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Dry Rehmanniae Radix (Sheng Di Huang)

Sweet and bitter in flavor, cold in nature, non-toxic. Primarily treats fractures and dislocations damaging tendons and bones, internal injuries, expels blood stasis, fills the marrow, and promotes muscle growth. Decoction removes cold-heat pathogens, dissipates accumulations, and treats Bi syndrome (painful obstruction). It treats the five types of exhaustion and seven kinds of injuries in men, and uterine bleeding due to deficiency in women, hematochezia, breaks down evil blood, treats hematuria, unblocks the large and small intestines, eliminates retained food in the stomach, restores strength, tonifies deficiencies of the five Zang organs, unblocks the vessels and collaterals, benefits Qi and strength, and improves hearing and vision. Fresh root is especially effective.

Fresh Rehmanniae Radix (Shu Di Huang)

Greatly cold. Primarily treats metrorrhagia (heavy uterine bleeding) that does not stop in women, postpartum blood rushing to the heart causing chest tightness and syncope, fetal movement with bleeding due to body damage, retained placenta, traumatic fractures from falls, stagnant blood, epistaxis, and hematemesis; all are treated by crushing and drinking the juice. Long-term use makes the body light and delays aging. Also known as Di Sui (Earth Marrow), also known as [Character Missing], also known as Qi. The best quality grows in the yellow soil swamps of Xianyang. Roots are harvested in February and August and dried in the shade. (Works well with Ophiopogonis Radix (Maidong) and clear wine; incompatible with Fritillariae Bulbus (Beimu); fears Myrobalan (Wuyi).)

Tao Hongjing said: Xianyang is Chang'an. Those grown in Weicheng have seeds like wheat, used in Huainan Qijing San. Among them, Dry Rehmanniae Radix from Pengcheng is the best, followed by Liyang; currently, those from Banqiao in Jiangning are superior. There is a specific method for making dry roots: crushing the juice and steaming it requires great craftsmanship. However, this text only mentions drying in the shade, where color and taste differ, raising doubts about whether steaming is incorrect? During times of high value, people used Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (Niuxi) and Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma (Ruyu) to imitate it, which people could not distinguish. The "Immortal Classic" also uses it for ingestion, primarily using its flowers; it also takes root easily and treats sudden deafness and hearing loss. Dry Rehmanniae Radix is sticky and moist; when made into pills and powders, it must be sun-dried intensely. After drying, the weight reduces by more than half; one jin yields only ten liang of powder, so dosage should be increased. Current research based on Chen Cangqi's Materia Medica states: The "Classic of Materia Medica" does not specify whether Dry Rehmanniae Radix is air-dried or steamed-dried. Practitioners distinguish between the two: steamed-dried is warm and tonifying, while air-dried is neutral and dispersing; usage should follow this distinction. Ministers Yuxi et al. respectfully note: The "Erya" states: [Character Missing], Dihuang. Annotation says: Also known as Di Sui, in Jiangdong called [Character Missing] (sound Hu). "Pharmacological Properties" states: Dry Rehmanniae Radix is the sovereign herb. It can tonify deficiency and injury, warm the middle and direct Qi downward, and unblock vessels. Long-term use whitens hair and prolongs life. Treats postpartum abdominal pain and persistent hematemesis. It also states: Fresh Rehmanniae Radix is contraindicated with "Three Whites," sweet in flavor, neutral, non-toxic. Clears various heat pathogens, breaks blood, regulates amenorrhea. Does not promote urination; crushed and applied to the abdomen can eliminate blood stasis. Added for patients with deficiency and excessive heat. Xiao Bing said: Both dry and fresh types are excellent medicines for blackening hair. Ri Huazi said: Dry Rehmanniae Radix assists Heart and Gallbladder Qi, calms the soul and stabilizes the spirit, treats palpitations and exhaustion, Heart and Lung damage, hematemesis and epistaxis, women's metrorrhagia and fainting, rib and bone pain, and enhances willpower. Sun-dried is neutral, fire-dried is warm, with similar functions. It also states: Fresh roots tested in water: floating ones are named Tianhuang (Heaven Yellow), half-floating/half-sinking are Renhuang (Human Yellow), sinking ones are Dihuang (Earth Yellow). Sinking ones have the best efficacy, half-sinking are secondary, floating are inferior. Iron vessels are forbidden during decoction.

