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Knowledge baseHerbs

Zhi Mu知母

Rhizoma AnemarrhenaeAnemarrhena Rhizome

Also known asKnow Mother Root

Category
Clear Heat in the *Qi* Stage
Nature
cold
Taste
bitter, sweet
Channels entered
Lung, Stomach, Kidney
Secondary channels
Du Mai
Dosage
6–12 g

Usual doses

Dosage
6–12 g
Maximum dose
30 g
Tincture
2–4 ml

Actions & indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire (Clears Heat from the Qi Stage, from the Lungs and from the Stomach)
  • Heat in the Qi Stage with high fever, irritability, restlessness, thirst and a rapid, flooding pulse.
  • Lung Heat and Dryness with cough and expectoration of thick, yellow Phlegm
  • Yang Ming Heat
  • Stomach Heat
Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness
  • Lung and Kidney Yin Deficiency with night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low grade fever, Five Sole Heat and bleeding gums
  • (Stomach Yin Deficiency)
  • Kidney Heat with spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions and an abnormally elevated sex drive
Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and quenches thirst
Oral ulcers and inflammation, steaming bones and Xiao Ke (diabetes) due to Yin Deficiency
Ameliorates the Dryness of tonifying or warming herbs
For use with herbs such as Rx. Astragali Huang Qi, Ram. Cinnamomi Gui Zhi, Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi when there is concern that these herbs may be too drying

Contraindications

  • Contraindicated in diarrhea.
  • Contraindicated in Cold from Spleen Deficiency.
  • Contraindicated in impotence with rapid arousal and premature ejaculation.
  • Contraindicated in a weak Spleen.
  • Contraindicated when food cannot be digested.
  • Contraindicated in Stomach Deficiency with no appetite.
  • Contraindicated in Kidney Yang Deficiency.

Interactions

Use with caution alongside insulin, sulfonylureas, and other antidiabetic drugs such as tolbutamide (Orinase), glipizide (Glucotrol), or glyburide (DiaBeta/Micronase), since a synergistic effect could lead to hypoglycemia.

Combinations

    • Huang Bai

    Clears Heat and drains Fire for Yin Deficiency Fire, and for Steaming Bone disorder from Yin Deficiency with night sweats, dizziness, and vertigo.

  • For Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao obstructing and disrupting Bladder Qi, resulting in urinary retention and afternoon fevers.

  • For Blazing Stomach Fire with intense hunger, dry stools, a dry yellow tongue coat, and a slippery, rapid pulse.

    • Zhe Bei Mu

    For cough from Lung Heat or Yin Deficiency, with thick yellow sputum.

  • For mouth ulcers.

  • For Steaming Bone disorder.

  • For thirst and irritability from Lung and Stomach Dryness.

  • For diabetes.

  • For wasting and thirsting.

    • Shi Gao

    For epidemic diseases — cools Heat at the Yang Ming or Qi Level while protecting Stomach fluids, treating high fever, profuse sweating, insatiable thirst, a red face, aversion to Heat, and a large, forceful pulse.

  • Regulates Cold and Heat, harmonizes Exterior and Interior, and treats malarial disorders with Tai Yin turbid Dampness steaming upward (irritability, Heat, profuse sweating).

  • For Yin Deficiency with Empty Fire.

Notes

  • A moderate dose can lower blood pressure and depress respiration and cardiac function.
  • A large dose can cause respiration to cease and produce Heart Heat.
  • It appears frequently in formulas for Deficiency Fire, dry cough, and diabetes.
  • Commonly used for severe Yin Deficiency Fire.
  • It offers deep, systemic tonification by gently stimulating the pituitary-adrenal cortex axis (related to the Du Mai).
  • It clears Excess energy from the Du Mai.
  • Some sources credit it with lubricating the intestines, diuretic action, stopping cough, resolving Phlegm, and sedative effects.
  • It clears Heat from all three Jiaos and nourishes Lung, Stomach, and Kidney Yin, making it suitable when Excess Heat has damaged the Yin, as in diabetes.
  • Its Cold, moistening qualities let it drain the Spleen and push water downward.
  • It can offset the Heat and drying tendencies of Qi tonics.
  • When Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Zhi Fu Zi or Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii Qiang Huo is used to treat Bi Syndrome, this herb can be added to keep them from damaging Yin Fluids.
  • Li Shi-Zhen held that Rx. Astragali Huang Qi works at the Blood level of the Kidneys, and so the two herbs should be combined.
  • Zhi Mu and Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao both cool the Lungs and Stomach and clear Heat from the Yang Ming Qi Level; Zhi Mu mainly drains Heat and Dampness, cools the Lungs and Kidneys, and nourishes Yin by generating fluids, whereas Shi Gao protects the fluids by draining Fire.
  • Dry-fried Anemarrhena Chao Zhi Mu is less cooling with a more moderate Fire-draining effect; frying it with wheat protects digestion in patients who have both Deficiency Fire and Spleen and Stomach Deficiency.
  • Honey-prepared Anemarrhena Mi Zhi Zhi Mu suits those with damaged fluids and Blood, or those too weak to tolerate strong, bitter, cooling herbs.
  • Vinegar-fried Anemarrhena Cu Chao Zhi Mu directs the herb's properties upward to cool the Lungs and drain Fire when Lung Heat produces hemoptysis, epistaxis, irritability, cough, and wheezing.
  • Salt-fried Anemarrhena Yan Chao Zhi Mu strengthens its downward action, nourishing Yin, moistening Dryness, and cooling and draining Ministerial Fire.
  • Wine-fried Anemarrhena Jiu Chao Zhi Mu directs the herb's action upward and reduces its Cold, draining nature.
  • It is particularly useful for impending or established adrenal burnout — fatigue, loss of stamina, Dryness, and Heat — and offers clear benefit in menopause.

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