Quick Facts
| Latin Name | Polygonati Rhizoma |
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| Chinese Name & Pinyin | 黃精 · Huang Jing |
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| Medicinal Part | Roots and rhizomes |
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| Efficacy Category | Tonifying |
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| Botanical Origin | The dried rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum Delarb ex Redoute(Liliaceae). |
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| Nature & Flavour | Sweet; Neutral |
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| Channels Entered | Spleen, Lung, Kidney |
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What Is Huang Jing?
Huang Jing (Siberian Solomonseal Rhizome) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Hebei.
Nature & Flavour: Sweet; Neutral
Channels Entered: Spleen, Lung, Kidney
Huang Jing: Materia Medica Profile
Identification & Quality Standard
Polygonati Rhizoma
Botanical Origin
The dried rhizome of Polygonatum sibiricum Delarb ex Redoute(Liliaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Hebei.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is fat, large, yellow, with “rock sugar cut” fractured surface.
Macroscopic Features
Knotty, one thick end round and plate-like, one gradually thin end cylindrical-shaped, whole piece similar to chicken head in shape, 2.5~11cm long, 1~2cm thick at the thick end; often has branches, with obvious scars of stem, round slightly indented, 2~3mm diameter, surrounding with ringed joints; thin end is 2.5~4cm long, 5~10mm diameter, with obvious ringed joints, 5~15mm internode distance, with numerous rootlets or scars of rootlets with a diameter of 1mm. Externally yellowish-brown, sometimes translucent, with wrinkles; cylindrical portion has longitudinal lines. Hard brittle or slightly soft pliable texture, easily broken. Fractured surface is yellowish-white, granular, with yellowish-brown vascular bundle spots. faint odor, slightly sweet taste. Ginger-like huang jing often appears as long strip-shaped lumps, uneven length and numerous linked lump-like nodes.
Traditional TCM Properties
Sweet; NeutralSpleenLungKidney
Traditional Functions
Fortifies the spleen, moistens the lung, and tonifies the kidney essence. Apply to spleen-stomach qi deficiency, dry cough from lung dryness, and lumbar weakness from kidney deficiency.
How Huang Jing Is Used in TCM
In the Chinese materia medica, Huang Jing is classified among the Tonifying herbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Huang Jing? Are solomonseal and prepared rehmannia the same?
Official Huang Jing (黄精) is the dried rhizome of Polygonatum kingianum, P. sibiricum or P. cyrtonema. The pharmacopoeial name is Polygonati Rhizoma. Solomonseal is sweet and slightly cold: nourishes yin, moistens dryness, generates fluid and stops thirst. Prepared rehmannia is sweet and slightly warm: tonifies Blood and nourishes yin, benefits essence and fills marrow. The three cannot be interchanged by equal weight. Write Huang Jing. Use caution in excess dampness and Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.
What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Huang Jing?
According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Huang Jing is sweet and neutral, enters the Spleen, Lung and Kidney channels, and acts to tonify qi and nourish yin, strengthen the Spleen, moisten the Lung and benefit the Kidney. It is used for Spleen-Stomach qi vacuity, fatigue, Stomach yin insufficiency with dry mouth and poor appetite, Lung vacuity with dry cough, consumptive cough with blood, essence and Blood insufficiency, soreness and weakness of the low back and knees, premature graying of hair, and internal heat with wasting thirst. Sweet and neutral, it suits dual qi and yin insufficiency—not excess dampness, or Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold.
How do you choose raw versus prepared rhizome? Can solomonseal replace it?
Raw rhizome is stronger for moistening the Lung. Prepared rhizome leans to tonifying qi and nourishing yin. Solomonseal leans to nourishing yin and moistening dryness; it cannot replace tonifying qi by equal weight. Commercial polygonatum tea is not equal-weight pieces.
Learn More About Huang Jing
Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Huang Jing.
Read the Huang Jing Guide →
Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.
