Dì Yú (地榆) — Garden burnet root / Sanguisorba root

On this page

1. Overview
2. Properties
3. Actions and indications
4. Key formulas
5. Modern research
6. Cautions and contraindications
7. Treatment at my clinic

1. Overview

Dì Yú (地榆) — Sanguisorba officinalis — is known in English as Garden burnet root / Sanguisorba root. It belongs to the category of Herbs that stop bleeding in the Chinese Materia Medica and is used in Chinese herbal medicine as a component of classical herbal formulas and tailored prescriptions.

I prescribe Dì Yú as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan. Herbs are always combined with other herbs selected to match the patient’s individual TCM pattern. Online consultations are available for patients who cannot attend my clinic in person.

2. Properties

3. Actions and indications

Principal actions

1. Cools Blood and stops bleeding — primarily for lower body bleeding
2. Resolves toxicity and promotes healing of burns and wounds (topical)
3. A primary herb for rectal bleeding, haemorrhoids and bloody diarrhoea
4. Astringes and stops diarrhoea and dysentery

Indications

1. Haemorrhoids with rectal bleeding — the primary herb
2. Bloody diarrhoea and dysentery from Damp-Heat
3. Uterine bleeding and menorrhagia from Blood Heat
4. Burns — one of the most important topical herbs for burns and scalds
5. Ulcerative colitis and inflammatory bowel conditions with bleeding

4. Key formulas containing Dì Yú

Dì Yú is frequently used as a single-herb treatment or incorporated into individualised prescriptions tailored to the patient’s specific TCM pattern.

See the full Chinese herbal medicine formula directory for detailed information on all 70 classical formulas.

5. Modern research

Sanguisorba officinalis (Di Yu) is widely used in both Chinese and Western herbal traditions, particularly for inflammatory bowel conditions and wound healing. Key bioactive constituents include tannins (sanguiin, agrimoniin), saponins (sanguisorbin), flavonoids and phenolic acids. Research confirms significant haemostatic properties (promoting platelet aggregation and vascular constriction), potent anti-inflammatory effects relevant to IBD, antibacterial and antifungal activity, wound healing-promoting effects (tannins promote tissue contraction), and anti-cancer activity. Di Yu cream is used in Chinese hospitals as the standard topical treatment for burns — clinical trials confirm significant reduction in pain, infection rate and healing time compared to silver sulfadiazine.

6. Cautions and contraindications

Avoid in large amounts in Cold and deficiency patterns without Heat. The astringent tannins may cause constipation in large doses. External burns preparations use the calcined (charred) form Duan Di Yu for stronger haemostatic and drying action.

Important: Chinese herbs should always be prescribed by a fully qualified herbalist who is a member of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Never self-prescribe Chinese herbs without professional guidance. Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto is a member of the RCHM with over 25 years of clinical experience.

7. Treatment at my clinic

I prescribe Dì Yú as part of tailored herbal formulas for a range of conditions including Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease. Every prescription is individually formulated following a full TCM assessment and adjusted throughout treatment as the pattern responds.

I see patients in person at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire. Online Chinese herbal medicine consultations are available throughout the UK and internationally. Visit the prices page for consultation fees.

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