"Tujing" (Illustrated Records) states: Dihuang grows best in the yellow soil swamps of Xianyang; now it is found everywhere, with Tongzhou being the premium source. Leaves emerge in February, spreading on the ground resembling Plantaginis Seed (Cheqiancao), with wrinkled but not smooth stems. Tall plants reach over one chi, short ones three to four cun. Flowers resemble Rapeseed flowers but are red-purple, some are yellow. Fruits resemble Forsythiae Fructus (Lianqiao), seeds are very fine and sandy-brown. Roots resemble human fingers, uniformly yellow, varying in thickness and length. Roots are harvested in February and August, steamed for two to three days until soft, then sun-dried, called Shu Dihuang (Prepared Rehmannia). Air-dried is Sheng Dihuang (Fresh/Unprepared Rehmannia). Cultivation is easy; roots sprout upon entering soil. One theory states: Ancient texts claimed planting Dihuang required yellow soil, but now fertile, loose soil is preferred, yielding larger, juicier roots. Method: Weave reed mats into circles like wheels, over one zhang in diameter, fill with loam to form a mound. Place another layer of reed mat filled with soil on top, reducing the diameter by one chi compared to the lower level. Repeat several levels like a pagoda. Cut Dihuang roots with many nodes into inch-long pieces, plant them on the mound, filling layers, watering daily to ensure lush growth. Harvest from the top level at Spring and Autumn Equinoxes; roots grow large without breaking because they are not damaged by insects. Dry the harvested roots. Prepared dry Dihuang from Tongzhou is the finest, glossy, moist, and sweet. This knowledge is lost in the South; they only smoke fresh Dihuang grass to dry it black, washing off the soot to reveal white. Current drying method: Take 30-20 jin of plump Dihuang, wash cleanly, remove fine roots and short nodes, retaining 20-30 jin. Crush and extract juice, pour into silver or copper vessels, soak the plump Dihuang thoroughly, steam over rice for three to four cycles, alternating soaking and steaming, then sun-dry until juice is exhausted. The resulting Dihuang should be glossy black like lacquer and sweet like maltose; store in porcelain jars as it is oily and prone to moisture. To distinguish quality, practitioners test fresh roots in water: floating Tianhuang is inferior; half-sinking Renhuang is secondary; sinking Dihuang is best. Immortal Formula: For ingesting Dihuang, clean roots, crush and extract juice, simmer until slightly thick, add white honey and simmer again to make pills. Take thirty pills (size of wutong seeds) with morning wine, three times daily. Can also mix with Qingzhou jujube flesh. Alternatively, make paste with powdered dry root. In April, harvest fruits, dry in shade, sift into powder, take with water (size of a coin scoop); efficacy is equal. Flowers are called Disui Hua. Longevity Formulas have two single-herb methods. Also, it is the most important herb for treating trauma and metal wounds. "Zhouhou Beiji Fang": Treats fractures, shattered limbs, and tendon injuries from falls. Crush fresh Dihuang, apply to injury, wrap with bamboo splints, bind tightly to prevent movement, change ten times a day and night, heals quickly. Cui Yuanliang's "Haishang Fang": Treats all types of heart pain, new or old. Use fresh Dihuang alone, amount depending on diet, crush and extract juice, mix with flour to make [Dough/Paste], or eat as cold noodles. After some time, diarrhea occurs, expelling a worm about one chi long, head resembling a wall cavity, preventing recurrence. A person suffered from this for three years, regretting it deeply, instructed family to dissect his body after death to find the cause; indeed, a worm was found. Kept in a bamboo joint, fed with every meal, including Dihuang dough, which rotted. From this, the formula was derived. Liu Yuxi's "Chuanxin Fang" records this: In Zhengyuan Year 10, Cui Kang's daughter, a Tongshi Sheren, suffered severe heart pain nearing death. She ate Dihuang cold noodles and vomited an object about one cun square, resembling a frog, without eyes or feet, with a slight mouth opening. It had eaten her, and she recovered thereafter. Cold noodles should not contain salt.

