Introduction of Shu Di Huang: Prepared Rehmannia Root
✵This article documents the herb Prepared Rehmannia Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., and (2) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao.—with detailed descriptions of the botanical characteristics, growth habits, and ecological environments of both species; as well as the characteristics of the processed herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Shú Dì Huánɡ
English Name: Prepared Rehmannia Root
Latin Name:Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata Properties and Flavor: Slightly warm; sweet
Brief Introduction:Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata is the steamed and dried tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. It is (1) a principal blood-tonifying herb for treating blood deficiency accompanied by pallor, dizziness, palpitations, and menstrual disorders; and (2) a key kidney-yin–tonifying herb for chronic tidal fever, night sweats, lumbago, nocturnal emission, and diabetes mellitus. Commonly known as Prepared Rehmannia Root, Shú Dì Huánɡ, or Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal book define Rehmanniae Radix (Dì Huánɡ) as the fresh or dried tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. (family Scrophulariaceae). Other authoritative books designate Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shú Dì Huánɡ) as the processed (steamed and dried) tuberous root of (1) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., or (2) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao. In contrast, Xian Di Huang (Fresh Rehmannia Root) refers specifically to the unprocessed fresh tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch.et Mey. (family Scrophulariaceae). The two commonly used botanical sources are described below:
(1) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.
Botanical Description:Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is a perennial herb of the family Scrophulariaceae (figwort family) and genus Rehmannia. Synonyms include Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey. and Digitalis glutinosa Gaertn. Common names include Di Huánɡ, Dì Suǐ, and Rehmannia Root. Plants grow 10–40 cm tall. The entire plant is densely covered with grayish-white, glandular and non-glandular pubescence. Roots are hypertrophic, succulent, tuberous, cylindrical or fusiform (spindle-shaped). Stems are erect, solitary or branched from the base.
Basal leaves form a rosette; leaf blades are obovate-lanceolate, 3–10 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide; apices are obtuse; bases taper gradually and decurrent into long petioles; surfaces are wrinkled; margins are irregularly serrated. Cauline leaves are smaller.
The scape (flowering stalk) is erect and pubescent; upper stems bear racemes. Floral bracts are leafy and either well-developed or reduced. Calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), the apex is 5-lobed; lobes are triangular, covered with multicellular long hairs and white hairs, and feature 10 prominent veins. Corolla is broadly tubular (fistulose), slightly curved, 3–4 cm long; external surface is dark purple; internal surface is yellowish with distinct purple striations; apex is 5-lobed and slightly bilabiate. 4 stamens, didynamous; anther bases are divaricated. Ovary is superior, ovate (egg-shaped), bilocular, becoming unilocular after flowering; 1 style; stigma enlarged.
Fruit is a capsule, ovate (egg-shaped) or ovate-oblong, acute at apex, with persistent style; outer surface enveloped by persistent calyx. Seeds are numerous. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from May to June.
Ecological Environment:Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is primarily cultivated but also grows wild on hillsides, roadsides, and wastelands at elevations of 50–1,000 m above sea level. It is widely distributed across China and extensively cultivated nationwide.
Growth Characteristics:Rehmannia glutinosa prefers a warm, sunny climate and exhibits moderate cold tolerance. Optimal cultivation requires ample sunlight, deep, loose, fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline sandy loam soil. It may also be grown in mixed soils or fertile clay. Continuous cropping must be avoided. Grass family crops (e.g., maize, wheat) are recommended as preceding crops; land previously planted with cotton, sesame, legumes, or cucurbits should be avoided due to high risk of soil-borne diseases.
