Di Yu
English Name: sanguisorba, garden burnet root
Pharmaceutical Name: Radix Sanguisorbae
Medica Category: Stop-Bleeding Herbs
Properties: Di Yu enters the Liver, Large Intestine, and Stomach channels; it is bitter and sour in nature and cool in temperature.
What is Di Yu?:
The Chinese Herb Di Yu is the dried roots of garden burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis L.; plus one variant), a perennial herb native to temperate regions across the globe. It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental because of its deep red bottlebrush flowers that appear atop long stems beginning in midsummer. The roots (dug up after the aerial parts have withered in the autumn) are what is dried and used medicinally in TCM.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapeutic Actions of Di Yu:
Di Yu cools blood and stops bleeding. Additionally, it has a descending nature and excellent properties to clear heat and retain blood within the body. This makes it an especially good choice to address bleeding characterized by a profuse flow of bright red blood located in the lower part of the body (lower jiao). Some clinical examples of this might include hemorrhoidal bleeding, spotting or bleeding between periods (metrorrhagia), or blood in the stools or urine. Di Yu is also useful to stop bleeding in the middle and upper jiaos as well (e.g. nosebleed, hematemesis etc…).
Di Yu clears toxic-heat and generates flesh and can be used topically to address dermatological disorders such as infected sores, burns, and carbuncles with heat signs.
**safety notes:
Topical application of Di Yu is not recommended for burns that cover a large area of the body.
The absorption and disposition of ciprofloxacin may be affected when given concurrently with Di Yu.
Use with caution for persons with blood stasis or deficiency cold patterns.
Do not use alone in the early stages of dysentery caused by Heat.