The efficacy of drinking water infused with Lycium root bark (Di Gu Pi)
Jan 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
The root bark of Lycium (Di Gu Pi) is cold in nature and excels at clearing deficiency heat from the liver and kidneys. It has the effect of cooling the blood and eliminating feverish conditions, and can be used to treat symptoms such as fever due to yin deficiency and tidal fever caused by bone steaming. For symptoms including fever in the afternoon or at night, hot palms and soles, and night sweats, appropriate consumption as a brewed tea may help alleviate deficiency heat and assist the body in restoring balance between yin and yang. Di Gu Pi enters the lung meridian and clears lung fire, making it effective in treating cough caused by excessive lung heat.
Lycii Root Bark (Di Gu Pi) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Generally, its effects when steeped in water include cooling the blood and relieving feverishness, clearing lung heat and reducing fire, promoting saliva production to relieve thirst, cooling the blood to stop bleeding, and lowering blood pressure while alleviating irritability.
1. Cooling the Blood and Relieving Feverishness
Lycii Root Bark is cold in nature and effectively clears deficiency heat from the liver and kidneys. It has the effect of cooling the blood and relieving feverish sensations, and can be used to treat symptoms such as fever due to yin deficiency and tidal fever with night sweats. For symptoms like fever occurring in the afternoon or at night, hot palms and soles, and night sweats, drinking an appropriate infusion made from this herb can help alleviate internal heat and restore the body's yin-yang balance.
2. Clearing Lung Heat and Reducing Fire
Lycii Root Bark enters the lung meridian and can clear lung fire, making it effective in treating cough caused by lung heat. It can alleviate symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and yellow phlegm caused by excessive lung heat. By clearing lung fire, it restores the normal function of the lungs, thereby relieving cough and asthma. It is often combined with other herbs that clear the lungs and stop coughing to enhance the therapeutic effect.
3. Promoting Saliva Production and Relieving Thirst
Lycii Root Bark has the effect of clearing internal heat and promoting saliva production, and can be used to improve conditions such as excessive internal heat causing excessive thirst. It clears internal heat, promotes the generation and distribution of body fluids, and alleviates symptoms such as dry mouth and excessive thirst. Drinking an appropriate infusion made from this herb can help regulate yin deficiency with internal heat and persistent thirst, reduce the sensation of thirst, and improve quality of life.
4. Cooling the Blood and Stopping Bleeding
Lycii Root Bark has the effect of cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, and can be used to treat various bleeding disorders caused by blood heat, such as hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleeds), and hematuria (blood in urine). Its cold nature clears heat, cools the blood, and prevents abnormal bleeding, thereby achieving a hemostatic effect. It is often used in combination with other herbs that cool the blood and stop bleeding to enhance the effectiveness and help alleviate bleeding symptoms caused by blood heat.
5. Lowering Blood Pressure and Alleviating Irritability
The active ingredients in Lycii Root Bark have a certain blood pressure-lowering effect. Drinking an infusion made from this herb can help regulate blood pressure to some extent and improve symptoms in patients with hypertension. Additionally, its effects of clearing heat and cooling the blood can alleviate irritability caused by internal heat, helping to calm emotions and reduce feelings of restlessness.
It is recommended to use Lycii Root Bark for infusion under the guidance of a physician, and to take it appropriately according to individual conditions. A light diet should be maintained in daily life, avoiding spicy and irritating foods such as garlic, spicy hot pot, and mustard.