The Rehmannia genus belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and comprises 6–8 species, distributed in eastern Asia. Six species occur in China, growing in the northwest, southwest, and central to northern regions; some are cultivated for ornamental purposes. These are perennial herbs with rhizomes. They bear globose, multicellular, glandular hairs. Leaves are alternate, obovate to oblong, and coarsely serrated. Flowers are large and short-peduncled, grow singly in leaf axils or arranged in terminal racemes. Calyx is campanulate, apically 5-lobed; lobes are unequal in length—typically the posterior lobe is longest—and entire or secondarily cleft. Corolla is bilabiate, slightly curved, with a swollen tube and deflexed lobes. 4 stamens (rarely five, with the fifth being reduced and included). The ovary is superior, with a ring-like or shallowly cyathiform (cup-shaped) nectary disk at its base; it is bilocular in young fruits and becomes unilocular upon maturity; the style apex is bilobed. Ovules are numerous. The fruit is a capsule, loculicidally dehiscent, with multiple locules. Seeds are small and reticulate.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of irregular lumps and fragments of varying sizes and thicknesses. Both exterior and interior surfaces are jet-black and glossy, with an uneven, wrinkled texture. The material is soft, flexible, and non-brittle, exhibiting marked mucilaginous (glutinous) consistency. The fracture surface is lustrous and moist, blackish and glossy, often displaying bright, greasy-looking patches centrally. The herb has a mild odor and a sweet taste.
Medicinal Efficacy: Nourishes blood and yin; tonifies essence and replenishes marrow. Indicated for: blood deficiency with sallow complexion; palpitations (including severe palpitations); dizziness; liver-kidney yin deficiency; yin and blood insufficiency; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; kidney deficiency with dyspnea; over-strained cough and osteopyrexia (consumptive cough, bone steaming); osteopyrexia and hectic fever (bone steaming and tidal fever or hot flash), endogenous heat and wasting thirst (internal heat and consumptive thirst), wasting thirst (consumptive thirst), frequent urination; constipation; hectic fever and night sweat; night sweats and spermatorrhea; nocturnal emission; impotentia; menoxenia (menstrual irregularity); metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (uterine bleeding); infertility; tinnitus; deafness; vertigo; dizziness; blurred vision; and premature graying of hair.
Administration of Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shú Dì Huánɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shú Dì Huánɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally: Water decoction, 0.4–1 liǎng (≈12–30 grams); also prepared as pills, powders, ointments, or medicinal wine infusions; (3) Internally: Water decoction, 10–30 grams; also prepared as pills, powders, ointments, or medicinal wine infusions.
Contraindications, Precautions and Adverse Reactions: Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata should not be processed or stored in iron utensils. It should not be combined with radish, Welsh onion stalks (Allium fistulosum), Longstamen Onion Bulb, or Leek Bulb (Allium porrum).
(2) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao.
Botanical description: Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao is a plant of the Scrophulariaceae family (syn. Scrophulariaceae Juss.) and the genus Rehmannia. It is also known as Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. huechingensis (Chao et Schih) Hsiao; commonly referred to as "Rehmannia glutinosa hueichingensis" or Huái Dì Huánɡ. Its shrubs grow similarly to, or identically with, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.
This species is a forma of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., a perennial herb reaching 25–40 cm in height. The entire plant is densely covered with grayish villous and glandular hairs. The rootstock is hypertrophied, lumpy, cylindrical or fusiform (spindle-shaped), 2.5–5 cm in diameter. The stem is solitary and erect, or a few branches arise from the base. Basal leaves are clustered; the leaf blade is obovate or oblong, with an obtuse apex and a gradually attenuated base extending into the petiole; the margin bears irregularly blunt teeth, and the lamina is wrinkled; the lower surface of some leaves is purplish. Cauline leaves are uncommon. Inflorescences are sparsely racemose; the terminal corolla is broadly tubular and slightly curved, ~4 cm long, purple-red or light purple, sometimes 5-lobed with pale yellow lobes bearing distinct purple lines, bilabiate (2-lipped); There are four stamens, didynamous, inserted near the base of the corolla tube; one pistil with a superior ovary. The fruit is an ovate or ovoid capsule, enclosed by a persistent calyx, containing numerous seeds. Flowering occurs from May to June.
Ecological Environment: Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao is cultivated by farmers in the Huaiqing region of Henan Province, China, and is primarily distributed in this area.
