Named for Joseph Rehmann ((1753-1831) German physician (Stearn, 1994) who emigrated to St Petersburg and became the personal physician to Tsar Nicholas 1.

Medicinal uses Uses supported by clinical data None. Although published case reports indicate that Radix Rehmanniae is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension (19), data from controlled clinical trials are lacking. Uses described in pharmacopoeias and well established documents Internally for the symptomatic treatment of fevers, diabetes, hypertension, skin eruptions and maculation, sore throat, hypermenorrhoea and polymenorrhoea (4, 20). As a tonic to stimulate the immune system (21). Uses described in traditional medicine As an antispasmodic, diuretic and emmenagogue. Treatment of burns, diarrhoea, dysentery, metrorrhagia and impotence (7, 20, 22, 23). Contraindications Radix Rehmanniae is contraindicated in chronic liver or gastrointestinal diseases and in patients with diarrhoea (3). Owing to its potential antiimplantation effects (55), the use of Radix Rehmanniae during pregnancy is also contraindicated.

In TCM the following notes apply to the species R. glutinosa: 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, 279]. 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]. n TCM the following notes apply to the species R. glutinosa.

Previously grown as Rehmannia elata

Rehmannia angulata (Oliv.)Hemsl. Scrophulariaceae Chinese foxglove. Distribution: China. Rehmannia glutinosa is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for arthritis.