Rehmannia, Shu Di Huang Prepared Chinese Foxglove rootShu Di Huang (TCM) Edwards’s Botanical Register (1837) Rehmannia glutinosa flower(Photo by 阿橋) (Wikimedia) Botanical name: Rehmannia glutinosa Parts used: Prepared Root Temperature & Taste: Warm, moist. Sweet Classification: N. Blood Tonic   N. Yin Tonic Uses: 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 deficiency2. 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 gramsPowder: 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…

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