Radix Rehmanniae
Source
Root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., family Scrophulariaceae.
Characteristics
The
root appearing as irregular masses or flat-twisted strips, unequal in
size; surface grey-black, wrinkled and striated. Section appearing black,
lustrous, even and without striae. Heavy in weight and soft in texture.
Sweet in taste, cold in nature, and attributive to heart, liver and kidney
channels.
Indication
Clear away heat and cool the blood, nourish yin to promote the production
of body fluid: For
(1) seasonal febrile diseases involving yingfen and xuefen, manifested
as fever and irritability;
(2) blood-heat syndrome manifested as hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis,
eruptions, hematuria, hemafecia, metrorrhagia, etc.;
(3) febrile diseases with consumption of body fluid manifested as fever,
thirst and constipation;
(4) syndrome of yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity with hectic fever;
(5) lung-dryness syndrome with cough or epistaxis;
(6) sthenic or asthenic heat-syndrome with sorethroat;
(7) diabetes.
Pharmacological
Action
I. Its decoction exerts a protective effect on experimental hepatitis
of mice induced by carbon tetrachioride.
2.
Gastric feeding or injection of its decoction, water infusion or alcoholic
extract can lower the blood sugar level in rabbits (this result is controversial
in the recent years).
3. Intravenous injection of its extract exerts a hypertensive and diuretic
effect in rabbits and dogs.
4. Its alcoholic extract shortens the blood coagulation time in rabbits.
5. Its water infusion inhibits the growth of some pathogenic fungi.
Administration Decoction: 9-30g.