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知母 Zhimu
Rhizoma Anemarrhenae

【Source】
  Source is from rhizome of a perennial herbaceous plant, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, family Liliaceae.


【Properties】
  Bitter and sweet in flavor, cold in nature, attributive to lung, stomach and kidney meridians.


【Actions】
  Clear away heat and purge fire, nourish yin and moisturize dryness.


【Application】
  1. Zhimu is used for overabundance of pathogenic heat due to seasonal febrile disease with symptoms of high fever and excessive thirst.
  2. For symptoms of cough due to lung-heat, dry cough due to yin deficiency. Zhimu can nourish yin and moisten lung, clear away heat and purge fire from the lung.
                     3. For the hyperactivity of fire due to yin deficiency marked by hectic fever, night sweat and restlessness.
                     4. For diabetes due to yin deficiency manifested as thirst due to consumption of body fluids, constipateion due to dryness of intestine.

【Famous Prescription】
  Baihu Tang (Decoction)    Zhi Bai Dihuang Wan (Pill)