.com
http://www.e2121.com/herb_db/viewherb.php3?viewid=121&setlang=1

"Isatis* 
Isatis tinctoria 
Pan-lan-ken
dyers' woad root "
Contains: "Hypoxanthine, uracil, uridine, salicylic acid indigo"
source: Medscape.com
http://www.medscape.com/content/1998/00/41/66/416673/416673_tab.html

I could find no reference to these roots or their chemical components
being disallowed by the health departments of any European countries.


More information: 

" Baphicacanthus root (ban lan gen) and leaf (da qing ye) are derived
from different parts of the same plant and have immuno-stimulating
anti-microbial activities. It was demonstrated in one research study
that baphicacanthus root (ban Ian gen) and baphicacanthus leaf (da
qing ye) enhance humoral and cellular immune functions by increasing
the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in blood circulation"
source: herbalconsultants.com
http://www.herbalconsults.com/Shopping/Respiratory_disorders/Lonicera_complex

Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine
Chinese medicines
"Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji (Isatidis Infusion); one packet twice or thrice
daily."
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/g2603/0000/2603000037/p4/article.jhtml?term=

"Isatis (Baphicacanthus, Woadleaf) Root  Ban Lan Gen"
Herbal ingredients common names:
http://homepage.tinet.ie/~progers/herbcomm.htm

"Tell me about...
Isatis Root (ban lan gen)"
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/herbcentral/isatis_root.html

"Isatis," from Holistic-online.com
http://www.holistic-online.com/Herbal-Med/_Herbs/h358.htm

"Isatis" from Dragon Gate:
http://www.dragon-gate.com/resources/tips/herbsdirectory/health_chn2.asp?id=5021

"Isatis leaf (Da Qing Ye) and root (Ban Lan Gen) are very effective as
they are both antibiotic and anti-viral according to Chinese research.
They are also cool in nature, and thus are anti-inflammatory. In
studies described by Bensky and Gamble in Chinese Herbal Medicine:
Materia Medica, 300 patients were administered Isatis and their
'fevers would usually disappear entirely within one day, and frequency
of bowel movements usually returned to normal within five days."
Source: "Chinese Herbal Treatment of Chronic Digestive Disorders,"
hosted by archive.org
http://web.archive.org/web/20020616181444/http://www.ormed.edu/newsletters/chineseherbal.html

------------------------

Purchasing Information:

Bulk Chinese Herbs
"Bei Ban Lan Gen   Isatidis"
http://www.atihealthnet.com/pages/chineseac.html
"Nan Ban Lan Gen   Baphicacanthus cusia "
http://www.atihealthnet.com/pages/chineseip.html
This company exports to Europe:
http://www.atihealthnet.com/pages/export.html

500 grams for $20.61
http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/15565.0/CategoryID/1000.0/SubCatID/10.0/file.htm

"Isatis - Ban Lan Gen"
http://www.longevity4me.com/herbs.html#isatis

Seeds:

"493. WOAD 
Isatis Tinctoria (20 seeds)
Biennial. The three foot bush is covered with small yellow flowers
which produce deep purple pods. A lovely blue dye is obtained from the
leaves. Medicinally it is used as an antibiotic by the Chinese."
http://www.superseeds.com/herb_seeds.htm

Nicky's Herb Seeds
http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/herb4.htm

Elixerfarm.com Seed Catalog
http://www.elixirfarm.com/chiherb2.htm

Extract:
"Nan Ban Lan Gan Baphicacanthus Root"
http://herb.damo-qigong.net/extracts/list14.htm


search strategy:
Nanbanlangen, "nan ban lan gen", "ban lan gen"
chongji, "chong ji"
isatis root, "Radix Isatidis"
Baphicacanthus root

I hope this helps.