Anemarrhena
知母 · Zhī Mǔ
Cools fevers and quiets a parched, restless mind
Properties
CoolingCooling botanicalBitter, Sweet
Concerns
What it does
Anemarrhena cools high fevers, soothes a dry burning thirst, and quiets the restless feeling of being wired-but-tired at night. In TCM, it clears fire from the lung, stomach, and kidney while replenishing the fluids that fire burns up. That two-step action is why it shows up in sleep formulas like Suan Zao Ren Tang, where the issue is internal heat keeping you awake.
How to take it
Decoct 6–12g of dried anemarrhena in water for 25 minutes. Drink 1 cup, 1–2x daily. Usually taken in formula with other cooling or yin-supporting herbs.
Look for it in Suan Zao Ren Tang for hot insomnia or Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan for night sweats
Safety
- Cooling and slightly slippery. Skip in cold-pattern digestion with loose stools
- Skip during pregnancy unless directed by a practitioner
- May lower blood sugar. Talk to your doctor if you take diabetes medication
- Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication
Formulas it's in
Eight-Flavor Rehmannia
知柏地黃丸 · zhī bǎi dì huáng wán
Six-Ingredient Rehmannia with two added cooling herbs for internal heat, night sweats, and hot flashes from yin deficiency.
Sour Jujube Decoction
酸棗仁湯 · suān zǎo rén tāng
The classical TCM formula for the kind of insomnia where your mind won't stop and your body feels parched.
Where it comes from
Anemarrhena (Anemarrhena asphodeloides) is a hardy perennial that grows across northern China, Mongolia, and Korea. Its rhizome is dug in spring or autumn, scraped, and dried. The herb has been in continuous TCM use since the Hàn Dynasty, mentioned in the Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng. Classical texts pair it with phellodendron for kidney-heat patterns, and with gypsum for severe fevers. Modern research focuses on its compound mangiferin for blood-sugar and anti-inflammatory effects.