Shēng Dì Huáng · Fresh Rehmannia Root
Shēng Dì Huáng (生地黄, Fresh Rehmannia Root) is a herb of Cold nature and Sweet, Bitter flavor, in the “Heat Clearing” category. Tradition uses it to clear Heat, Cool Blood, Nourish Yin.
Energetic profile
- Pinyin name
- Shēng Dì Huáng
- Characters
- 生地黄
- Botanical name
- Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) DC.
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Part used
- Root (dried)
- Nature
- Cold
- Flavor
- Sweet, Bitter
- Meridians
- Heart, Kidney, Liver
- Category
- Heat Clearing
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- Pregnancy
- No contraindication described (always consult)
- Origin
- China
Actions according to tradition
- Clear Heat
- Cool Blood
- Nourish Yin
- Generate Body Fluids
Traditional uses
- Blood heat with skin eruptions, purpura, and nosebleeds
- High fever damaging yin with night sweats
- Thirst and dry mouth from heat damaging fluids
- Mouth ulcers from heat
- Constipation from yin deficiency heat
Studied effects and current applications
- Cools blood heat causing skin eruptions and bleeding
- Nourishes yin and generates body fluids
- Clears heat from qi and blood levels
- Addresses wasting and thirsting disorder
- Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating
Applications under investigation
- Autoimmune conditions and inflammation
- Diabetic complications
- Viral hepatitis
- Menorrhagia from heat in blood
- Fever in infectious diseases
An effect being investigated does not mean it has been proven in humans.
Contraindications and adverse effects
Absolute contraindications
- Spleen deficiency with loose stools
- Cold phlegm-damp conditions
Relative contraindications
- Digestive weakness (combine with digestive herbs)
- Pregnancy
- Generally safe in pregnancy. Commonly used for heat conditions.
- Breastfeeding
- Safe during breastfeeding.
- Children
- Safe for children with heat conditions.
- Older adults
- Useful for elderly yin deficiency and heat conditions. Monitor digestion.
Possible adverse effects
- Abdominal fullness
- Loose stools from cold-moist nature
When to stop
- Loose stools develop
- Cold conditions worsen
Interactions with medications
| Group | Drugs | Severity | Effect and recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes medications | Insulin, Metformin | Mild | May have mild hypoglycemic effects (catalpol compound) Monitor blood glucose |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Mild | May counteract steroid side effects Beneficial combination under supervision |
With other herbs
- mu_dan_pi Synergistic for blood heat patterns
Reference dose
- Decoction
- 9-30 grams daily
- Powder
- 3-6 grams daily
- Fresh juice
- 30-60 ml daily fresh juice
- Acute use
- 1-2 weeks for fever/bleeding
- Chronic use
- 1-2 months for yin nourishment
- Maximum
- Monitor spleen function long-term
- Children
- Safe for children in heat conditions.
Forms of preparation
Simmer 9-30g in 4 cups water 45 min. Take cold or room temperature for heat.
Fever, blood heat, yin deficiency
Juice fresh root 30-60 ml. Dilute with water. Drink for heat conditions.
Acute heat conditions, thirst, nosebleed
Approximate doses from the literature; they are not a prescription. Consult a professional.
Active compounds
Glycosidic iridoids (catalpol) and phenolic glycosides (verbascoside)
Iridoid glycoside · Neuroprotective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hematopoietic
GSK-3β inhibition, reduction neuronal apoptosis, erythropoiesis stimulation, AMPK activation · 0.5-1.5% in raw root (Sheng Di Huang)
Caffeoylphenylethaneoid glycoside · Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory
OH and superoxide radical scavenging, PKC and NF-κB inhibition · 0.5-1.5%
Glycosidic iridoids · Hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic
Protection of hepatocytes against CCl4, reduction of postprandial glycemia · 0.2-1.0%
Organic and phenolic acids · Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
COX inhibition, radical scavenging · 0.1-0.5%
Harvesting and processing
- Harvest
- Autumn (October-December) when the aerial parts begin to dry
Fresh tuberous roots harvested in autumn of the first year. Fresh Rehmannia (鲜地黄) is the coldest. The dried form (生地黄) is dried raw. Both are different from processed Rehmannia (熟地黄).
Fresh root cleaned and used directly in juice or short decoction. The coldest form and the one that generates the most fluids.
Tuberous root washed and dried slowly in the sun or with gentle heat (do not exceed 60°C). It turns black externally and brown internally. Less cold than fresh but more comfortable to use.
Formulas it appears in
Health notice. Educational and study content. It describes concepts of Traditional Chinese Medicine and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional. Needling, medicinal herbs and invasive techniques must be applied by trained professionals. Safety guide.
