With thanks to Diane Walker
Latin Name: Rehmannia Glutinosa
Family: Orobanchaceae
Part used: Root
Energetics: Sweet, bitter, cold that enters the heart, kidney and liver channels
Iris:
Cautions: Dyspepsia and diarrhoea. Do not use within 2 weeks either side of surgery. Avoid during pregnancy and lactation due to insufficient reliable information available to confirm safety for use.
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- Not recommended for people who have liver disease or pre-existing digestive or immune issues.
- Use cautiously with immunosuppressant, diabetes medications and hypertensive medications
ACTIONS
- Haemostatic
- Adaptogen
- Antioxidant
- Antibacterial
- Antiperspirant
- Hepatoprotective
- Immune tonic
- Antipyretic
- Demulcent
- Alterative
- Laxative
- Tonic
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-viral
- Anti-hypertensive
- Anti-tumour
- Anti-ulcer
Main Constituents
- Iridoid compounds (jioglutosides, rehmaglutins, jioglutins),
- Polysaccharides (astragalans)
- Glucuronic acid
- Glycosides (jionosides)
- Flavones
- Iso-flavones
- Saponins
- β-sitosterol
- Arginine
- Manitol
- Stimasterol
- Tannins
Main Uses
Mental and Emotional: Brings calm during stress, Provides energy when fatigued, Enhances mental clarity. It supports the body in adapting to various stressors
Immune System: Restores innate immune function.
Endocrine System: Supports adrenal glands affected by thyroid disorders, Rich in iridoid glycosides, such as catalpol, which stimulate the production of adrenal cortical hormones and exert anti-inflammatory effects, Menopause, Heavy periods
Circulatory System: Blood tonic, Diabetes, Hypoglacaemia
Urinary System: Kidney tonic (it can stimulate the production of erythropoietin, a kidney hormone that supports the proliferation and maturation of precursor cells into red blood cells.), Increases renal blood flow, Renal tonic, Diuretic, Urinary incontinence/prolapse
Musculo-Skeletal: Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoporosis
Respiratory System: Asthma, Bronchitis, Cough, Pneumonia, Decongestant
Digestive System: Increases appetite, Diarrhoea
More About Rehmannia
Chinese foxglove is native to China where it is famous as a tonic herb. It is used traditionally as a yin and blood tonic.
With a history of use stretching back at least 2,000 years, the root of Rehmannia is counted as one of the 50 most important herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Most notably, Rehmannia is considered the number one herb for disorders related to the kidneys and adrenal glands. It is considered to be a cooling herb that has the ability to balance the “yin”, and is renowned as a longevity herb.
It clears Heat and cools Blood to treat high fever, thirst, scarlet tongue and generate Fluids to treat dry mouth and constipation. It helps with canker sores, irritability, insomnia and malar flush.
Rehmannia glutinosa suppresses inflammatory responses elicited by advanced glycation end products and can be an alternative therapeutic for diabetes-associated diseases.
Rehmannia glutinosa is part of a formula called Shi Quan Da Bu Tang, traditionally used to tonify the Blood and Qi to treat anaemia, anorexia, extreme exhaustion, fatigue, kidney and spleen insufficiency and general weakness, particularly after illness and after chemotherapy. It has been found to potentiate (make it work better) chemotherapy and radiotherapy and inhibit malignant recurrences, prolong survival and prevent and ameliorate adverse toxicities in cancer treatment.
In Japanese herbal medicine (Kampo) the formula is known Juzen Taiho To and has been shown to increase expression of heavy metal chelating metallothioneins (MTs).
Further reading and Clinical Research:
- The Complete Herbal Tutor
Anne McIntyre
ISBN 978-1-9115974-5-2 - Herbal Medicine
Christopher Menzies-Trull
ISBN 0-9545518-2-6
References
Hypoglycemia
UPLC-Q/TOF-MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Reveals Hypoglycemic Effects of Rehmannia glutinosa, Coptis chinensis and Their Combination
These data suggested that RG and CC alone and in combination treatment had the antidiabetic activity in lowering glycemia and improving lipid metabolism.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30544908/
Renal Fibrosis
Radix Rehmannia Glutinosa inhibits the development of renal fibrosis by regulating miR-122-5p/PKM axis
RR can inhibit renal fibrosis progression by regulating the miR-122-5p/PKM axis.