REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA

REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA.—地黃 (Ti-huang), 1264. This is a common plant in North China, said to resemble Plantago in some respects. It was at first called Digitalis glutinosa, but was found to represent a different, but related genus. It is probable that the mistaken identity of Digitalis purpura as 毛地黃 (Mao-ti-huang) arose from this fact. The scapes and leaves are covered with hairs, the flowers red and yellow, the fruit a capsule, the seeds small and greyish-brown, and the root large and juicy, especially in rich soil. The root is prepared for medicine by washing clean and drying in the sun, when it presents the appearance of dark, soft, wrinkled, spindle-shaped masses, sometimes more or less flattened, from two to five inches long, black in color, moist in section, and having a sweetish taste. In this state it is known as 乾地黃 (Kan-ti-huang). Sometimes part of the juice is first expressed in a wooden mortar, or the root is soaked several times in spirits, and then dried; but this last process particularly must detract from the medicinal activity of the drug. The root is largely prescribed as a cooling and purifying drug, acting directly on the blood as an alterative and tonic. It is said to heal broken bones and tendons, to prolong life, “quiet the soul and confirm the spirit,” benefit the eyes and ears, and is prescribed in fatigue and injuries of men, hemorrhagic discharges in women, hemoptysis, nosebleed, and fevers. The drug in the fresh state, 生地黃 (Shêng-ti-huang), is considered to be more active than in the dried. It is prescribed in the same cases as above, but more particularly in active hemorrhages and acute difficulties. A preparation, called 熟地黃 (Shu-ti-huang), is made by taking juicy roots, washing in spirits, filling with the seeds of the bastard cardamom, steaming on a willow frame in a porcelain vessel, drying, and resteaming and redrying nine times. This is thought to harmonise, increase, and cool the blood, and to strengthen the marrow. It is considered highly tonic, and is used in all wasting diseases and weakened conditions of the body. In diseases of pregnancy, puerperal difficulties, diseases of children, and wasting discharges, it is specially recommended. The leaves are bruised, and used in scaly eczema. The fruits, powdered and taken with water, have properties similar to those of the root, as is also the case with the flowers. Another plant, said to be similar to Rehmannia, grows in Lingnan, and is called 胡面莽 (Hu-mien-mang). It is mentioned in the Pêntsao in an appendix to the article on Rehmannia. It has a sweetish cooling taste, and is non-poisonous. It is taken in decoction in dyspepsia, flatulence, and colic. It is also found in Japan.