Di Yu (地榆) — Garden Burnet Root | TCM Hemostatic & Burns Herb Guide

At a Glance

• Herb: Di Yu
• Chinese name: 地榆 (Dì Yú)
• Latin name: Sanguisorba officinalis L.
• Nature: Slightly Cold
• Taste: Bitter / Sour / Astringent
• Meridian: Liver / Large Intestine / Stomach
• Category: Herbs that Stop Bleeding
• Introduction: Di Yu (地榆), garden burnet root (Sanguisorba officinalis), is TCM’s most important herb for stopping bleeding in the lower body — particularly for hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, bloody dysentery, uterine bleeding, and burns. Entering the Liver and Large Intestine channels, its cool, astringent, and descending nature makes it ideal for blood-heat bleeding in the lower jiao. Topically, it is the classical first-aid treatment for burns and scalds — applied as a powder or decocted wash to reduce pain, prevent infection, and promote healing. Sanguiin H-6 (ellagitannin) and gallic acid account for its potent hemostatic, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties.

Action

• Cools blood and stops bleeding (凉血止血): the primary action for blood-heat bleeding, especially in the lower body — hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, bloody dysentery, hematuria.
• Clears heat and resolves toxicity (清热解毒): treats dysentery with blood and pus, and toxic skin conditions.
• Heals burns and promotes wound healing (收敛生肌): topical use — reduces exudate, prevents infection, and accelerates epithelialization in burns.
• Astringes to stop diarrhea (涩肠止痢): astringent tannins consolidate the intestines.

Clinical Application

• Hemorrhoids with bleeding: bright red rectal bleeding from blood-heat — the first-choice herb.
• Bloody dysentery: blood-and-pus stools from intestinal heat toxicity — with Huang Lian.
• Uterine bleeding: menorrhagia and abnormal uterine bleeding from blood-heat — with E Jiao, Ai Ye.
• Hematuria: blood in urine from bladder heat — with Che Qian Zi, Xiao Ji.
• Burns and scalds (外用): Di Yu powder or sesame-oil-based ointment applied topically for first and second-degree burns — classical burn treatment.
• Eczema and weeping skin: astringent wash for damp, weeping dermatitis.

Precautions

• Large surface area burns: Do NOT apply Di Yu to burns covering >15% body surface area — risk of ellagic acid absorption causing nephrotoxicity.
• Cold-type bleeding: avoid in bleeding from yang deficiency or cold — cooling nature worsens cold patterns; use Ai Ye, Pao Jiang instead.
• Pregnancy: use cautiously — cooling blood-moving action may affect uterus.
• Processing: raw Di Yu (生地榆) cools blood; charred Di Yu (地榆炭) has stronger astringent hemostatic action — use 炭 for active bleeding.
• Standard dose: 6–15g in decoction; appropriate amount topically.

Formula

• 地榆散 (Di Yu San): Di Yu + Zhi Zi + Huang Lian + Huai Hua — bloody dysentery and intestinal heat bleeding.
• 槐角丸 (Huai Jiao Wan): Di Yu + Huai Jiao + Fang Feng + Dang Gui — hemorrhoids with bleeding; classic over-the-counter hemorrhoid formula.
• 固冲汤 (Gu Chong Tang) variant: Di Yu + Bai Shao + Huang Qi — uterine bleeding from deficiency with heat.
• Burn topical: Di Yu 100g decocted in sesame oil, applied as burn dressing — traditional emergency burn treatment still used in Chinese hospitals.

Combinations

• For bloody dysentery and rectal bleeding (intestinal wind): combine with Huai Hua, Huang Lian, Mu Xiang (Di Yu San).
• For hemorrhoids with bleeding: combine with Huai Hua Mi, Ce Bai Ye, Zhi Ke.
• For uterine bleeding: combine with E Jiao, Ai Ye, Zong Lu Tan.
• For hematuria: combine with Xiao Ji, Hua Shi, Bai Mao Gen.
• For burns (topical): grind calcined Di Yu to powder, mix with sesame oil.
• For blood-heat with skin eruptions: combine with Huang Qin, Mu Dan Pi, Chi Shao.
• For damp-heat diarrhea with blood: combine with Huang Lian, Huang Bai, Bai Tou Weng.

Pharmacological Effects

• tannins precipitate proteins at wound site
  • Hemostatic: promote platelet aggregation
• Antibacterial
  • active against E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and dysentery bacillus
• ellagic acid
  • Anti-inflammatory: inhibits NF-κB and COX-2 pathways
• ziyuglycoside II
  • Antitumor: induces apoptosis in leukemia and colon cancer cells
• tannins
  • Antidiarrheal: reduce intestinal secretion and motility
• Antioxidant
  • high tannin content scavenges free radicals effectively

Classic Description

• Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (《神农本草经》): ‘Governs breast abscess pain in women, seven injuries, vaginal discharge disease, stops pain, removes malignant flesh, stops sweating, and treats metal wounds.’
• Ben Cao Gang Mu (《本草纲目》): ‘Juice brewed into wine: treats wind impediment and supplements the brain; crush and apply juice to tiger, dog, snake, and insect bites.’
• Ben Cao Jing Shu (《本草经疏》): ‘Burnet Root is bitter and cold, belonging to yin; yin governs descending — hence it can treat all blood-heat conditions.’
• Ri Hua Zi Ben Cao (《日华子本草》): ‘Expels pus, stops hematemesis, severe nosebleed, incessant menstruation, uterine flooding, all blood diseases before and after childbirth, red and white dysentery with watery diarrhea; concentrated decoction stops intestinal wind.’