Rhizome of Common Anamarrhena … Classic Formulas
Zhi Mu · Rhizoma Anemarrhenae
Primary Actions
- Clears heat and drains fire ... Zhi Mu treats high fever, vexation, intense thirst, Lung heat, and Stomach fire with dryness or irritability.
- Enriches yin and moistens dryness ... it is used for dry cough, wasting-thirst patterns, and fluid injury when heat has scorched the yin.
- Clears deficiency heat ... classical use extends to steaming-bone fever, night sweats, and irritability from yin deficiency.
Classic Formulas
- Bai Hu Tang ... major qi-level heat formula where Zhi Mu clears heat and protects fluids.
- Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan ... classic deficiency-fire formula pairing Zhi Mu with Huang Bai on a Liu Wei Di Huang Wan base.
- Er Mu combinations with Bei Mu or Zhe Bei Mu ... traditional strategy for Lung heat, phlegm, and dryness together.
Classical Text References
- Traditional materia medica describes Zhi Mu as bitter, sweet, and cold, entering the Lung, Stomach, and Kidney to clear heat, enrich yin, and moisten dryness.
- Its yin-protecting coldness is what keeps it distinct from harsher bitter-cold fire-draining herbs.