The efficacy of Rehmannia glutinosa (Shu Di Huang)

Apr 14, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Xiuhong

Introduction

Rehmannia root (Shu Di Huang) has a sweet taste and is slightly warm in nature, entering the liver and kidney meridians. The liver stores blood, while the kidney stores essence; essence and blood share the same origin. This herb effectively nourishes yin blood in the liver and kidneys and is commonly used to treat symptoms such as sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and insomnia caused by deficiency of yin blood. It also shows good therapeutic effects in regulating irregular menstruation, metrorrhagia, and other conditions associated with blood deficiency in women, helping to replenish yin blood and restore the body's balance.

Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) generally has effects of nourishing yin and enriching blood, replenishing essence and marrow, benefiting kidney yin, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation, and nourishing the liver to improve vision. It is recommended to use this herb under the guidance of a physician.

1. Nourishing Yin and Enriching Blood: Prepared Rehmannia is sweet in taste and slightly warm in nature, acting on the liver and kidney meridians. The liver stores blood while the kidney stores essence, with essence and blood sharing a common origin. This herb effectively replenishes yin blood of the liver and kidney, commonly used to treat symptoms such as sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and insomnia caused by deficiency of yin blood. It also has good regulatory effects on menstrual irregularities, metrorrhagia, and other conditions related to blood deficiency in women, helping to restore bodily balance by replenishing yin blood.

2. Replenishing Essence and Nourishing Marrow: The kidney governs bone and produces marrow; sufficient kidney essence ensures adequate bone marrow. Prepared Rehmannia is particularly effective in supplementing kidney essence, improving symptoms caused by kidney essence deficiency such as soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees, weak muscles and bones, tinnitus, hearing loss, loose teeth, and premature graying of hair. It is especially suitable for middle-aged and elderly individuals or those with prolonged illness or excessive sexual activity that damages kidney essence, helping delay aging and enhance physical function.

3. Nourishing Kidney Yin: Kidney yin serves as the foundation of all yin energy in the body, nourishing and moistening the internal organs and tissues. Prepared Rehmannia can strengthen kidney yin, alleviating symptoms such as tidal fever, night sweats, and five-palm heat caused by kidney yin deficiency. By enhancing kidney yin, it helps control excessive yang energy and maintain the body's yin-yang balance, relieving various discomforts caused by yin deficiency.

4. Nourishing Blood and Regulating Menstruation: Blood is fundamental to women's physiology, and regular menstruation depends on sufficient yin blood. By nourishing yin and enriching blood, Prepared Rehmannia can effectively regulate the menstrual cycle, improving conditions such as scanty menstruation and amenorrhea. For dysmenorrhea caused by blood deficiency, it can nourish blood, soothe the liver, relieve spasms, and alleviate pain, helping women maintain normal physiological cycles and reduce menstrual discomfort.

5. Nourishing Liver and Improving Vision: The liver opens into the eyes; sufficient liver blood ensures clear vision. Acting on the liver meridian, Prepared Rehmannia nourishes liver blood and helps improve eye-related issues such as dry eyes, blurred vision, and night blindness caused by liver blood deficiency. Often used in combination with other herbs that nourish the liver and benefit vision, it enhances ocular nutrition and protects eyesight, particularly suitable for those with excessive eye strain or deficiency of liver and kidney.

It should be noted that Prepared Rehmannia is sweet and warm in nature. Individuals with excessive internal heat or weak spleen and stomach should avoid large or prolonged doses to prevent indigestion or other discomforts.

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