Rehmannia Glutinosa Herbal Uses
Rehmannia glutinosa is one of the 50 fundamental herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), alongside other well-known herbs like Camellia sinensis (tea tree) and Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice). Known in herbal medicine as a supporter of the heart, kidneys, and liver, Rehmannia glutinosa is used in a number of ways. The rehmannia plant is particularly unique in that the entire plant is used in Chinese medicine, pulling nutrients, minerals, and other compounds all the way down to its sticky root. A sweetly flavored herb, Rehmannia glutinosa is often combined with other herbs in both Chinese and Japanese medicine.
Key Benefits of Rehmannia Glutinosa
There are seemingly countless potential health benefits from Rehmannia glutinosa; listing them would take up a whole blog post just on its own! Instead, we decided to share our top 10 favorites.
- Promotes a healthy liver
- Helps maintain good blood circulation and flow throughout the body
- Promotes a healthy heart
- Considered a tonifying herb to support blood, bones, and oxygen levels
- Promotes healthy kidneys
- Helps maintain hormonal systems of the body, including testosterone levels, symptoms related to menopause, and the overall female reproductive system
- Promotes brain health and cognitive performance
- Supports gastrointestinal health
- May help maintain regular energy levels
- Promotes fertility
How to Use Rehmannia Glutinosa
Rehmannia glutinosa is most commonly used as either a tablet or in liquid extract form. Because much of the herb's beneficial qualities come from its sticky (and slightly smelly) root, distilling the herb into a capsule or liquid form will allow easy access and help to maximize its potential benefits.
在現存最古老的藥學專書《神農本草經》中，地黃被歸類為上品藥，也就是無毒、具有滋養生命之效。經過炮製的熟地黃，藥性由寒轉溫、味道由苦轉甜、功效由清轉補，原先清熱降火的功效則搖身變成良好的滋陰補血藥方，同時也緩解了腸胃副作用。根據《李時珍說藥》的描述，以補血作用來說，除了膠類藥（如阿膠）等動物藥之外，植物藥中效用最佳首推熟地黃。
根據中醫的觀點，熟地黃補血滋陰（尤其補腎陰）、益精填髓。腎陰不足時，常見頭暈目眩、腰酸、遺精、崩漏等症狀。而在中醫保健暢銷書籍《思考中藥》一書中，對於滋陰的觀點值得參考：「養五臟之陰，首先就是養腎陰。腎主水，藏精，而水和精是生命的本源…養陰的根本就是養腎陰，因為是腎藏精。五臟都藏精，最後要由腎來把精進一步封藏起來。如果腎藏精藏得比較堅固，那麼五臟都能藏精。如果腎藏精藏不住，那麼五臟也藏不了多少精。所以養陰的根本就是在養腎陰，而地黃是養腎陰的一個代表藥。」
另一方面，現代醫學也證實，熟地黃富含多醣、聚醣、胺基酸與多種維他命，最重要的是，熟地黃有助腎臟代謝與調節血糖，繼而達到提升免疫力、降血糖與滋補強身的功效。