Rhodiola
Rhodiola
Published on April 22nd, 2009 @ 12:27:32 am , using 366 words, 1972 views
By Eric Brand
Continuing yesterday's thread of new medicinals in Chinese medicine... One of the most popular new medicinals in Chinese medicine today is rhodiola (hong jing tian), which came from the arsenal of Tibetan medicine. It is most famous for its use in patients suffering from altitude sickness.
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The confusing issue regarding rhodiola is that medicinal forms of hong jing tian come from both Tibet and Northeastern China and Russia (the latter is a similar range as that of ginseng). Sources are divided as to which one is the most effective. Here's the info from the Chinese sources. This material comes from my book, Concise Chinese Materia Medica, which is available from both Blue Poppy and Redwing Books.
Rhodiolae Herba.
SOURCE: Rhodiola rosea L., Rhodiola euryphylla (Frod.) S. H. Fu.
NATURE AND FLAVOR: Sweet; cold.
CHANNEL ENTRY: Spleen, lung.
Actions and Indications
Fortifies the spleen and boosts qì: Spleen qì vacuity.
Hóng jǐng tiān may be used as a single medicinal to treat spleen qì vacuity with signs such as fatigue and lack of strength. It is also said to boost qì to engender blood. In addition, it promotes contraction and can be used to treat abnormal vaginal discharge. For vaginal discharge, combine it with qiàn shí (Euryales Semen), shān yào (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), and bái zhú (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma).
Clears the lung and relieves cough: Lung heat cough.
For lung heat with cough and expectoration of blood, combine hóng jǐng tiān with zhè bèi mǔ (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), zhī mǔ (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), and ē jiāo (Asini Corii Colla). Some sources also indicate that hóng jǐng tiān nourishes lung yīn and can be used for yīn vacuity patterns as well. For yīn vacuity, use it with shā shēn (Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix) and bǎi hé (Lilii Bulbus).
Quickens the blood and transforms stasis: Blood stasis from knocks and falls.
Hóng jǐng tiān is used topically for knocks and falls, and may also be used topically for burns and scalds.
Dosage and Method of Use
3–12 g in decoctions. It may also be applied topically, and is frequently made into tablets or gelatin capsules.
Permalink6 comments
Thanks for sharing this info. I'm interested to know if you could point me to a Classical Chinese source text where I could learn more about Rhodiola. 
Sorry, I didn't see this comment until recently. Our main source for this particular monograph was the yellow hardbound Zhong Yao Xue text, published by Renmin Weisheng Chubanshe (it is a well-known book, but I can get the ISBN if you need it). The Zhong Yao Da Ci Dian also has it. However, none of these books are classical texts. I'm not near my copy of either of those books at the moment, but both of those titles will list the first text that rhodiola appeared in (this info is at the beginning of the monograph). For rhodiola, I don't know how old that source text will be. For example, Ren Shen (ginseng) was listed in books over 1800 years old, while Dang Shen (codonopsis) only appeared a few hundred years ago. Depending on how narrowly you define "classical" sources, there may or may not be one for rhodiola. Most likely, the earliest records come from Tibet, but finding the first TCM source would be easier.
Looking at online sources of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, it looks like the first listing of this medicinal is in the book (西藏常用中草药) Xi Zang Chang Yong Zhong Cao Yao, Common Chinese Medicinal Herbs of Tibet. But this book looks like it was published in 1973, so it isn't a very old source. Hong Jing Tian is new to Chinese medicine, so it is possible that it didn't come into the picture until then. If that is the case, older sources are probably only available in Tibetan or other languages.
If you do find an older source, I'd love to learn more about it. Until then, I'll start looking and asking around and I'll let you know what else I find.
Eric
Hi Eric,I was just wondering about combining Rhodiola with (Jia Wei) Xiao Yao Wan. I have a patient that's not keen to stop taking Rhodiola prescribed by another practitioner. I would like to give him some Jia Wei Xiao Yao Wan (in addition to Rhodiola he won't stop taking) for a Liver Depression Qi Stagnation condition he has. Would there be any contra-indications to this combination?
Thanks!
Dear Ray,I doubt that there are any inherent contraindications when it comes to combining Jia Wei Xiao Yao San with Rhodiola. I wouldn't worry about it.
Hi, I have just discovered your site and have been very interested and impressed with the comments. I am researching Rhodiola rosea and am trying to trace it's earliest historical mentions in China (and Tibet)throughout the centuries, and what were its uses then. Any ideas on how to go about it? Thanks, Irean. 
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