Rehmannia glutinosa Chinese foxglove (Gesneriaceae)

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Rehmannia glutinosa
Chinese foxglove
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The Rehmannia glutinosa plant species is found in E. Asia - N. China, Korea. It is a member of the Gesneriaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Chinese foxglove. Some home gardeners know the variety as R. chinensis.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Rehmannia glutinosa
Common Name:  Chinese foxglove
Family:  Gesneriaceae
Author:  (Gaertn.)Libosch.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  0.3   Mature Width:  0.25

Habitat:  Well-drained stony ground along roadsides and in woods[109].

Medicinal Information: This plant, called Di Huang in China, is commonly used in Chinese herbalism, where it is one of the most popular tonic herbs and is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs[218, 238]. The root is the main part used and it can be prepared in four different ways - charcoaled, prepared (but no details of the preparation are given) when it is called Shu Di Huang and fresh or dried when it is called Sheng Di Huang[176]. The roots are antibacterial, antiseptic, cardiac, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic and tonic[61, 176, 178, 218, 238]. They are used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments, including anaemia, cancer, bleeding, constipation, coughs, fever and premature ejaculation[174, 176, 218, 238]. The charcoaled root is used to stop bleeding and tonify the spleen and stomach[176]. The fresh root is used to treat thirst, exanthesis and bleeding due to pathological heat[176]. The dried root is used to treat bleeding due to blood deficiency and to nourish the vital essence[176]. The prepared root is used to treat dizziness and palpitations due to anaemia or blood deficiency, chronic tidal fever, night sweats, dry mouth, lumbago and nocturnal emissions[176]. The roots of cultivated plants are harvested in the autumn or early winter, whilst wild plants are harvested in early spring[238]. They can be used fresh or dried[238]. The root is an ingredient of 'Four Things Soup', the most widely used woman's tonic in China[254]. The other species used are Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum wallichii and Paeonia lactiflora[254]. The leaves are bruised and used in the treatment of scaly eczema or psoriasis[218].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

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