Shú Dì Huáng (熟地黄), known in English as Prepared rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared)), is a warm, sweet Chinese herb from the Tonify blood category. It enters the Liver, Kidney and Heart channels. Its main action: nourishes Yin and Blood — Liver and Kidney.
| Pinyin | Shú Dì Huáng (Shu Di Huang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 熟地黄 |
| English | Prepared rehmannia |
| Botanical name | Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared) |
| Category | Tonify blood |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet |
| Channels | Liver, Kidney, Heart |
| Dosage | 9–30g |
| Cautions | Phlegm-Damp; Spleen deficiency with diarrhoea; abdominal distension |
Actions
- Nourishes Yin and Blood — Liver and Kidney
- Tonifies Jing and marrow
Indications
- Liver and Kidney Yin/Blood deficiency: pallor, dizziness, palpitations, irregular menses, tinnitus, premature greying
How to remember Shú Dì Huáng
Tonify blood herbs are mostly warm or hot and sweet, and most enter the Liver, Spleen, Heart and Kidney channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Sweet, Heart channel: like most Tonify blood herbs
- Liver and Kidney channels: from its action “Nourishes Yin and Blood — Liver and Kidney”
Formulas containing Shú Dì Huáng
- Sì Wù Tāng
- Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán
- Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán
- Zuǒ Guī Wán
- Yù Nǚ Jiān
- Qīng Jīng Sǎn
- Bā Zhēn Tāng
- Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng
- Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng
- Yòu Guī Wán
- Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng
- Jiāo Ài Tāng
- Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán
- Bǔ Fèi Tāng
Other Tonify blood herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Shú Dì Huáng?
Shú Dì Huáng is warm and sweet.
Which channels does Shú Dì Huáng enter?
Shú Dì Huáng enters the Liver, Kidney and Heart channels.
What are the actions of Shú Dì Huáng?
Nourishes Yin and Blood — Liver and Kidney; Tonifies Jing and marrow.
What is Shú Dì Huáng used for?
Liver and Kidney Yin/Blood deficiency: pallor, dizziness, palpitations, irregular menses, tinnitus, premature greying.
Which formulas contain Shú Dì Huáng?
Sì Wù Tāng, Liù Wèi Dì Huáng Wán, Zhī Bǎi Dì Huáng Wán, Zuǒ Guī Wán, Yù Nǚ Jiān, Qīng Jīng Sǎn, Bā Zhēn Tāng, Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng, Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng, Yòu Guī Wán, Bǎi Hé Gù Jīn Tāng, Jiāo Ài Tāng, Qǐ Jú Dì Huáng Wán and Bǔ Fèi Tāng.
Practise Shú Dì Huáng and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.