Rehmannia is a member
of the foxglove family and in fact so resembles foxglove
in appearance that it is sometimes called Chinese Foxglove.
The root is used raw as a detoxifying herb that "cools
blood" for the treatment of wasting fevers and
is known as "sheng di huang.'' It is cured by
soaking and drying the compressed roots nine times
in rice wine. By so doing, it has a slightly warmer
energy and is used as a nourishing blood and yin tonic
known as "shu di huang." (Prepared) Rehmannia
Root.
It is in this latter category
that prepared rehmannia is a primary herb especially
in formulas that nourish the blood and kidney yin but
also with other kidney yang herbs and in kidney yang
formulas such as "Rehmannia Eight." Rehmannia contains
beta sitosterol, mannitol, stigmasterol, campesterol,
rehmannin, catalpol, arginine and glucose. TCM classifies
it as entering the liver, kidney and heart.
Prepared rehmannia, which is the form used as a blood and kidney yin tonic,
is used in the treatment of anemia usually with Dang gui and for "yin" asthenia,
dizziness, tinnitus, weakness and pain of the lower back and legs, thirst,
spermatorrhea, amenorrhea and metrorrhagia.
It is claimed to be "the
Kidney's own leading herb." It increases the Yin
of the Kidney and thus promotes Kidney functions and "preserves
life." It cools the blood and moisturizes dryness.
It keeps the heart cool, regulates the Yin and Yang
in the Lung, and regulates the dampness and heat in
the Stomach and Spleen (the middle burner). By improving
blood flow to the liver, it purifies and tonifies that
organ.
Liver and Kidney Yin deficiency
is very common in modern society, and it is becoming
more common. Such deficiencies are created by a busy,
over-active lifestyle, caused by excessive coffee drinking,
excessive sexual activity, eating hot, spicy foods,
not getting enough rest, excessive consumption of alcohol
and drugs, cigarette smoking and other speedy activities.
In the body, there is a balance of yin (body fluids)
and yang (the fire of life), and in our modern lifestyle
there is always tendency to do to much, to be to busy,
to "burn yourself out." Living in excess
burns up the yin fluids of the body which nourish the
internal organs, tendons, skin, hair and nails. Early
symptoms of yin deficiency are dry scalp and dandruff,
brittle finger nails, dry skin and a red tongue with
little or no coating, often with associated cracks
in the middle of the tongue body.
Symptoms of Liver and Kidney
Yin deficiency are low back pain, weak low back and
knees, pain in the heel or sole of the foot, excessive
thirst, mental restlessness, headache, dizziness, blurry
vision, night sweats, burning, frequent urination which
occurs especially at night, and dark rings under the
eyes.
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