Rehmannia

Rehmannia glutinosa

Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang Shu Di Huang Parts used Uses Habitat and cultivation Constituents How much to take

Rehmannia - an erect perennial herb up to 60 cm high with a basal rosette of dentate petiolate leaves and alternate oval or spatulate dentate leaves up the stem; the axillary solitary or cymose flowers are purple-orange in colour; the rhizome or root is large, fleshy and brownish-yellow in colour; when prepared it is tarry-black and soft and malleable, obtained in slices or smaller root pieces; the taste is slightly sweet.

Experimental and clinical evidence points to an anti- hepatotoxic action and a potential effect in some cases of hepatitis; clinical work also suggests an antirheumatic and anti-eczema action; cardiotonic and hypoglycaemic effects have also been detected; the prepared form lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels in clinical work.

PARTS USED

The rhizome or root.

USES

The raw or dried remedy o rehmannia is primarily used for 'heat' problems with impairment of the yin energies such as xue or jing, with symptoms like fever, blood in the sputum or nasal discharge, symptoms of internal deficiency, scarlet tongue; exanthemata, infections, throat infections. Diabetes was a traditional indication, but one probably with only partial justification.

There are tonifying actions as well with a wider application for 'heat'-induced damage to the yin with such signs as dry mouth, persistent pyrexia (high temperature) and constipation. A particular cooling application is to 'heat' in the Heart with malar flush, irritability and insomnia, and mouth ulcers.

The most popular form of the remedy (and it was always very popular), however, was the prepared root, which was cooked in wine. This was seen as a major tonifying remedy, valuable for any deficiency state of xue or yin: thus for deficient Kidney yin problems such as night sweats and nocturnal emissions, and for deficiency of xue such as vertigo, palpitations, insomnia and pallor, and, for women, menorrhagia, irregular menstruation and post-partum haemorrhage.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Rehmannia grows in north-western China and Inner Mongolia.

CONSTITUENTS

Rehmannia contains: iridoid glycosides (incl. catalpol); rehmannin; mannitol; sterols.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

9-30 g daily.