Puerariae Lobatae Radix
Aliases：Gān Gé (Dried Pueraria); Gān Gé (Sweet Pueraria); Fěn Gé (Powder Pueraria); Gě Tiáo (Pueraria Vine); Gě Téng (Pueraria Climber); Gě Má Rú (Pueraria Fiber); Gě Zǐ Gēn (Pueraria Seed Root); Gě Tiáo Gēn (Pueraria Vine Root); Jī Qí Gēn (Chicken Gather Root).
Gegen (Pueraria Root) is a Chinese medicinal herb. It is the dried root of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, a plant of the Fabaceae family. The root is excavated in autumn and winter, cut into thick slices or small pieces while fresh, and then dried.
Efficacy & Actions
It has the effects of releasing the exterior and reducing fever, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, promoting eruption of rashes, raising yang to stop diarrhea, unblocking meridians and collaterals, and relieving alcohol intoxication.
Indications
Used for exterior syndrome with fever and headache, stiffness and pain of the neck and back, thirst, wasting-thirst disorder (diabetes), incomplete measles eruption, heat dysentery, diarrhea, dizziness and headache, stroke with hemiplegia, chest impediment and heart pain, and alcohol damage to the middle jiao. It is also used for hypertension presenting with stiffness and pain of the neck.
Modern Pharmacology
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection: Anti-atherosclerotic, anticoagulant, protects vascular endothelial cells, and resists myocardial and cerebral ischemic injury. Mechanisms involve regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation; delaying cardiac hypertrophy via PI3K/Akt and JNK pathways; and inhibiting inflammatory factors through downregulation of TLR4-NF-κB signaling. Hypoglycemic effect: Puerarin, genistein, and β-sitosterol are key active components. They exert hypoglycemic effects by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity, enhancing insulin sensitivity, and reducing insulin resistance. Lipid-lowering effect: Lowers blood lipids by regulating post-transcriptional expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN). Antioxidant effect: Antioxidant peptides protect against ethanol-induced oxidative cell damage via regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Other effects: Anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, improvement of learning and memory, promotion of osteogenesis, and estrogen-like activity.
Ingredients
Isoflavonoids: Main active components, including puerarin, daidzein, daidzin, puerarin-7-xyloside, genistein, 4'-methoxypuerarin, etc. Triterpenoids and saponins: Including kudzusapogenol A, B, C, etc. Alkaloids, coumarins, and polysaccharides. Other constituents: Amino acids, minerals, trace elements, and abundant starch.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 10–15g.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with deficiency-cold; use with caution in those with stomach cold and vomiting. As Gegen is cool in nature, long-term excessive use may damage spleen-stomach yang qi. Use with caution in patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold: Those presenting with preference for warmth and pressure, loose stools, and a pale, tender, swollen tongue should use with caution. Use with caution in patients with yin deficiency and fire excess: Those presenting with dry mouth and throat, hot palms and soles, and a red tongue with scanty coating should use with caution. Not suitable for patients with hypotension: Gegen has significant blood pressure-lowering effects. Not suitable for patients with hypoglycemia: Gegen has significant blood sugar-lowering effects. Not suitable for patients with coagulation disorders: Gegen has antithrombotic and platelet aggregation-inhibiting effects. Use with caution in individuals with allergies: May cause allergic symptoms such as skin itching, redness, and swelling.
Selected Formulas
1、 For exterior wind-cold with excess pattern, stiffness of the neck and back, anhidrosis, and aversion to wind (Shanghan Lun, Gegen Tang) Take 12g Gegen (Pueraria root), 9g Mahuang (Ephedra), 6g Guizhi (Cinnamon twig), 9g Shengjiang (Fresh ginger), 6g honey-fried Gancao (Licorice), 6g Shaoyao (Peony), and twelve pieces of Dazao (Red dates). Decoct in water and drink warm. 2、 For stiffness and discomfort of the neck and back due to wind-cold affecting the Taiyang channel with disharmony of nutritive and defensive qi (Shanghan Lun, Guizhi Jia Gegen Tang) Take four liang of Gegen, two liang of Guizhi, two liang of Shaoyao, two liang of honey-fried Gancao, three liang of Shengjiang, and twelve pieces of Dazao. Decoct in water and drink. 3、 For diarrhea and dysentery due to damp-heat (Shanghan Lun, Gegen Qinlian Tang) Take Gegen, Huangqin (Scutellaria), Huanglian (Coptis), and Gancao (Licorice). Decoct in water and drink. 4、 For early-stage measles (Yanshi Xiaoer Fanglun, Shengma Gegen Tang) Take Shengma (Cimicifuga), Gegen, Shaoyao (Peony), and Gancao (Licorice). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Gegen Tea: Take 10–30g of Gegen, wash and slice thinly, decoct in water to extract the liquid, and drink as tea. Gegen Powder Infusion: Take 20g of Gegen powder, first mix with a small amount of cold water to form a smooth paste, then pour in boiling water and stir until it becomes a gelatinous paste. Honey or sugar may be added for taste. Osmanthus Gegen Paste: Take 50g of Gegen powder, first mix with cold water, then pour in boiling water to form a translucent paste. Add 5g of osmanthus sugar and mix thoroughly. This helps promote fluid production, quench thirst, release the exterior, and reduce fever. Gegen Soup: Slice and wash Gegen, then stew with pork ribs, chicken, or duck. Add seasonings to taste. Gegen Congee: Place 20g of Gegen powder and 50g of polished rice in a clay pot, add 1 liter of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and cook until thick. Compatibility: Gegen combined with Bupleurum (Chái Hú) enhances the effect of releasing the exterior and reducing fever; combined with Coptis (Huáng Lián) and Scutellaria (Huáng Qín) clears heat and stops diarrhea; combined with Trichosanthes Root (Tiān Huā Fěn) enhances the effect of promoting fluid production and quenching thirst.
Medicinal Parts
Dried root.
Selection & Storage
Store in a well-ventilated, dry place, protected from mold and insects.