Learn About Chinese Herbs -Lu Gen (Rhizoma Phragmitis)-

This product is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. "Famous Doctors《名医别录》" is listed as a lower grade.

Alias: Lu Wei Gen.

Source: Phragmites commuis (L.) Trin. of fresh or dried rhizomes.

Origin: There are many wild places in ponds, marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, sandy lands, wetlands and other places all over the country.

Trait identification: Fresh Lu Gen is long cylindrical, the surface is yellowish-white or tooth-white, shiny. There are knots, and there are stumps and bud marks on the knots. Lightweight and tough, not easy to break. The section is hollow, the periphery is yellowish-white, about 2mm thick, there are small holes arranged in rings, and the outer skin is loose and can be peeled off. The no smell and tastes sweet. It is considered to be of better quality to have white color, thick and uniform strips, and glossy without roots.

The dried Lu Gen is oblate and round. The surface is shiny, yellowish-white. The nodes are hard, reddish-yellow, and have longitudinal wrinkles. Light and soft. Other parts are same as above.

Main ingredients: contains coixin, protein, asparagine sugars, etc.

Pharmacological effects: clear heat, generate Jin, mainly clear lung heat, stomach heat. The in vitro test has antibacterial effect on β-hemolytic streptococcus.

Preparation: Cut into sections.

Taste: sweet and cold.

Meridians: into the lungs, stomach meridian.

Function: Clears away heat and annoyance, relieves nausea.

Indications: polydipsia, nausea; Used fresh for epidermal rash to clear lung heat.

Clinical application

（1） It is used to clear lung fever (coughing up thick phlegm, sore throat, body heat irritability or epistaxis). In the treatment of upper respiratory tract inflammation, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, and lung abscess, Lu Gen is commonly used. In the common formulas for upper respiratory infections, Sang Ju Yin and Yin Qiao San both use Lu Gen, and take their heat-clearing and sweet lubricating effects. As for the Wei Jing Tang formula, it is a common prescription for the treatment of pulmonary carbuncle (lung abscess), and herbs such as Yu Xing Cao, Jie Geng, Chuan Bei, etc., the effect is even more significant.

（2） It is used to clear the stomach and heat. In the acute or late stage of fever, as long as there is body heat, thirst, dry tongue, irritability, dry stool, etc., you can add Lu Gen to the heat-clearing formula (fresh Lu Gen is better). As for the treatment of vomiting, nausea, hiccups, bad breath and thirst, red and dry tongue caused by stomach heat (roughly equivalent to acute gastritis), you can use Lu Gen with Zhu Ru, Sheng Jiang, etc., such as in the common formula Lu Gen Qing Wei Yin.

（3） It is used to detoxify puffer fish poison. 0.5kg of fresh Lu Gen, pounded juice, or deconcocted and used frequently.

Precautions for use: People with stomach cold or loose stools should not use.

Dosage: 15~60g.

Prescription examples

（1） Wei Jing Tang (from "Qian Jin Fang"): Lu Gen 45g, Sheng Yi Ren 30g, Dong Gua Ren 24g, Tao Ren 6g, decoction in water.

（2） Lu Gen Qing Wei Yin: Lu Gen 30g, Sheng Yi Ren 30g, Zhu Ru 6g, Ban Xia 6g, Sheng Jiang 6g, Pi Pa Ye 9g, decoction in water.

Disclaimer: All above articles are for reference only. If patients are interested, please consult a professional practitioner Traditional Chinese Medicine for a consultation.