The difference between whole angelica and angelica

There is no doubt that angelica is a food with powerful health-care effects. In real life, many people like to eat angelica for health. There are many ways to eat angelica. There are many varieties and categories of angelica on the market. The most common classification is whole angelica and angelica sinensis. So what is the difference between the two? How to identify angelica? What are the issues that need to be paid attention to when purchasing? This article will give you the answer.

Is Angelica Gui the root of the body?

The angelica we often refer to is the whole angelica, and angelica body refers to only the middle part of angelica. The surface of the angelica root is yellow-brown to brown-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and long horizontal pores. It is the main part of the angelica root. In traditional Chinese medicine, the angelica root is believed to be a blood tonic, with the effects of nourishing blood, activating blood circulation, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, and moistening the intestines and facilitating bowel movements [1]. The angelica from Minxian County is of the best quality and is known as the "Angelica City of China".

Angelica is a perennial herb. Stems purple. The basal leaves and leaves on the lower part of the stem are ovate, 2-3 times ternate or pinnately divided, the final segment is ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 3 shallowly lobed, with white fine hairs on the veins and edges; the petiole has a large leaf sheath; the leaves on the upper part of the stem are pinnately divided. Compound umbel; 9-13 scallops; 2-4 involucral bracts; 12-36 pedicels, densely covered with fine hairs; white flowers. The double-hanging fruit is oval, with wings on the side ridges. The flowering and fruiting period is from July to September.

The root is slightly cylindrical, with 3 to 5 or more lateral roots at the bottom, 15 to 25 cm long. The surface is yellow-brown to tan, with longitudinal wrinkles and long transverse lenticels. The root head (guitou) is 1.5 to 4 cm in diameter, with annular marks, blunt upper end, and purple or yellow-green stem and sheath residues; the main root (guishen) has an uneven surface; the branch root (guitai) is 0.3 to 1 cm in diameter, thick on the top and thin on the bottom, mostly twisted, with a few traces of fibrous roots. The texture is flexible, with yellow-white or light yellow-brown cross section, thick cortex with cracks and numerous brown dot-like secretory cavities, lighter wood, and yellow-brown cambium ring. It has a rich aroma and tastes sweet, spicy and slightly bitter. Those that are woody, dry and oilless, or have a green-brown cross-section cannot be used for medicinal purposes.

What is the difference between guishen and angelica

Angelica is divided into three parts: the head (or reed head), the body, and the tail, which refer to the upper, middle, and lower parts of the angelica root respectively. The head is the junction of the rhizome, which is thicker and has the highest price. The body is the main root part, and the tail is the secondary root. It depends on your usage. The upper, middle, and lower parts of angelica correspond to the upper, middle, and lower parts of the human body. For example, it is better to choose the tail for gynecological diseases, and choose the head for neurasthenia, and the prices also correspond to the upper, middle, and lower parts.

How to Identify Angelica

Angelica is the dried root of the Umbelliferae plant Angelica sinensis. This medicine can both relieve blood stasis and replenish blood deficiency. It can make Qi and blood flow properly, hence the name Angelica sinensis. Angelica is very popular in the Chinese medicine market, so how to distinguish the quality of Angelica? The methods of distinguishing Angelica are as follows:

1. Select the type first

Don't choose angelica powder easily. It's best to choose whole angelica. It's difficult for ordinary people to distinguish the quality of angelica powder with the naked eye, and the powder is also easily mixed with impurities. If you want to choose angelica powder, it is best to go to a reputable hospital pharmacy, or buy good angelica and grind it into powder yourself.

2. Look at the location

Angelica can be divided into angelica head, angelica body, angelica tail and whole angelica. The effects and functions of different parts are also different. Angelica head is mainly used to promote blood circulation. Therefore, you should use more Angelica head when you need to promote blood circulation. Angelica dahurica is mainly used to replenish blood and nourish blood, so it can be used to regulate menstruation in women. The effect and function of angelica root is to break up blood, that is, to disperse blood stasis. The effect and function of whole angelica is that it can both nourish blood and activate blood circulation. Of course, doctors nowadays generally do not distinguish so much, but if you go to a pharmacy to buy angelica for blood tonic, the effect may be better if you use less angelica root. The simplest way is to have fewer whiskers, a thicker head, and a thicker rhizome.

3. Look at the color and smell the odor

Angelica is generally 10-20 cm long, with yellow-brown to dark brown skin and yellow-white or light yellow-brown cross-section. The best ones are those with thick, long, plump, oily taproots, yellow-brown skin, yellow-white cross-section, and strong aroma. If the cut surface or surface is green-brown, it has become damp and deteriorated and should not be used. The better the angelica is, the one with more volatile oil, so the one with a stronger smell is better. In particular, some unscrupulous merchants boil the entire angelica, Gastrodia elata and other medicinal materials before selling them or leave them in a damp environment for too long. The volatile oil content of such angelica is low, so those with a strong smell are better.

4. Less impurities

The so-called less impurities means less dirt, dust and other things.

5. Storage

In addition to volatile oils, angelica also contains sucrose, which easily absorbs water and becomes moldy and discolored. Therefore, when buying sliced ​​angelica, pay attention to the yellow-white color of the surface. If the color is too dark, it may be oily or stale. Before storage, dry the angelica in the sun, keep it in a cool and dry place and check it regularly.