Lei Gong said: Harvest fresh Dihuang, remove white skin, steam in willow wood steamer over porcelain pot, spread to cool, mix with wine, steam again, then dry. Avoid copper and iron vessels, as they cause Kidney depletion and white beard/hair, damaging Ying in men and Wei in women. Dietary Therapy Dihuang is slightly cold. Simmer with little honey, soak and eat, decoct as soup, or drink in wine, all excellent. Raw is cold, treats toothache, spitting blood, and trauma. Leaves can be used in soup. "Waitai Miyao": Zhang Wenzhong's formula for Bone-steaming Fever: Fresh Dihuang one sheng, crush to extract juice, crush and squeeze three times until juice is gone, divide into two doses. Reduce dose if diarrhea occurs, stop when body temperature cools. "Qianjin Fang": Treats loose teeth roots. Finely chop fresh Dihuang, wrap in silk, place on teeth and suck, soak tooth roots, three to four times daily, swallow together. Excellent after ten days. "Zhouhou Fang": Treats constant ringing in ears. Cut fresh Dihuang and plug into ear, change frequently, stop when healed. Another method: Wrap in paper and bake in mild ash fire, effective. "Baiyi Fang": Pregnancy leaking fetus. Fresh Dihuang juice one sheng, soak in four he of wine, boil three to five boils, take; if not stopped, take again. Another formula: Treats rabid dog bites. Crush fresh Dihuang juice, drink and apply to wound, stops bleeding after many applications. "Meishi Fang": Treats traumatic bone and tendon injuries, shattered bones. Crush fresh Dihuang, apply hot, wrap for three days and nights, change frequently. If blood pools, puncture with needle. Another formula: Divine effect for hematemesis. Fresh Dihuang juice one sheng two he, Bai Jiao Xiang (Dragon's Blood Resin) two liang, place in porcelain vessel, steam in steamer until resin melts, take. Another formula: Treats mastitis. Crush fresh Dihuang juice, apply, change when hot, always effective. "Shiyi Xinjing": Treats consumption with bone-steaming fever, evening chills and fevers, coughing up blood. Fresh Dihuang juice two he, cook white porridge, add Dihuang juice near completion, stir evenly, eat on empty stomach. "Boji Fang" treats all unruptured carbuncles and swelling with pain, promoting internal resolution. Pound fresh Dihuang into mud, spread on cloth according to swelling size, sprinkle Mugwort Powder (Muxiang) in middle, cover with another layer of Dihuang, apply to swelling, no more than three to five applications. Sun Zhao's Formula: Treats epistaxis and excess heat above diaphragm. Dry Dihuang, Long Nao (Borneol), Bohe (Mint) in equal parts, powder, mix with cold water and take. "Zimu Milu": Children suffering from Gu Poison Dysentery. Fresh Dihuang juice one sheng two he, divide into three to four doses, immediate effect. "Chanbao": Pregnancy bleeding like menstruation, fearing fetal leakage. Dry Dihuang, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) in equal parts, powder, mix with wine, take one cun bi. "Baopuzi": Chu Wenzi ingested Dihuang for eight years, could see light at night, carried crossbow on hand. "Huainanzi" states: Dihuang governs bones.

"Yanyi" states: Dihuang leaves resemble Ganluzi, flowers resemble Lipama flower but with fine spots, Northerners call it Niunai Zi. Flowers and stems have fine short white hairs. The "Classic" only mentions dry and fresh types, not prepared. For blood deficiency with labor fever, postpartum deficiency heat, elderly middle-jiao deficiency dry heat, requiring Dihuang, raw and air-dried are often feared to be too cold; thus later generations switched to prepared Dihuang. Steaming and drying method: Wash fine pieces, grind to extract juice, steam coarse Dihuang and dry, add juice, soak for two to three hours, dry again, steam again; repeating this is superior, but not necessary to do excessively. These differ significantly in function and treatment from dry and fresh types. Tao only mentioned crushing juice and steaming, emphasizing craftsmanship but not detailing the method or treatments, hence the need for complete explanation.