Single Herb Glossary
Shú Dì Huáng 熟地黃
| Pharmaceutical name | Rehmanniae Radix preparata cooked rehmannia root, prepared Chinese foxglove root "cooked earth yellow" |
| Category | Tonify Blood |
| Key Properties | Tonifies Blood Enriches Yin, Generates Essence Augments Marrow |
| Properties | Sweet Sl. Warm |
| Tropism | HT, KD, LV |
| Actions & Indications | 1) Tonifies Blood 2) Nourishes Yin (LV/KD) 3) Strongly Enriches Yin, Relieves Wasting & Thirsting 4) Nourishes Blood & Tonifies Essence |
| Dosages | 9-30g |
| Contraindications (TCM) | CI: Qi stagnation and profuse phlegm, fullness, and pain in the abdomen, reduced appetite, and diarrhea. |
| Contraindications (Western) | |
| Chemical Composition | Catalpol, 6-o-acetylcatalpol, aucubin, melittoside, rehmanniosides A,B,C,D; rehmaglutins A,B,C,D; glutinoside, rehmannans A,B,C; stachyose, D-mannitol |
| Pharmacological Effects | • Anti-inflammatory: water and alcohol extracts at 10 g/kg/day for 5 days showed marked effectiveness in reducing inflammation and swelling in mice • Endocrine: definite effect on endocrine system; ingestion increases plasma levels of adrenocortical hormone, even in presence of dexamethasone; proposed that Sheng Di Huang works by inhibiting the negative feedback from the dexamethasone to the pituitary gland; other herbs that have shown similar influence include Zhi Mu (Radix Anemarrhenae) and Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) • Others: cardiotonic, antihypertensive, hemostatic, hepatoprotective, diuretic and antibiotic effects |
| Herb-Drug Interactions | |
| Classical Formula(s) |
Yang He Tang(Balmy yang Decoction) 養和湯 Zan Yu Dan (Special Pill to Aid Fertility) 贊育丹 Bu Fei Tang (Tonify the Lungs Decoction) 補肺湯 Da Bu Yin Wan (Great Tonify the Yin pill) 大補陰丸 (大补阴丸) Da Qin Jiao Tang (Major Large Gentian Decoction) 大秦艽湯 Dang Gui Liu Huang Tang (Tankuei and Six-yellow Decoction) 當歸六黃湯 (当归六黄汤) Di Huang Yin Zi (Rehmannia Drink) 地黃飲子 Guo Qi Yin (Delayed Menstruation Decoction) 過期飲 Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-ingredient pill with rehmannia) 六味地黃丸 Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (Ginseng decoction to nourish luxuriance) 人參養榮湯 (人参养荣汤) Tai shan pan shi san (Taishan bedrock powder) 泰山盤石散 (泰山盘石散) Ba Xian Chang Shou Wan (Eight Immortal Pill for Longevity) 八仙長壽丸 Ba Zhen Tang (Eight-Treasure decoction) 八珍湯 Ba Zhen Yi Mu Wan (Eight Treasure Pill to Benefit Mothers) 八珍益母丸 Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily bulb decoction to preserve the metal) 百合固金湯 Bai Zi Yang Xin Tang (Arborvitae See Pill to Nourish the HT) 柏子養心湯 Hu Qian Wan (Hidden Tiger Pill) (deleted hu gu) 虎潛丸 （減虎骨） Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan (Golden coffer Kidney Qi Pill) 濟生腎氣丸 (济生肾气丸) Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (All-inclusive great tonifying decoction) 十全大補湯 (十全大补汤) You Gui Wan (Restore the right [kidney] pill) 右歸丸 (右归丸) Yu Nu Jian (Jade Woman Decoction) 玉女煎 Zhen Zhu Mu Wan (Mother-of-Pearl Pill) (deleted chen xiang) 珍珠母丸 （減沉香） Zhu Jing Wan (Preserve Vistas Pill) 駐景丸 Zi Yin Jiang Huo Tang (Decoction to Enrich the Yin and Direct Fire Downward) 滋陰降火湯 |
This information is a reference tool for Chinese herbal studies. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Please consult a primary health professional if you require health advisory.