1. Tonifies the Blood: -weakness, pale face and tongue, deficient and thin pulse -Dizziness, poor Memory -Palpitations, Insomnia -Uterine Bleeding, Postpartum Bleeding -Threatened Miscarriage and Ante-partum disorders of deficiency
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 -“Pain under the umbilicus is a sign of Kidney disorder. Shudihuang is the only drug that can deal with it”. (Zhang Yuan Su)
3. Nourishes and Increases Essence: -Premature Aging; premature greying of hair; support during aging -Delayed development in children -Impotence, Infertility
Dose:
Decoction: 9–30 grams Powder: 1–4 grams
Comment:
1. Sheng Di Huang (dried Rehmannia root) clears Heat from the Blood while supporting Yin. Shu Di Huang (the prepared root) nourishes Blood and Yin. 2. 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.
Correctives:
1. Alisma Ze Xie prevents the heavy, cloying effect, as in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. 2. Amomum Sha Ren or Costus (Mu Xiang) is added to prescriptions with Rehmannia to avoid the heavy, cloying effect and promote digestion.
Preparation:
1. Wine=Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) The root is steamed, then laid out to partly dry. It is then mixed with wine and steamed again. It is then taken out and dried, and kept for use. Li Shi Zhen complained that the pharmacies in his time typically only prepared the drug with wine which is “no good for medicinal use”. 2. Juice prepared Rehmannia: According to older sources, the dru can be prepared the same way, but using the juice of fresh Rehmannia instead of wine. 3. Amomum Sha Ren Prepared Rehmannia. Dried Rehmannia root is steamed with wine and a little Amomum Sha Ren powder until completely dry. It is then added to more wine and Amomum Shar Ren and the process repeated. This was repeated 9 times in total. The Amomum is added to correct the greasy, heavy nature of Rehmannia. This harmonises the Five Organs and leads Qi to the Dan Tian in the lower abdomen. Li Shi Zhen said this was a common method of preparation in his day.
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 ‘). 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 8. Excess Sex resulting in weakness and cough, Rehmannia Shu Di Huang with Ginseng, Poria Fu Ling made into pilsl with Honey.
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.
Edwards’s Botanical Register (1837)
Rehmannia glutinosa flower