How to identify the quality of Panax notoginseng

In fact, we rarely come into contact with herbal medicine in our lives. When purchasing herbal medicines, people usually go to professional Chinese medicine hospitals to buy them. Therefore, we do not have the relevant knowledge to identify medicinal materials. However, for Chinese medicine practitioners, it is necessary to master skills in this area, especially some commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs. So, how do Chinese medicine doctors identify the quality of Panax notoginseng? In fact, there are many techniques.

The first tip is to try to buy the whole ones instead of the powder ones. Grinding Panax notoginseng into powder makes it easier to brew and drink, and it can also save money, but powdered Panax notoginseng is also easier to adulterate, so it is best to buy the whole thing and then take it to a pharmacy to grind it into powder. The general charge for grinding the powder is only about 10 yuan.

The second trick is to try to choose large ones. People in the medicinal material industry call it the number of heads, which actually means the number of 500 grams. The larger the head, the better the medicinal effect.

The third tip is to try to choose plump ones. When buying Panax notoginseng, choose those with plump appearance. The shriveled ones are usually inventory or have been refined. The ones with many wrinkles may also have seeds, and the effect will be compromised.

The fourth tip is to make sure it is dry enough. When choosing Panax notoginseng, you should choose those that are dry enough and you should not feel any obvious moisture when you touch them. Otherwise, you will lose money if you buy them and they will also be difficult to store.

How to eat Panax notoginseng: eating it raw means soaking it in warm water, which has the function of activating blood circulation; eating it cooked means using it to make soup, which has the function of replenishing blood. Therefore, we must distinguish them clearly and not confuse them.

It is mainly produced in the counties of Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan, including Wenshan County, Yanshan County, Maguan, Xichou, Guangnan, Malipo, Funing, Qiubei, etc. It is also grown in Tianyang, Jingxi, Tiandong, Debao and other places in Guangxi. Wenshan Prefecture in Yunnan has a long history, large output and good quality. It is commonly known as "Wen Sanqi" and "Tianqi" and is a famous local medicinal material.

Physiological characteristics

1. The main root is conical or cylindrical, 1 to 6 cm long and 1 to 4 cm in diameter. The surface is gray-brown or gray-yellow, with intermittent longitudinal wrinkles and root marks. There is a stem scar at the top and tumor-like protrusions around it. Heavy and solid, with gray-green, yellow-green or gray-white cross-section and the wood is slightly radially arranged. Slight smell, bitter taste with sweet aftertaste.

2. The ribs are cylindrical or conical, 2 to 6 cm long, with a diameter of about 0.8 cm at the upper end and about 0.3 cm at the lower end.

3. The cut is in irregular wrinkled blocks or strips, with several obvious stem marks and ring marks on the surface. The center of the cross section is gray-green or white, and the edges are dark green or gray.