The history of cultivation and medicinal use of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao spans over 3,000 years. Originally, this taxon occurred wild in the Taihang Mountains. Cultivation began during the Zhou dynasty, and seed-based propagation commenced during the Wei and Jin periods (Southern and Northern Dynasties). As early as 1783 CE, Xu Xide—the progenitor of a Rehmannia hybrid—developed a new hybrid through crossbreeding of wild plants. This cultivar, named 'Xu Xide', remains in use today. Subsequent cycles of purification and rejuvenation led to the development of improved varieties. For centuries, farmers have used cultivars such as 'Jin Zhuangyuan' and 'Zuo Heiying' as parental lines for natural hybridization; seeds have been propagated, and repeated selection of morphologically altered roots has yielded superior cultivars. Today, nine principal cultivars of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao are recognized: Jin Zhuangyuan, Xing Geda, Zihei Ying, Bai Zhuangyuan, Si Cimao, Guo Heimao, Qian Cengye, Daqingye, and others. In 1985, farmers in the Jiaozuo area successfully transplanted young plants, ushering in a new era of vegetative propagation.
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1. Introduction of Shu Di Huang: Prepared Rehmannia Root
✵This article documents the herb Prepared Rehmannia Root, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., and (2) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao.—with detailed descriptions of the botanical characteristics, growth habits, and ecological environments of both species; as well as the characteristics of the processed herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Shú Dì Huánɡ
Botanical Source: Classical herbal book define Rehmanniae Radix (Dì Huánɡ) as the fresh or dried tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. (family Scrophulariaceae). Other authoritative books designate Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (Shú Dì Huánɡ) as the processed (steamed and dried) tuberous root of (1) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., or (2) Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao. In contrast, Xian Di Huang (Fresh Rehmannia Root) refers specifically to the unprocessed fresh tuberous root of Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch.et Mey. (family Scrophulariaceae). The two commonly used botanical sources are described below:
Botanical Description: Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. is a perennial herb of the family Scrophulariaceae (figwort family) and genus Rehmannia. Synonyms include Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaertn.) Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey. and Digitalis glutinosa Gaertn. Common names include Di Huánɡ, Dì Suǐ, and Rehmannia Root. Plants grow 10–40 cm tall. The entire plant is densely covered with grayish-white, glandular and non-glandular pubescence. Roots are hypertrophic, succulent, tuberous, cylindrical or fusiform (spindle-shaped). Stems are erect, solitary or branched from the base.
Basal leaves form a rosette; leaf blades are obovate-lanceolate, 3–10 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide; apices are obtuse; bases taper gradually and decurrent into long petioles; surfaces are wrinkled; margins are irregularly serrated. Cauline leaves are smaller.
The scape (flowering stalk) is erect and pubescent; upper stems bear racemes. Floral bracts are leafy and either well-developed or reduced. Calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), the apex is 5-lobed; lobes are triangular, covered with multicellular long hairs and white hairs, and feature 10 prominent veins. Corolla is broadly tubular (fistulose), slightly curved, 3–4 cm long; external surface is dark purple; internal surface is yellowish with distinct purple striations; apex is 5-lobed and slightly bilabiate. 4 stamens, didynamous; anther bases are divaricated. Ovary is superior, ovate (egg-shaped), bilocular, becoming unilocular after flowering; 1 style; stigma enlarged.
Fruit is a capsule, ovate (egg-shaped) or ovate-oblong, acute at apex, with persistent style; outer surface enveloped by persistent calyx. Seeds are numerous. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting from May to June.
Growth Characteristics: Rehmannia glutinosa prefers a warm, sunny climate and exhibits moderate cold tolerance. Optimal cultivation requires ample sunlight, deep, loose, fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline sandy loam soil. It may also be grown in mixed soils or fertile clay. Continuous cropping must be avoided. Grass family crops (e.g., maize, wheat) are recommended as preceding crops; land previously planted with cotton, sesame, legumes, or cucurbits should be avoided due to high risk of soil-borne diseases.
