Ramie root (ZHU MA GEN)-Boehmeria nivea-Radix Boehmeriae

Ramie root (ZHU MA GEN)

Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. (Fam. Urticaceae)

Pharmaceutical Name:

Radix Boehmeriae

Botanical Name:

Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaud. (Fam. Urticaceae)

Common Name:

Ramie root

Part Used:

Dried root

Radix Boehmeriae is produced in most provinces in China. It is collected in summer and autumn, dried in sunlight, sliced, and used unprepared.

Properties  Taste & Meridians:

Sweet in flavor, cold in property, acts on the Heart and the Liver channels.

Functions:

Arrests bleeding by clearing Blood Heat, clears Blood Heat to prevent abortion, and is a diuretic.

Indications & Combinations:

1. For bleeding due to Blood Heat, including hemoptysis, epistaxis, metrorrhagia, and hematuria, Radix Boehmeriae (Zhu Ma Gen) is used alone or with Radix Sanguisorbae Officinalis (Di Yu), Herba Cirsii Segeti ( Xiao Ji), and Cacumen Platycladi (Ce Bai Ye). For threatened abortion and vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, it is used with Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin) and Caulis Bambusae In Taeniis (Zhu Ru), or it is used with Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui) and Colla Corii Asini (A Jiao), as in the “Radix Boehmeriae Decoction” (Zhu Gen Tang).

2. For Damp Heat gonorrhea, it is used with Rhizoma Imperatae (Bai Mao Gen) and Semen Plantaginis (Che Qian Zi).

3. For sores, boils, and carbuncles due to Heat, fresh Radix Boehmeriae (Zhu Ma Gen) can be crushed for topical application.

Dosage and administration:

10–30 g, decocted in water for an oral dose. Appropriate quantity for external use.

Precautions:

None noted.

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