Boehmeria, Zhu Ma Gen 苎麻根

Ramie, False Nettle
Zhu Ma Gen (TCM)
Picture Blanco, M., Flora de Filipinas, ed. 3 (1877-1883)

Picture Boehmeria nivea
(Photo by Kenraiz) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:


Boehmeria nivea

Parts used:


Root and Rhizome
Fresh herb and juice is also used, especially externally

Temperature & Taste:


Cold, Moist. Sweet

Classification:


L. Stops Bleeding

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-all types of Bleeding from Heat, or Heat in the Blood, or Heat with Yin deficiency
-Uterine Bleeding, Excessive Menstruation
-Purpura from Blood heat
-Bleeding from Wounds

2. Clears Heat, Calms the Fetus:
-Restless Fetus and Threatened Miscarriage from Heat
-abdominal pain from excess Fetal movement
-Vaginal Bleeding during Pregnancy from Heat

3. Clears Heat, Nourishes Yin:
-traditionally regarded as nourishing Yin
-Emaciation, Wasting, from Yin deficiency with Heat
-Chronic Heat that has damaged the Yin

4. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-difficult, painful or scanty Urine from Damp-Heat
-Leukorrhea, Gonorrhea

5. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Abscess, Boils, Toxic Sores
-Snakebite
-taken internally, and the fresh herb beaten and applied


Dose:


It is often used as a solo herb.
Decoction: 9–30 grams. The fresh herb can also be decocted for internal use in doses of 15 grams.

Main Combinations:


1. Bleeding:
i. from Heat, Hemoptysis, metrorrhagia, hematuria, Boehmeria root with Burnet (Di Yu), Platycladus Ce Bai Ye
ii. from severe deficiency, Boehmeria root with Ginseng
2. Uterine bleeding from Heat, Boehmeria root with Purslane (Ma Chi Xian), Curcuma Yu Jin, Carbonized Human hair (Xue Yu Tan)
3. Hematuria from Heat:
i. Boehmeria root with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Gardenia Zhi Zi, Imperata Bai Mao Gen
ii. Boehmeria root with Imperata Bai Mao Gen, Burnet root (Di Yu), Cirsium Xiao Ji
iii. Boehmeria root with Cirsium Xiao Ji, Pyrrosia Shi Wei, Sophora flos Huai Hua
iv. with Strangury or Dysuria, Boehmeria root with Cirsium Xiao Ji, Typha pollen (Pu Huang), Dianthus Qu Mai
4. Restless Fetus and Threatened Miscarriage from Heat:
i, Boehmeria root with Scutellaria Huang Qin
ii. Boehmeria root with Rehmannia Sheng Di Huang, Paeonia Bai Shao
iii. with Vaginal Bleeding, Boehmeria root with Scutellaria Huang Qin, Bambusa Caulis Zhu Ru
iv. with Vaginal Bleeding, Boehmeria root with Dang Gui, Donkey Hide Gelatin (E Jiao)
v. with Vaginal Bleeding, Boehmeria root with Dang Gui, carbonised Mugwort (Ai Ye)
5. Gonorrhea, Boehmeria root with Plantain seed (Che Qian Zi), Imperata Bai Mao Gen
6. Toxic Sores, Boehmeria root with Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying), Loniera Jin Yin Hua

Major Formulas:


Zhu Gen San

Cautions:


1. Caution in those with cold and weakness of the Digestive system.
2. Only suitable for Heat conditions.

Main Preparations used: