Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) - Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese Name: Zhi Mu
English Name: Anemarrhena Rhizome

Clinical Usage and Indications

  • Clears heat, drains fire - high fever, irritability, thirst, and a rapid flooding pulse in patterns of excessive heat in the lungs and/or stomach; cough due to lung heat with thick yellow sputum.
  • Nourishes yin, moistens dryness - deficiency of lung and kidney yin, night sweats, steaming bone disorder, irritability, afternoon or low-grade fevers, bleeding gums, five-center heat; also for kidney heat signs - spermatorrhea, nocturnal emission, high sexual desire.
  • Generates fluids and clears heat - oral ulcers and inflammation due to yin deficiency, wasting and thirsting disorder.

Functional Groups (Click for Summary/Study Notes)

Dosage and Preparation Notes

  • Dosage: 6-12g

Channels/Meridians Influenced

Associated Temperature and Taste

Cautions and Contraindications

  • Avoid in patients with diarrhea from spleen deficiency.

Staff Clinician Notes

  • Ideal choice where heat has dried the yin fluid.
  • The herb may be fried in salt water to enhance the nourishing kidney function.
  • Often combined with tonifying/warming herbs when they may be too hot/drying (Huang Qi, Gui Zhi, Zhi Fu Zi, etc.).
  • Research has shown this herb to have antibacterial properties.

Herbal Formulas Which Include This Herb

Below you will find Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas which contain this particular herb (in alphabetical order). You may click on the name of the formula for more details or click on any of the products from our store to read usage information or purchase a particular formula.

  • Bi Yan Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Related Products Available From Our Store


  • Chu Kou Wei Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Related Products Available From Our Store


  • Er Xian Tang Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Qing Hao Bie Jia Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Heat at night (nightsweats, sensation of heat) with a sensation of coolness in the early morning/upon waking, no effect on appetite.

    Pulse will be fine and rapid and the Tongue will be red with little coating.


  • Suan Zao Ren Tang Pian

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Related Products Available From Our Store


  • Te Xiao Zao Ren An Mian Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Related Products Available From Our Store


  • Xiao Feng Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Itchy and red skin lesions, possibly with weeping, comprising such conditions as psoriasis, eczema, acne, dermatitis, etc.

    The Pulse will generally be forceful, floating and rapid and the Tongue will have a yellow or white tongue coating.


  • Related Products Available From Our Store


  • Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan

    Formula Functions...  

    Coming Soon...


  • Related Products Available From Our Store