The Rehmannia genus belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and comprises 6–8 species, distributed in eastern Asia. Six species occur in China, growing in the northwest, southwest, and central to northern regions; some are cultivated for ornamental purposes. These are perennial herbs with rhizomes. They bear globose, multicellular, glandular hairs. Leaves are alternate, obovate to oblong, and coarsely serrated. Flowers are large and short-peduncled, grow singly in leaf axils or arranged in terminal racemes. Calyx is campanulate, apically 5-lobed; lobes are unequal in length—typically the posterior lobe is longest—and entire or secondarily cleft. Corolla is bilabiate, slightly curved, with a swollen tube and deflexed lobes. 4 stamens (rarely five, with the fifth being reduced and included). The ovary is superior, with a ring-like or shallowly cyathiform (cup-shaped) nectary disk at its base; it is bilocular in young fruits and becomes unilocular upon maturity; the style apex is bilobed. Ovules are numerous. The fruit is a capsule, loculicidally dehiscent, with multiple locules. Seeds are small and reticulate.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of irregular lumps and fragments of varying sizes and thicknesses. Both exterior and interior surfaces are jet-black and glossy, with an uneven, wrinkled texture. The material is soft, flexible, and non-brittle, exhibiting marked mucilaginous (glutinous) consistency. The fracture surface is lustrous and moist, blackish and glossy, often displaying bright, greasy-looking patches centrally. The herb has a mild odor and a sweet taste.
Botanical description: Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao is a plant of the Scrophulariaceae family (syn. Scrophulariaceae Juss.) and the genus Rehmannia. It is also known as Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. huechingensis (Chao et Schih) Hsiao; commonly referred to as "Rehmannia glutinosa hueichingensis" or Huái Dì Huánɡ. Its shrubs grow similarly to, or identically with, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch.
This species is a forma of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., a perennial herb reaching 25–40 cm in height. The entire plant is densely covered with grayish villous and glandular hairs. The rootstock is hypertrophied, lumpy, cylindrical or fusiform (spindle-shaped), 2.5–5 cm in diameter. The stem is solitary and erect, or a few branches arise from the base. Basal leaves are clustered; the leaf blade is obovate or oblong, with an obtuse apex and a gradually attenuated base extending into the petiole; the margin bears irregularly blunt teeth, and the lamina is wrinkled; the lower surface of some leaves is purplish. Cauline leaves are uncommon. Inflorescences are sparsely racemose; the terminal corolla is broadly tubular and slightly curved, ~4 cm long, purple-red or light purple, sometimes 5-lobed with pale yellow lobes bearing distinct purple lines, bilabiate (2-lipped); There are four stamens, didynamous, inserted near the base of the corolla tube; one pistil with a superior ovary. The fruit is an ovate or ovoid capsule, enclosed by a persistent calyx, containing numerous seeds. Flowering occurs from May to June.
Ecological Environment: Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao is cultivated by farmers in the Huaiqing region of Henan Province, China, and is primarily distributed in this area.
The history of cultivation and medicinal use of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao spans over 3,000 years. Originally, this taxon occurred wild in the Taihang Mountains. Cultivation began during the Zhou dynasty, and seed-based propagation commenced during the Wei and Jin periods (Southern and Northern Dynasties). As early as 1783 CE, Xu Xide—the progenitor of a Rehmannia hybrid—developed a new hybrid through crossbreeding of wild plants. This cultivar, named 'Xu Xide', remains in use today. Subsequent cycles of purification and rejuvenation led to the development of improved varieties. For centuries, farmers have used cultivars such as 'Jin Zhuangyuan' and 'Zuo Heiying' as parental lines for natural hybridization; seeds have been propagated, and repeated selection of morphologically altered roots has yielded superior cultivars. Today, nine principal cultivars of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. f. hueichingensis Hsiao are recognized: Jin Zhuangyuan, Xing Geda, Zihei Ying, Bai Zhuangyuan, Si Cimao, Guo Heimao, Qian Cengye, Daqingye, and others. In 1985, farmers in the Jiaozuo area successfully transplanted young plants, ushering in a new era of vegetative propagation.
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