Roots and rhizomesHeat-clearingRhizoma Phragmitis

Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome)

蘆根 · Lu Gen

Heat-clearing herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Traditional functions: Clears heat, engenders fluid, eliminates vexation, stops vomiting, promotes urination.

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Quick Facts

Latin Name	Rhizoma Phragmitis
Chinese Name & Pinyin	蘆根 · Lu Gen
Medicinal Part	Roots and rhizomes
Efficacy Category	Heat-clearing
Botanical Origin	The fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis Trin.(Poaceae)
Nature & Flavour	Sweet; Cold
Channels Entered	Lung, Stomach

What Is Lu Gen?

Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) is a medicinal herb of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangsu.

Nature & Flavour: Sweet; Cold
Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach

Lu Gen: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Rhizoma Phragmitis

Botanical Origin

The fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis Trin.(Poaceae)

Production Regions

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangsu.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material is thick and strong, yellowish-white, lustrous, without rootlets, tender.

Macroscopic Features

Fresh lu gen: Long cylindrical or flat cylindrical shape, uneven length, about 1.5cm diameter. Externally yellowish-white, lustrous, apex is pointed like bamboo shoots, green or yellowish-green. Whole body has joints, internode is 10~17cm long, joint has remnants of rootlet and scars of sprouts. Light and pliable texture, not easily broken. Cut surface is yellowish-white, hollow in the center, wall is about 1.5mm thick, has small holes arranged in a ring, outer skin is loose and able to peel off. faint odor, sweet taste. Dried lu gen is a flat long cylindrical shape, externally lustrous, yellowish-white, joints are relatively hard, reddish-yellow, internode has longitudinal wrinkles. Light and pliable texture, not easily broken, faint odor, slightly sweet taste.

Traditional TCM Properties

Sweet; ColdLungStomach

Traditional Functions

Clears heat, engenders fluid, eliminates vexation, stops vomiting, promotes urination. Apply to pyreticosis and dipsesis, vomiting due to gastric heat, cough due to lung heat, and vomit pus induced by lung abscess, heat stranguria and astringent pain.

How Lu Gen Is Used in TCM

In the Chinese materia medica, Lu Gen is classified among the Heat-clearing herbs. It appears in 2 classical formulas in our library.

Formulas containing Lu Gen are traditionally used for:

Cough Dry Cough Sore Throat Fever Nasal Congestion Headache

Classical Formulas Containing Lu Gen

Sang Ju Yin

桑菊飲Assistant

Formula CategoryExterior-Releasing FormulasPrimary PatternWind-HeatPrimary FunctionDisperse Wind-Heat, stop coughRelated ConditionsCough·Dry Cough·Sore Throat·Fever

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Yin Qiao San

銀翹散Assistant

Formula CategoryExterior-Releasing FormulasPrimary PatternWind-HeatPrimary FunctionDisperse Wind-Heat, clear heat and relieve toxicityRelated ConditionsSore Throat·Fever·Cough·Dry Cough

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Herbs Commonly Combined with Lu Gen

Sang Ye Ju Hua Lian Qiao Bo He Jie Geng Xing Ren Gan Cao Jin Yin Hua Niu Bang Zi Dan Dou Chi Jing Jie Dan Zhu Ye

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Lu Gen? Are Xian Lu Gen, Wei Jing and Bai Mao Gen the same?

Official Lu Gen (芦根) is the fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis / P. australis. The pharmacopoeial name is Phragmitis Rhizoma. Xian Lu Gen (fresh) more clearly clears heat, generates fluid and stops vomiting; the dose is doubled or the rhizome is pounded for juice. Wei Jing is the aerial stem; classic Wei Jing Tang used the stem to clear the Lung and discharge pus—pharmacies now often substitute Lu Gen. Bai Mao Gen is Imperata rhizome: stronger to cool Blood, stop bleeding and clear heat while promoting urine. Write Lu Gen or Xian Lu Gen; do not swap in ornamental reed stalks or an equal weight of Imperata.

What are the TCM properties and traditional uses of Lu Gen?

According to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Lu Gen is sweet and cold, enters the Lung and Stomach channels, and acts to clear heat and drain fire, generate fluid and stop thirst, eliminate vexation, stop vomiting, and promote urination. It is used for febrile vexing thirst, Lung-heat cough, Lung abscess with expulsion of pus, Stomach-heat retching, and hot painful strangury. Sweet-cold, clearing and moistening without much bitter dryness—suited to Qi-aspect heat with fluid damage and thirst, not to Spleen-Stomach deficient cold or cold vomiting with loose stool.

How do fresh and dried Lu Gen differ? Is a special decoction needed?

Fresh rhizome is yellowish-white and glossy, hollow and juicy—stronger to clear heat, generate fluid and stop vomiting, and may be pounded for juice. Dried rhizome is flattened-cylindrical with hard nodes and longitudinal wrinkles—easier to store, slightly gentler. Cut segments go in the pot; first- or late-decoction is not needed. Keep fresh rhizome buried in damp sand; store dried rhizome dry. Do not use lots from polluted banks or pesticide ditches.

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Learn More About Lu Gen

Explore our in-depth article covering the traditional uses, properties, functions, and TCM context of Lu Gen.

Read the Lu Gen 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.