Ramie Root
- Chinese
- 苎麻根
- Pinyin
- Zhu Ma Gen
- Latin
- Radix Boehmeriae
Known in TCM as Zhu Ma Gen (苎麻根), this sweet, cold herb enters the Bladder and Liver. Traditionally, it cools blood and stops bleeding ... Zhu Ma Gen is used for heat-driven uterine bleeding, hematuria, and other bleeding patterns where blood heat disturbs the lower burner, most often applied for abnormal uterine bleeding, hematuria, and urinary tract infection. Modern research has identified Flavonoids among its active constituents.
Part used: Root
Also Known As
Latin: Radix Boehmeriae | Pinyin: Zhu Ma Gen | Chinese: 苎麻根
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet
- Temperature
- cold
- Channels
- Bladder, Liver
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Cools blood and stops bleeding ... Zhu Ma Gen is used for heat-driven uterine bleeding, hematuria, and other bleeding patterns where blood heat disturbs the lower burner.
- Clears heat and promotes urination ... it is selected for difficult or painful urination, urinary heat, and edema with a heat component.
- Calms the fetus when heat disturbs pregnancy ... traditional use includes restless fetus or threatened bleeding presentations attributed to internal heat.
Secondary Actions
- This record is for the medicinal root of Boehmeria nivea, not for the better-known textile fiber obtained from the stem bark.
- Zhu Ma Gen is one of the cooling herbs historically used in pregnancy support, so the issue is not simple prohibition but careful pattern matching and supervision.
Classic Formulas
- Heat-bleeding combinations pair Zhu Ma Gen with Di Yu or Ce Bai Ye for uterine or urinary bleeding with a clear heat component.
- Urinary-heat patterns combine it with Che Qian Zi or Bai Mao Gen when the goal is to cool, drain, and stop blood in the urine.
- Threatened-pregnancy heat patterns pair it with Huang Qin or Bai Zhu when the treatment goal is to cool without over-dispersing.
Classical References
- Traditional materia medica describes Zhu Ma Gen as sweet and cold, able to cool blood, stop bleeding, promote urination, and calm the fetus.
- The medicinal identity is the root of ramie, a plant better known outside medicine for fiber production, so source part matters.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Flavonoids such as rutin and isoquercitrin ... representative Boehmeria constituents
- Phenolic acids including caffeic and p-coumaric acid ... supportive antioxidant compounds
- Polysaccharides and broader extract fractions ... commonly discussed in modern Boehmeria studies
Studied Effects
- A 2022 review summarized the beneficial health role and phytochemical constituents of Boehmeria nivea, showing broad modern interest in the species beyond its fiber identity (PMID 36209491).
- A 2013 macrophage study found that Boehmeria nivea suppressed inflammatory signaling through p38 and JNK inhibition, supporting the plant's anti-inflammatory potential (PMID 23750815).
- A 2006 cell study reported that Boehmeria nivea root extract inhibited hepatitis B virus production in HepG2 2.2.15 cells, giving direct modern relevance to the medicinal root itself (PMID 17007029).
PubMed References
- Beneficial role of Boehmeria nivea in health and phytochemical constituents. (2022)
- Boehmeria nivea attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory markers by inhibiting p38 and JNK phosphorylations in RAW264.7 macrophages. (2013)
- Inhibition of hepatitis B virus production by Boehmeria nivea root extract in HepG2 2.2.15 cells. (2006)
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Deficiency-cold patterns without bleeding heat or urinary heat
- Chronic loose stool from cold weakness
Cautions
- Threatened pregnancy, unexplained bleeding, or gross hematuria require proper medical evaluation rather than relying on herb use alone.
- Modern Boehmeria research often covers the whole plant or non-root extracts, so published findings are broader than the exact Zhu Ma Gen dispensing form.
Conditions
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
- Hematuria Traditional ★★★☆☆ JSON
- Urinary Tract Infection Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Burns Traditional ★★☆☆☆ JSON
- Hepatitis Research ★★☆☆☆ JSON
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ramie Root used for?
Ramie Root is traditionally used to Cools blood and stops bleeding ... Zhu Ma Gen is used for heat-driven uterine bleeding, hematuria, and other bleeding patterns where blood heat disturbs the lower burner., Clears heat and promotes urination ... it is selected for difficult or painful urination, urinary heat, and edema with a heat component., Calms the fetus when heat disturbs pregnancy ... traditional use includes restless fetus or threatened bleeding presentations attributed to internal heat.. Research has investigated its effects on: A 2022 review summarized the beneficial health role and phytochemical constituents of Boehmeria nivea, showing broad modern interest in the species beyond its fiber identity (PMID 36209491).; A 2013 macrophage study found that Boehmeria nivea suppressed inflammatory signaling through p38 and JNK inhibition, supporting the plant's anti-inflammatory potential (PMID 23750815)..
What are other names for Ramie Root?
Ramie Root is also known as Boehmeria Root, Ramie Root, Boehmeria. In TCM: 苎麻根 (Zhu Ma Gen); Radix Boehmeriae.
Is Ramie Root safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Ramie Root during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Ramie Root?
Ramie Root should not be used in: Deficiency-cold patterns without bleeding heat or urinary heat; Chronic loose stool from cold weakness. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.