Shu Di Huang - Rehmannia, Chinese Foxglove Root
TCM Materia Medica
Shu Di Huang TCM Herb Classifications and Usages
The TCM herb "shu di huang" which in english is "rehmannia, chinese foxglove root", is categorized within the "herbs that tonify blood" functional grouping. It is thought to enter the heart, kidney and liver channels and exhibits sweet (gan) and warm (wen) taste/temperature properties.
Dosages and preparations will vary according to each individual and the overall approach of a formula, but generally this herb has the following dosage and/or preparation guidelines:
- Dosage: 9-30g
- Charred if used to stop bleeding.
Of many possible clinical applications, it may be considered to influence the following issues/symptoms:
- This is the root of Sheng Di Huang (steamed and dried, or soaked in red wine and dried).
- Tonify blood for blood deficiency with dizziness, pallid complexion, palpitations, insomnia, irregular menses, uterine bleeding, post partum bleeding.
- Nourish yin - kidney yin deficiency with nightsweats, xiao ke, steaming bone disorder, nocturnal emissions.
While it may not always be included depending on the manufacturer or herbalist making the formula, shu di huang is generally included in the following 23 formulas:
ViewAn Shen Bu Xin Wan (Calm the Shen and Supplement the Heart Pills)
Insomnia and palpitations Anxiety, possible difficulty with concentration Irritibility and restlessness Tinnitus
ViewBai He Gu Jin Wan (Lily Bulb to Preserve the Metal)
General yin deficiency signs may present as night sweats, heat in the soles and palms, and flusing. Cough/wheezing, possible blood in the sputum, dry and sore throat may present from lung yin and qi…
ViewBa Zhen Wan (Eight Treasure Combination)
For recovery of qi and blood after acute trauma or accident For frequent heavy menstrual cycles Pale complexion, fatigue, dizziness from qi deficiency Vertigo, palpitations, anxiety from blood def…
ViewDa Bu Yin Wan (Great Tonify the Yin Pill)
Steaming bone syndrome - sensation of intense heat, malar flushing, spontaneous sweating. Palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes, from kidney/heart yin deficiency. Tinnitus, possible vertigo,…
ViewDu Huo Ji Sheng Wan (Solitary Hermit Teapills)
For chronic pain due to obstruction (bi zheng) with liver and kidney deficiency. For lower back pain often with weakness and/or pain in the knees. For arthritis, especially the type affected by col…
ViewEr Long Zuo Ci Wan (Deafness Left Supporting Pills)
Ringing in the ears/tinnitus. Unblocks the ears - useful for diminished hearing or temporary hearing loss. Red/dry eyes with blurry vision.
ViewGeng Nian An Wan (Peaceful Menopause)
Menopause symtpoms including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, restlessness and anxiety as a result of yin deficiency. Can be used for other yin deficient symtpoms such as tinnitus, dry skin…
ViewGu Ben Wan (Replenish the Root Teapills)
Dryness from yin deficiency - dry skin, dry eyes, dry cough, dry stools/constipation. Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, possible anxiety. Other yin deficient symptoms such as night s…
ViewJiao Ai Wan (Ass-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Formula)
Uterine bleeding/spotting. Abdominal/Uterine/Ovarian cramping. Irregular menstruation, history of miscarriage - due to spleen failing to regulate the blood.
ViewLiu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia)
Dizziness, tinnitus, possibly vertigo as a result of kidney and liver yin deficiency. Insomnia especially with night sweats, hot flashes, irritability. Spontaneous/nocturnal emissions. Menopaus…
ViewMing Mu Di Huang Wan (Rehmannia Pills to Brighten the Eyes)
Blurry vision, floaters, possibly with dryness of the eyes as a result of the liver yin failing to nourish the eyes and kidney yin failing to brighten the vision.
ViewNuan Gong Yun Zi Wan (Warm Uterus & Conception Pills)
Infertility, history of miscarriage due to blood deficiency and/or cold in the lower jiao from kidney yang deficiency. Irregular menstruation. Lower abdominal pain, lower back pain, uterine and/or …
ViewQian Lie Shu Wan (Prostate Comfort Pills)
Frequent and/or urgent urination, dribbling, incontinence. Treats Lin Syndrome conditions.
ViewQi Ju Di Huang Wan (Lycii Chrysanthemum Teapills)
Yin deficiency symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, night sweats, hot flashes, heat in the soles and dryness. Blurry vision, possibly with dry eyes.
ViewQi Xue Da Bu Wan (Nourish Qi & Blood Pills)
Fatigue, lethargy, sensation of feeling heavy or cold. Low appetite, bloating, borborygmus, loose bowels. Impotence, infertility, low libedo. Insomnia, night sweats, vivid dreams, nightmares.
ViewRen Shen Yang Rong Wan (Ginseng Decoction to Nourish the Nutritive Qi)
Tonifies both qi and blood and nourishes the heart and calms the spirit - generally used for weakness from longer term or deep diseases such as cancer and for a host of other conditions affecting a b…
ViewShi Quan Da Bu Wan (Ten Tonics Nourishment Pills)
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ViewSi Wu Tang Wan (Four Substances Pills)
The primary base formula for tonifying the blood and regulating menstruation in Chinese Medicine terms - irregular cycles, amenorrhea or long cycles. Postpartum issues such as uterine bleeding when …
ViewTao Hong Si Wu Wan (Four Substances Pills With Safflower And Peach Pit)
A modified version of si wu tang with the inclusion of tao ren and hong hua which make it slightly more moving for the blood - for blood deficiency with blood stagnation with particular emphasis on t…
ViewYou Gui Wan (Restore the Right Kidney Pill)
Cold extremities, fatigue, weak/aching low back, knees, waist, aversion to cold, loose stools - due to kindney yang deficiency. Impotence, infertility, low libedo, low sperm count, abnormal sperm mo…
ViewZhi Bai Di Huang Wan (Eight Flavor Rehmannia Teapills)
Steaming bone syndrome - dry and intensive persuasive sensation of heat possibly with flushing and tidal fever. Dizziness, vertigo, tinnitis, anxiety and restlessness resulting from yin deficiency. …
ViewZhuang Yang Wan (Strengthen Kidney Yang And Preserve Power Pill)
Tonifies the kidney yang and astringe the jing (essence), primarily for sexual dysfunction in older males - symptoms may include impotence, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and other sign…
ViewZuo Gui Wan (Right Returning Pills)
Infertility, low libedo, impotence due to kidney yin deficiency. Low sperm count, abnormal sperm morphology resulting from jing deficiency. Irregular menstruation, vaginal dryness.
As noted above, shu di huang is within the herbs that tonify blood functional group. All the herbs in this category are listed below.
(truncated intro "... symptoms of blood deficiency - pallid face and lips, dizziness, vertigo, diminished vision, lethargy, palpitations, dry skin, menstrual irregularities, pale tongue, fine pulse. heart and liver are the most affected. biomedicine - not alwa…)".
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