dried rehmannia root,RADIX REHMANNIAE

Part

Rehmannia Root is the fresh or dried root tuber of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. (Fam. Scrophulariaceae).

Character

Fusiform or slat-shaped, 8~24 cm long, 2~9 cm in diameter. The outer bark thin, externally pale reddish-yellow, with curved longitudinal wrinkles, bud scars, elongated transverse lenticels and irregular scars. Texture fleshy, easily broken, yellowish-white, orange-red oil dots scattered in bark, fracture yellowish-white, with vessels arranged radially in wood. Odour, slight; taste, slightly sweet and bitterish.

Sheng Dihuang Mostly in irregular messes or oblong, swollen in the centre, slightly tapering at both ends, 6~12 cm long, 3~6 cm in diameter. Some small, slat-shaped, slightly compressed or twisted. Externally brownish-black or brownish-greyish, heavily shrunken, with irregular transverse wavy lines. Texture heavy, soft and tenacious, uneasily broken, fracture brownish-black or jet-black, lustrous, viscous. Odourless; taste, slightly sweet.

Water

≤15.0%

Total Ash

≤8.0%

Acid-insoluble Ash

≤3.0%

Assay

It contains not less than 0.020% of verbascoside(C₂₉H₃₆O₁₅)on the dried basis.

Action and Indication

To remove heat and promote the production of body fluid, to reduce heat in blood, and to arrest bleeding.For fresh Radix Rehmanniae Impairment of yin in febrile diseases marked by deep red tongue and thirst; skin eruption and maculation; spitting of blood, epistaxis; sore throat.

Rehmanniae(unprocessed) Febrile diseases with deep red tougue and thirst; deficiency of yin with internal heat; consumptive fever; diabetes caused by internal heat; spitting of blood, epistaxis; skin eruption and maculation.

Storage

Fresh Rehmannia Root is embedded in sand and protected from freezing; unprocessed Rehmannia Root is preserved in a ventilated dry place, protected from mould and moth