Rhizoma Polygonati is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, which contains a variety of chemical components beneficial to human health. According to traditional Chinese medicine experts, Rhizoma Polygonati has the effects of treating tuberculosis, spleen and stomach weakness, and lung consumption cough, but it is necessary to understand the correct combination and proper administration methods when using it. The following introduces more benefits of this traditional Chinese medicine.

It has the functions of nourishing Qi and Yin, invigorating the spleen, moistening the lung, and benefiting the kidney function. It is used for the treatment of spleen and stomach weakness, fatigue and lack of strength, dry mouth and decreased appetite, lung deficiency and dry cough, insufficient essence and blood, internal heat and thirst, and other symptoms, and has a significant effect on the treatment of diabetes.

Rhizoma Polygonati is often used to treat spleen and stomach weakness, Yin deficiency and dryness of the lung, dry cough with little phlegm, premature graying of hair and beard, insufficient essence and blood, internal heat and thirst, and other symptoms. Modern medical research shows that Rhizoma Polygonati also has the effects of lowering blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids, preventing atherosclerosis, delaying aging, and antibacterial, which is also very effective for diabetes, and has inhibitory effects on various bacteria and skin fungi. If it is used with Lycium barbarum, the effect of nourishing essence and Qi will be greatly increased. The ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’ recorded: ‘Rhizoma Polygonati and Atractylodes each four jin; Lycium barbarum root and Cinnamomum cassia leaves each five jin; Asparagus three jin. Boil the juice to one shi, mix with ten jin of yeast, one shi of glutinous rice, and drink it like normal wine.’ This prescription can ‘strengthen the tendons and bones, benefit essence, and eliminate premature graying’. The medical classic ‘Miraculous Prescriptions’ also proposes that the use of Rhizoma Polygonati and Lycium barbarum in combination can benefit the nourishment of essence and Qi. It is evident that Rhizoma Polygonati and Lycium barbarum are truly a heavenly match.

It has the effects of anti-anoxia, anti-fatigue, and anti-aging.

It can enhance the immune function and promote metabolism.

Lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, prevent atherosclerosis.

It has the effects of delaying aging and antibacterial, and the polysaccharides of Rhizoma Polygonati have immune activating effects.

Used for Yin deficiency and dryness of the lung, dry cough with little phlegm, and chronic cough due to lung and kidney Yin deficiency. It can be used alone to make a paste and take it, or used with Fritillaria thunbergii, Anemarrhena, and others. For chronic cough, it can be used with Rehmannia, Asparagus, and Sparganium, and others.

Used for spleen and stomach weakness.

Rhizoma Polygonati not only nourishes the Yin of the spleen but also benefits the Qi of the spleen. If there is Qi deficiency in the spleen and stomach, leading to fatigue and lack of strength, decreased appetite, and a soft pulse, it can be used with Codonopsis, Atractylodes, and others.

Indications and contraindications: Rhizoma Polygonati tastes sweet, has a neutral nature, and has a slow effect, which can be used as a nourishing product for long-term use. However, its nature is nourishing and greasy, which is prone to help dampness, so it is not suitable for people with spleen deficiency and dampness, excessive phlegm and cough, and central cold diarrhea.

Adverse reactions: There have been reports that a few patients experienced mild abdominal distension after taking Rhizoma Polygonati syrup, which can be avoided by taking it after meals. There were no adverse reactions when the crude preparation of Rhizoma Polygonati was used as a local ointment.

Rhizoma Polygonati has the effect of suppressing cough, but the skin must be peeled off before it can be eaten, otherwise the skin of Rhizoma Polygonati may irritate the throat and make the cough more severe. In addition, from the perspective of nourishing effects, eating cooked Rhizoma Polygonati is better, which can be stewed with meat or added to congee, while the raw taste is slightly poor, and due to the high content of mucoprotein in Rhizoma Polygonati, it is easy to cause diarrhea when eaten raw. In terms of dosage, dried Rhizoma Polygonati can be eaten about 30 grams a day, and fresh Rhizoma Polygonati about 100 grams a day is enough.