Tonify blood
Shu Di Huang
熟地黄
Prepared rehmannia
Rehmannia glutinosa (prepared root)
The heavy blood and yin tonic. Prepared root, not the raw one.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Warm · Sweet
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Cooked in wine in the traditional process. Used for blood deficiency and for kidney and liver yin: low back, nights, dryness, and a thin picture in the old language. Sheng Di Huang, the raw root, is cooler and is a different herb to add later.
Common pairings
- Shan Zhu Yu 山茱萸
Two of the three tonics in Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, with Chinese yam not yet in this atlas.
- Dang Gui 当归
A rich blood pair. Cloying if the digestion is weak, which is why Chen Pi or Sha Ren often appear in real formulas.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing. Very cloying. Poor choice if there is damp, poor appetite, or loose stool. Care in pregnancy means ask a prescriber.
Points with a similar aim
Kidney Shu
The low-back point level with the waist, kidney shu.
Use caution
Gushing Spring
Sole of the foot, the well point used for settling down.
Great Ravine
Inner ankle hollow, the Kidney source point.
Use caution
Shining Sea
Just below the inner ankle, opening the Yin Qiao.
Use caution
Returning Current
Just above the inner ankle, along the Achilles.
Yin Valley
Inner end of the knee crease.
Suspended Bell
Above the outer ankle, influential point of marrow.
Origin Pass
Below the navel, a source-qi point. Gentle, and cautious in pregnancy.
Use caution