Anemarrhena rhizome is often used for infectious conditions, high fever with extreme thirst, coughing due to lung heat, hot flush, diabetes and constipation.^[2],[3]

• Anemarrhena rhizome clears heat and purges fire
  Anemarrhena rhizome specializes in clearing heat in the lungs and stomach. Infectious conditions presenting with high fever, profuse sweating, extreme thirst, irritability, surging pulse and yellow tongue coating are often diagnosed in this type of disharmony. Anemarrhena rhizome can work with gypsum to clear heat in the second defense level of the body. A representative formula is the White Tiger Decoction (bai hu tang).
• Anemarrhena rhizome purges lung heat and keeps it moist
  Coughing due to lung heat usually accompanied with sticky yellow phlegm, which can be treated by anemarrhena rhizome along with paniculate bolbostemma rhizome, baical skullcap root, and white mulberry root-bark. Dry coughing due to yin deficiency tends to produce less phlegm or have difficulty in expelling phlegm, physicians will use anemarrhena rhizome to combine with other yin nourishing herbs like glehnia root, dwarf lily-turf tuber, unibract fritillary bulb to arrest coughing and dissolve the phlegm.
• Anemarrhena rhizome nourishes yin and checks virtual fire
  Internal damages developed in yin deficiency may present with persistent mild fever, bone pain, hot flush, seminal emission, night sweat and restless, anemarrhena rhizome can work with amur corktree bark to arrest the heat signs. The herb can also be combined with other yin nourishing ingredients such as rehmannia root, figwort root, and blackened swallowwort root to exert a stronger effect in yin nourishment, a representative formula for this is the Rehmannia Pill Plus Anemarrhena and Corktree Bark.
• Anemarrhena rhizome promotes fluid production and quenches thirst
  Persistent feverish conditions may impair body fluid metabolism and result in excessive drinking, anemarrhena rhizome can work with snakegourd root and kudzu root for the condition. Hard stools due to intestinal dryness can be relieved by anemarrhena rhizome combining with fleece flower root (unprocessed), angelica root and hemp seed. Excessive drinking, eating and urination are typical symptoms in diabetes that TCM often links it to body fluid disturbances; anemarrhena rhizome is a usual ingredient in the treatment. Other herbs like gypsum, wolfberry root-bark, dwarf lily-turf tuber or schisandra is often paired with anemarrhena rhizome. In addition, liquorice root, astragalus root or Chinese yam can be paired with anemarrhena rhizome for better control of the blood sugar levels.
• Anemarrhena rhizome can treat poor sleep or irritability due to yin and blood deficiencies. The herb usually works with sour jujube seed and dried lily bulb.
  
  For modern TCM, anemarrhena rhizome is an important herb for diabetic conditions. It is also used to reduce fever, reduce hormonal dosage in immune diseases and treat chronic infections in the lungs.

Studies showed that anemarrhena rhizome has effects in anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, reducing body temperature, expelling phlegm, reducing blood sugar, promoting urination, anti-cortical hormone, anti-tumor, promoting bile secretion, inhibiting platelet agglutination, anti-aging, antioxidant, regulating vascular endothelial cells and immune functions.^{[2],[5],[6],[7]}