Zhimu Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
The source is from rhizome of a perennial herbaceous plant, Anemarrhena asphodegoides Bunge, family Liliaceae. The producing areas are mainly in the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, and Northeast China, etc.. The medicinal material is collected in spring and autumn, the crude without hair or external skin is dried in the sun and cut into pieces or stir-baked with a salt solution for use.
Medicinal Properties Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature and attributive to the lung, stomach and kidney meridians.
Actions Clear away heat and purge fire, nourish yin and moisturize dryness.
Application
1. For overabundance of pathogenic heat due to seasonal febrile disease with symptoms of high fever and excessive thirst, it is usually combined with Shigao ( Gypsum Fibrosum), such as Baihu Tang (Decoction).
2. The medicinal herb is used for symptoms of cough due to lung-heat, dry cough due to yin deficiency, since it can nourish yin and moisten the lung as well as clear away heat and purge fire from the lung. For cough with yellow sputum due to lung-heat, it is used together with Huangqin ( Radix Seutellariae ), Beimu ( Bulbus Fritillariae), Sangbaipi ( Cortex Mori Radicis ) and others that can clear away heat from the lung and resolve phlegm. For dry cough and dryness of throat due to dryness of the lung and yin-deficiency, it is combined with Shashen (Radix Glehniae), Maimendong (Radix Ophiogonis) and others that can nourish yin and moisten the lung.
3. For the hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency marked by hectic fever, night sweat and restlessness, it is often combined with Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri ) that is added to yin nourishing medicinal herbs so as to strengthen the action of nourishing yin to reduce fire, such as Zhi Bai Dihuang Wan (Pill).
4. For Diabetes due to yin deficiency manifested as thirst due to consumption of body fluids, constipation due to dryness of intestine, it can be combined with Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosanthis ), Gegen ( Radix Puerariae ) and others that can clear away heat and promote the regeneration of body fluids.
Usage and Dosage 6 - 12 g is used in decoction for oral use. The crude is suitable for clearing away heat and purging fire; the stir-baked form with salt solution for nourishing yin and reducing fire.
Notes Contraindicated in the patient with diarrhea due to spleen-deficiency since the drug is cold in nature and moistening in property, and can lubricate the intestine.
