rhizoma anemarrhenae

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae is the dried rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge and is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb known as "zhi mu" (知母). It is primarily used to clear heat and purge fire from the body—especially excess heat in the lung and stomach meridians—and to nourish yin and moisten dryness. The main active constituents are mangiferin (a xanthone glycoside with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) and steroidal saponins such as sarasapogenin and timosaponin AII/BII. Pharmacological studies indicate anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic (by reducing insulin resistance), antimicrobial, antiplatelet aggregation, anticancer activity, neuroprotective effects (improving memory), bone-protective effects via promotion of bone formation by steroidal saponins, immune modulation properties, reduction of body temperature in febrile states ("heat-clearing"), phlegm expulsion from lungs due to lung heat or yin deficiency coughs. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is indicated for high fever with thirst/irritability/sweating; cough due to lung heat; dry cough from yin deficiency; diabetes/prediabetes ("wasting & thirsting"); menopausal symptoms like night sweats/hot flushes; constipation due to intestinal dryness; oral ulcers/inflammation. It can be administered orally as decoction/powder/pill/capsule/tea using 6–12g dried herb per day[1][2][3][4][5][8].

Brand names

Zhi Mu

Other names

zhi muanemarrhena rhizomeknow mother root知母zhi mu pian蚳母连母野蓼