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Tonifies the Liver and Kidneys mildly, nourishes Blood and Yin.

Sweet in flavor and slightly warm in nature. Enters the Foot-Shaoyin (Kidney), Hand-Shaoyin (Heart), Foot-Jueyin (Liver), and Hand-Jueyin (Pericardium) meridians. Nourishes Kidney Water, tonifies True Yin, fills the Marrow, generates Essence and Blood, improves hearing and vision (The ears are the orifices of the Kidney; the eyes are the orifices of the Liver. The eyes can see when nourished by Blood; the ears can hear when nourished by Blood). Darkens hair and beard. Treats labor injuries, wind-bi syndrome, and various diseases during pregnancy and postpartum periods; it is the premier agent for tonifying Blood (Zhu Danxi stated: "During pregnancy, one should primarily clear heat and nourish Blood; during postpartum, one should primarily greatly tonify Qi and Blood. Even if other miscellaneous syndromes exist, they should not be treated directly." Wang Ang notes: Zhu Danxi's statement regarding the great tonification of Qi and Blood after childbirth is indeed an unchangeable truth. Later practitioners failed to apply this well; many cases occurred where external wind-cold had not been resolved or blood stasis was not fully cleared, yet harsh tonics were recklessly administered, causing severe harm. This must be carefully observed. Wang Shuo stated: "Men often suffer from Yin deficiency and should use Prepared Rehmannia Root (Shu Dihuang); women often suffer from Blood heat and should use Raw Rehmannia Root (Sheng Dihuang)").

Mix with fine wine and Amomum fruit powder (Sharen), soak, steam, and sun-dry nine times before use (Rehmannia is naturally cold; with wine, fire, and sunlight, it becomes warm. Its texture is sticky/cloying; with Amomum, it harmonizes Qi and guides the medicinal power to the Dantian. In Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), it serves as the Sovereign drug. If the Chi pulse is weak, add Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) and Aconite Root (Fuzi), which is called "benefiting the source of Fire to dissipate Yin shadows." If the Chi pulse is vigorous, add Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu) and Phellodendron Bark (Huangbai), which is called "strengthening the master of Water to control Yang brilliance").

Mildly tonifies the Liver and Kidneys, astringes Essence.

Bitter to firm the Kidney, warm to tonify the Liver, sweet to benefit Blood, astringent to consolidate Essence and Qi. Adds Essence and enriches Marrow, nourishes Blood and dispels Wind (To treat Wind, first treat Blood; when Blood moves freely, Wind disperses). Strengthens sinews and bones, darkens beard and hair (hence named Shouwu), enables procreation, and is an excellent tonic. When Qi and Blood are in great harmony, diseases such as emaciation from overwork, wind-deficiency, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea, sores, hemorrhoids, scrofula, and abscesses will resolve themselves (When Ying-Blood is regulated, abscesses subside. Those that are red are termed "Changzhi" in surgery). Stops malignant malaria (Nourishes Yin and tonifies the Liver; it is a key herb for malaria, though Materia Medica texts do not explicitly mention treating malaria. Li Shizhen said: "It is neither cold nor dry, and its efficacy surpasses that of Rehmannia, Ophiopogon Tuber, and other herbs").

There are two varieties: Red and White. At night, the vines intertwine, hence another name "Liuteng," symbolizing the union of Yin and Yang. Red Shouwu enters the Blood level; White Shouwu enters the Qi level. The best quality resembles a fist and has five lobes. One three hundred years old grows as large as a grain basket; consuming it allows one to become an Earth Immortal. For preparation, use equal parts of Red and White, soak in rice water, scrape off the skin with a bamboo knife, slice, mix with Black Soybeans (Heidou) and Shouwu, spread in a willow steamer, place in a clay pot, and process through nine steamings and nine sun-dryings. Poria (Fuling) is used as an assistant. Contraindications include all meats, scaleless fish, Radish (Laifu), green onion, garlic, and ironware (In the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named He Shouwu. His grandfather was named Nengsi, and his father Yanshou. Nengsi was fifty-eight and had no wife or children. After taking this medicine for seven days, he desired sexual intercourse, married, and fathered several sons. Yanshou took it and lived to 160. He Shouwu himself took it and lived to 130, his hair remaining black. Li Ao wrote the "Biography of He Shouwu." Although circulated for a long time, few actually consumed it. In the early Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, alchemist Shao Yingjiao presented Qibao Meiran Dan (Seven-Treasure Beard-Beautifying Pill) to Emperor Shizong. After the Emperor took it and fathered princes, it became popular. The formula uses one jin each of Red and White He Shouwu, mixed with Black Soybeans, steamed and dried nine times. Half a jin of Poria, mixed with milk. Three-quarters of a jin each of Angelica Sinensis Root (Danggui), Goji Berry (Gouqi), and Dodder Seed (Tusizi), all soaked in wine. Half a jin of Achyranthes Bidentata Root (Niuxi), soaked in wine. These are steamed together with Shouwu from the seventh to the ninth time. Four taels of Cistanche Stem (Pogu Zhi/Cistanche), stir-fried Black Sesame Seeds (Heima), processed into honey pills. Ironware is also contraindicated here. Wang Ang notes: Both Rehmannia and He Shouwu are Sovereign drugs. Therefore, Liuwei Dihuang Wan uses Rehmannia as the Sovereign, while Qibao Meiran Dan uses He Shouwu as the Sovereign. They have different combinations and should not be mixed indiscriminately. Even with modifications, one should adjust based on the original formula and specific disease. Nowadays, many people add He Shouwu to Rehmannia Pills, merging two formulas into one. This creates a situation of "two Sovereigns in one medicine," leaving patients unsure which path to follow. This loses the original intent of formula formulation).