House of Botanicals · Buda, Texas · Est. 2015

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Herb module

Lu Gen

Reed RhizomePhragmites communis

The cool, juicy underground stem of the common reed, used to clear Heat and restore moisture to the Lungs and Stomach.

Found inHydration · Neró

Lu Gen is the rhizome of the common reed, a tall grass that grows at the water's edge. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is a cold herb, used to clear Heat while generating Fluid, much like rain cooling and soaking dry ground. In Hydration | Neró™ it supports the formula's work of cooling and replenishing moisture in the body.

Best functions

  • Clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach
  • Generates Fluid and is traditionally used to relieve thirst
  • Regulates Stomach Qi and is used to settle the Stomach when it pushes upward
  • Promotes urination
  • Traditionally used to help rashes come to the surface and release

Fascinating facts

  • The name Lu Gen means "reed root." It is often described as an elegant Heat-clearer, one that generates fluids without feeling heavy or cloying.
  • Common reed is one of the most widespread grasses in the world. It forms dense stands in marshes, riverbanks and lake shores, topped with soft, feathery seed plumes.
  • Dried reed stems have long been used to thatch roofs in many parts of the world.
  • Zoi's notes point to research on reed rhizome's antioxidant phenolic acids, and observations that it promotes urination without loss of electrolytes.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Lu Gen is cold in nature and sweet in flavor, and it enters the Lung and Stomach channels. Traditional Chinese Medicine places it among the Heat-clearing herbs.

Go deeperDownload the fact sheet on the Hydration · Neró page
Biomedical deep dive

Lu Gen Reed Rhizome

From the Zoi Medicinals fact sheets’ Biomedical Details, with lines from Noa’s herb notes marked “Noa’s notes”.

On the fact sheet

  • Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome, Phragmites communis) is cold and enters the LU and ST meridians; clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach, generates Fluid, regulates Stomach Qi, relieves thirst, stops vomiting, clears Heat, promotes urination, vents rashes and relieves food poisoning. Hydration | Neró sheet

Formula-level notes (about the whole formula, not this herb alone)

  • Hydration | Neró sheet: Traditional Chinese Medicine describes the formula’s herbs as “generating fluids”, but the sheet notes that biomedical research on the hydration functions of these herbs is scant; its one human study is of ophiopogon (Mai Men Dong), not this herb. Research does show that many of the herbs in Neró have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective and other beneficial properties.

Key active constituents

The fact sheets don’t name constituents for this herb.

Pharmacology and mechanisms

  • Antioxidant: phenolic acids reduce oxidative stress markers. Noa’s notes
  • Diuretic: increases urine output without electrolyte loss. Noa’s notes
  • Antipyretic (fever-lowering) through prostaglandin pathway inhibition. Noa’s notes

What the research says

No herb-specific study on the fact sheets.

Safety, interactions and cautions

  • Every Zoi fact sheet: do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless directed by your health care practitioner.
  • Avoid with Cold conditions of the Spleen and Stomach (Spleen deficiency cold). Noa’s notes

In these Zoi formulas

  • Hydration | Neró (#9 on the fact sheet)

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.