Alternative Names

• Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan
• Chih Po Pa Wei Wan
• Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia Formula
• Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pills
• rehmannia 8 formula
• Zhi Bai Ba Wei Wan

Ingredients

Sheng Di Huang 生地黃 Chinese foxglove root, rehmannia (fresh),Rehmannia root Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae

Shan Yao 山藥 dioscorea rhizome, Chinese yam Dioscoreae Rhizoma

Shan Zhu Yu 山茱萸 Asiatic cornelian cherry fruit, cornus Corni Fructus

• The first three herbs in this formula all have the ability to generate body fluids or “yin” as we say. Each has a particular affinity for a different aspect of the body’s yin metabolism. Sheng di huang is all about the Kidneys which are called the root of the yin. Shan yao is more about stimulating digestion as this is where body fluids are initially absorbed. Finally shan zhu yu is moisturizing to the (Chinese) Liver. It’s also kind of sour which works as an astringent for fluids such as might be found in a case of frequent urination.

Mu Dan Pi 牡丹皮 moutan root bark, tree peony root bark Cortex Moutan Radicis

Fu Ling 茯苓 sclerotium of tuckahoe, China root, hoelen, Indian bread Poria Cocos

Ze Xie 澤瀉 alisma rhizome, water plantain Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis [supports pregnancy]

• The next three herbs in this formula all serve to regulate the urinary output. If you’re peeing too much, the first three will help keep some of those fluids in. But if you’re not peeing enough such as might be the case with edema, these three herbs will help promote appropriate urinary output. Fu ling and ze xie are both diuretics. “Ze xie” actually translates to “Marsh Drain“. The first herb, mu dan pi is more about making sure that the Kidneys get good blood circulation, which then assists them in working to create the appropriate amount of urine.

Zhi Mu 知母 anemarrhena rhizome Rhizoma Anemarrhenae Asphodeloidis

• This herb removes “deficiency heat” which is like saying that a car is overheating due to a lack of radiator fluids. When the body lacks fluids, it gets hot. Zhi Mu targets that particular kind of heat, especially when associated with intimate dryness or excessive thirst.

Huang Bai 黃栢 amur cork tree bark, huang bo, phellodendron bark Cortex Phellodendri

• Supports healthy fluid metabolism in the lower portion of the body (“dries dampness”). Also “clears heat” which is to say regulates the inflammatory response often indicated by the presence of swollen, red joints. In Chinese medicine, this heat can also be expressed as hot flashes, irritability and other menopausal symptoms.

These last two herbs turn the formula from Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (6 flavors or herbs) to the more heat clearing Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan (also known as Zhi Bai Ba/8 Di Huang Wan).

This formula can also be used for dry constipation in some cases.