Rehmannia, Shu Di Huang 熟地黄Prepared Chinese Foxglove root
Shu Di Huang (TCM) |
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Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 1839
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Edwards’s Botanical Register (1837)
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Botanical name:
Rehmannia glutinosa
Parts used:
Prepared Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Sweet
Classification:
N. Blood Tonic N. Yin Tonic
Rehmannia glutinosa
Parts used:
Prepared Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Sweet
Classification:
N. Blood Tonic N. Yin Tonic
Uses:
1. Tonifies the Blood:
-weakness, pale face and tongue, deficient and thin pulse
-Dizziness, poor Memory
-Palpitations, Insomnia
-Uterine Bleeding, Postpartum Bleeding
2. Strengthen the Kidneys, Nourishes Yin:
-weakness of the Lower Back and Knees
-Dizziness, Tinnitus
-Tidal Fever, Night-sweats
-Nocturnal Emission
-Wasting and Thirsting Disorders; Diabetes
3. Nourishes and Increases Essence:
-Premature Aging; premature greying of hair; support during aging
-Delayed development in children
-Impotence, Infertility
DOSE:
In Decoction: 9–30 grams
Of the Powder: 1–4 grams
NOTE:
According to Porter Smith, Digitalis (Foxglove) which is called Mao Di Huang was previously used synonymously with Rehmannia root. This seems unlikely.
SUBSTITUTE:
Early missionaries in China equated Shu Di Huang with Comfrey. The two plants are related and not dissimilar in appearance. Comfrey has long been used for its Yin tonifying qualities in the West. It may be an acceptable substitute in some instances.
CORRECTIVE:
To avoid the heavy, cloying, hard-to-digest nature of Rehmannia from overwhelming the Spleen, Costus or Amomum Sha Ren can be added.
In Decoction: 9–30 grams
Of the Powder: 1–4 grams
NOTE:
According to Porter Smith, Digitalis (Foxglove) which is called Mao Di Huang was previously used synonymously with Rehmannia root. This seems unlikely.
SUBSTITUTE:
Early missionaries in China equated Shu Di Huang with Comfrey. The two plants are related and not dissimilar in appearance. Comfrey has long been used for its Yin tonifying qualities in the West. It may be an acceptable substitute in some instances.
CORRECTIVE:
To avoid the heavy, cloying, hard-to-digest nature of Rehmannia from overwhelming the Spleen, Costus or Amomum Sha Ren can be added.
Main Combinations:
1. Blood deficiency and Menstrual disorders associated with Blood deficiency, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Dang Gui, Paeonia Bai Shao, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong (as in Si Wu Tang)
2. To strengthen the Kidneys and Nourish the Yin or Yang, combine Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Cornus Shan Zhu Yu and Dioscorea Shan Yao. This trio forms the basis of the most important formulas used to strengthen the Kidneys. Alone, they nourish Kidney Yin and are usually corrected with the addition of Poria Fu Ling, Alisma Ze Xie and Paeonia Mu Dan Pi (as in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, 'Rehmannia 6'). When Cinnamon (Rou Gui) and Aconitum Fu Zi is added it is called Shen Qi Wan (Kidney Qi Pill) and is used for Yang deficiency.
3. To strengthen Kidney Yang:
i. Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Cinnamon and prepared Aconitum Fu Zi.
4. Heat with Yin deficiency, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Turtle shell (Gui Ban), Phellodendron Huang Bai and Anemarrhena Zhi Mu.
5. To more strongly nourish Yin and clear Heat, strengthen the bones an calm the Mind and Nerves, combine with Pearl.
6. Insomnia from Heart Yin deficiency, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Poria Fu Ling, Zizyphus Semen Suan Zao Ren, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi
7. Diabetes
i. Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Coptis Huang Lian (see research below)
ii. Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Dioscorea Shan Yao, Cinnamon
Major Formula:
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Zuo Gui Wan
You Gui Wan
Zuo Gui Yin
You Gui Yin
Si Wu Tang
Shi Quan Da Bu Tang
Ba Zhen Tang
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang
Cautions:
1. Not used in Spleen weakness with poor appetite, loose bowels, abdominal pain and distention
2. Not used in cases with excess Phlegm and Damp
3. Avoid Onions, Garlic and Radish while taking Rehmannia.
Main Preparations used:
1. Not used in Spleen weakness with poor appetite, loose bowels, abdominal pain and distention
2. Not used in cases with excess Phlegm and Damp
3. Avoid Onions, Garlic and Radish while taking Rehmannia.
Main Preparations used:
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