Rehmannia Root, Prepared - Shu Di Huang

Products Featuring This Herb:
Rehmannia Root, Prepared Extract Powder 100 grams
Rehmannia Root, Prepared Extract Powder 5 kilograms
Ant Essence
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Imperial Garden
Jing
Rehmannia Six Combination
Primal Yin Replenisher
Return to Youth
Shou Wu Formulation
Super Adaptogen
Super Jing
Supreme Creation
Ten Complete Supertonic
Women's Jing
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Eight Flavor Rehmannia Teapills
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Replenish the Root Teapills
Return to Spring Teapills
Right Side Replenishing Teapills
You Gui Wan
Solitary Hermit Teapills
Ten Flavor Teapills
Tonify Lung Decoction Teapills
Warm Cycle Teapills
Women's Precious Teapills
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Other Common Names
Rehmannia, Prepared; Steamed Rehmannia

Page # In Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs
179

Latin Name
Radix Rehmanniae praparatae

Pinyin
Shu Di Huang (Shu Di)

Treasures
Yin Jing and Blood

Treasure Rating
*****

Atmospheric Energy
Slightly Warm

Organ Meridian Systems
Kidney, Liver and Heart

Part Used and Form
Tuberous Root

Primary Functions
To tonify the Kidneys and nourish yin jing

Qualities
Rehmannia is said to be the “Kidney’s own food”. It is a fundamental Kidney tonic in Chinese tonic herbalism and is considered to be a primary longevity herb. It is found in a great many common “anti-aging” formulations. It is considered rejuvenating and life lengthening.

Steamed Rehmannia is a fundamental Yin Jing tonic, providing Yin directly to the Kidney. It is quick and effective. Steamed Rehmannia is said to benefit sexual functions in men and women and is included in almost every formula that is designed to strengthen reproductive functions, including fertility. It forms the Yin base of many men’s potency formulas. In such formulas, Steamed Rehmannia may be combined with a whole range of tonic herbs, including super tonics such as Deer Antler, Gecko, Ginseng and Astragalus.

Prepared Rehmannia is a major blood tonic. This is of special importance to women, who always need to rebuild blood. Steamed Rehmannia, when combined with Dang Gui, Ligusticum and Peony forms the quintessential women’s herbal combination, Four Things. Prepared Rehmannia is said to be warm in nature and warms up the uterus in women. A “cold uterus” will result in painful menstruation and infertility.

When used as a tonic, steamed Rehmannia is usually combined with Qi tonics to improve its assimilation. It is routinely combined with Dang Gui to produce blood. It is also commonly combined with Astragalus, Gecko and Deer Antler, as well as more common tonic herbs in tonic formulations.

Primary Combinations
Prepared Rehmannia is never used alone. Combine with:
Tang Gui and White Peony to build blood and Kidney yin
Asparagus root to tonify yin, build blood and calm the heart
Ophiopogon to build Kidney yin and to remove heat in the upper warmer
Cuscuta Semen to tonify the Kidney and Liver
Ophiopogon and Cuscuta Semen to tonify the Heart, Kidney, Jing and Blood

Varieties and Grading
There are two fundamental varieties of Rehmannia used in Chinese herbalism: prepared and raw. Raw Rehmannia has simply been dried. It has a cold nature and is not particularly tonic (its tonic nature has not been activated). Raw Rehmannia is used primarily in medicinal herbalism to cool down inflammatory conditions. Prepared Rehmannia is highly tonic. It has been prepared by soaking in a special blend of wine (which itself has been specially prepared with Amomi and Tangerine peel) and then steaming and sun drying. The Rehmannia becomes deep black, soft and sticky. It is sold in slices in most markets for easy handling. Most Prepared Rehmannia sold in America is of high quality. It may be tasted raw. It will be soft, easily chewed, fine in texture and very sweet.

Contraindications
Rehmannia is considered to be “greasy” and “slippery”, which means that it can cause loose stool in people with weak digestive systems. That is why it should be combined with Qi tonics. Use cautiously if prone to diarrhea and replace it with Polygonum if loose stools continue to occur.