Zhi Mu (知母) is the rhizome of anemarrhena, recorded as Rhizoma Anemarrhenae. It is bitter and sweet in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Lung, Stomach and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that drain Fire.

Pinyin

zhi mu

Chinese

知母

Latin Name

Rhizoma Anemarrhenae

English Name

Anemarrhena Rhizome

Japanese

chimo

Korean

jimo

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire from the Qi level, the Lungs and the Stomach

High fever at the Qi level, with intense thirst, restlessness and irritability, and a surging, rapid pulse
Dryness and Heat in the Lungs, with cough and thick yellow phlegm
Yang Ming Heat
Stomach Heat

Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness

Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency: sweating at night, steaming bone disorder, fever in the afternoon or of low grade, irritability, heat in the five centres (palms, soles and chest), and bleeding gums
Stomach Yin deficiency
Kidney Heat with spermatorrhea, nocturnal emissions or leakage of essence, and an abnormally strong sex drive

Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and relieves thirst

Mouth ulcers or inflammation, a dry mouth and throat, and thirst from Yin deficiency
Xiao Ke (wasting and thirsting disorder, the classical counterpart of diabetes) from Yin deficiency

Tempers the dryness of tonifying or warming herbs

Added to herbs such as Huang Qi, Gui Zhi or Zhi Fu Zi when they risk being too drying

Combinations

huang bai

Clears Heat and drains Fire in Yin Deficiency Fire. Yin Deficiency steaming bone with dizziness, vertigo and night sweats

huang bai + rou gui

Lower Jiao Damp-Heat obstructing Bladder Qi function, with urinary retention and afternoon fever

huang lian

Blazing Stomach Fire with ravenous hunger, dry stools, a dry yellow tongue coat and a rapid, slippery pulse

zhe bei mu

Lung Heat or Yin Deficiency cough producing thick yellow sputum

xuan shen + sheng di huang

Mouth ulcers

bie jia

Steaming bone disorder.

tian hua fen + mai men dong

Lung and Stomach Dryness with irritability and thirst

tian hua fen + main men dong + wu wei zi + ge gen

Diabetes.

shan yao + huang qi + wu wei zi

Wasting and thirsting.

shi gao

Epidemic disease. Cools Yang Ming or Qi Level Heat while preserving Stomach fluids, for high fever, heavy sweating, unquenchable thirst, a flushed face, aversion to heat and a strong, large pulse

cao guo

Harmonizes Exterior and Interior and regulates Cold and Heat for malarial disorders where Tai Yin turbid Dampness steams upward (irritability, Heat and profuse sweating)

huang bai + shu di huang

Empty Fire from Yin Deficiency

huang qin

Cough from Excess Lung Heat

shi gao + tian hua fen + wu wei zi + huang qi

Lung and Stomach Heat damaging the Fluids, causing thirst

bai he

Age

Raw

Granule

Tincture

Concentrate

Frequency

Any 6-12g; Maximum dose: 30g; Tincture: 2-4ml

6-12 g

—

2-4 ml

—

Cautions

contraindication Diarrhea or loose stools

contraindication Cold from Spleen deficiency; bitter and cold, it can damage Spleen and Stomach Yang

contraindication Impotence with quick arousal and premature ejaculation

contraindication Weak Spleen

contraindication Inability to digest food

contraindication Deficient Stomach with no interest in eating

contraindication Kidney Yang deficiency

zhi mu

About zhi mu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire from the Qi level, the Lungs and the Stomach

Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness

Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and relieves thirst

Tempers the dryness of tonifying or warming herbs

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

About zhi mu

Names

Classification

Actions and indications

Clears Heat and drains Fire from the Qi level, the Lungs and the Stomach

Nourishes Yin and moistens Dryness

Generates Fluids, clears Deficiency Fire and relieves thirst

Tempers the dryness of tonifying or warming herbs

Combinations

Dosage

Cautions

Interactions

Drug interactions

Related

Used in 31 formulas