The medicine used to treat the prince in ancient times was so magical

Many Chinese medicines have legendary histories and discovery processes.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the king of Zheng had a 5-year-old son who was very intelligent and gifted, and was loved by the king. However, the most favored prince was born with a weak constitution and was particularly prone to catching colds, fevers, and sweating. The imperial physicians in the palace tried many methods, but none of them worked.

The king simply offered a large reward and posted a notice to seek medical advice, searching everywhere for a good medicine. Upon hearing the news, people from all over the country came one after another to recommend doctors and offer treasures, but most of them used various types of ginseng to nourish the prince, but not many of them were effective.

One day, a white-haired old man took down the notice and offered medicine, stating that he was not asking for any reward, but only wishing for peace for the country and good health for the prince. After the king heard the old woman's statement, he said to her, "Although your sincerity is commendable, you are also worried that the medicine will not work, which is a crime of deceiving the king."

The white-haired old man smiled and said, "The prince is too young and his body is too tender to withstand strong tonics. He needs to replenish his body gradually. I have a medicine that will definitely work if you take it for a hundred days."

So the imperial physician followed the old man's instructions and asked the prince to take this thin, yellowish-white grass root. Three months later, the originally thin prince became plump and was no longer ill.

Only then did the king fully believe what the old man said. The king was so delighted that he promoted the prince to the title of crown prince and looked everywhere for rewards for the old man, but he could no longer find the white-haired old man.

The king asked what the medicine was called, but no one knew. The ministers suggested: “This medicine is like ginseng in that it is tonifying and can cure the prince’s illness, so we should call it Prince’s Ginseng.” Thus, the good name of “Prince’s Ginseng” spread.

When examining famous historical medical works, we find that they are not quite as described in the stories. The earliest reference to Prince ginseng was to the Araliaceae plant Panax ginseng, which refers to a particularly small ginseng.

"Bencao Congxin": Although Prince ginseng is as thin as ginseng strips, short, tight and solid, with reed texture, its power is not inferior to that of large ginseng. There are also relevant discussions in books such as "Bencao Congxin", "Gangmu Shiyi" and "Xincan Yinpian".

It is possible that the medicinal material merchants at that time changed the small ginseng into a nice new name in order to sell it at a good price. As history changes, the varieties of Pseudostellaria heterophylla have also evolved. The authentic one is the tuberous root of the Caryophyllaceae plant Styrax heterophylla. Although it also has a nourishing effect, its strength is mild and weak.

Prince ginseng is also known as baby ginseng, child ginseng, double-leaf ginseng, four-leaf ginseng, and rice ginseng. It is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Shandong and other places. The best ones are those with thick stripes, yellow-white color and no roots.

Radix Pseudostellariae is sweet and slightly bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and benefits the spleen and lungs. It can invigorate qi and strengthen the spleen, produce body fluid and moisten the lungs. It is used for spleen deficiency, insufficient stomach yin, spleen deficiency and fatigue, loss of appetite, weakness after illness, insufficient qi and yin, spontaneous sweating and thirst, dry cough due to lung dryness, palpitations and insomnia, and excessive sweating due to deficiency heat.

It is suitable for children with prolonged fever, poor appetite, lung deficiency, cough, palpitations and other weak symptoms in summer, as well as weakness, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, and cough after illness. For lung noise and dry cough, you can boil Prince Edward and lily in water and drink it; for spontaneous sweating due to spleen deficiency, you can boil Prince Edward and floating wheat and astragalus in water and drink it.

"Bencao Zaixin": Treats qi deficiency and lung dryness, replenishes spleen and earth, eliminates edema, resolves phlegm and quenches thirst.

"New Additions to Medicinal Pieces": Nourishes the spleen and lung vital energy, stops sweating and produces body fluid, and calms palpitations.

Ingredients: 1 free-range chicken, 8 grams of Prince ginseng, a small amount of salt, onion, ginger, and cooking wine.

Method: Cut the chicken into pieces and blanch it, change the water, stew it with the Radix Pseudostellariae, add onion, ginger and cooking wine, stew until cooked through, add appropriate amount of salt before serving

Efficacy: Nourishes qi and stomach, nourishes yin and blood. Suitable for women or children, those who are weak after illness, and for tonic in autumn and winter.