Why is artificially grown ginseng not as nutritious as wild ginseng?

Different growth environments:

1. Wild ginseng absorbs the essence of the sun and moon and overcomes the harsh environment in the wild to survive and develop. It is said that ginseng can run underground;

2. Artificial ginseng is grown in greenhouses, with limited nutrients in the soil, grown in batches, and has uneven internal quality levels; so the difference is really big. Artificially grown ginseng is definitely not as nutritious as wild ginseng

Ginseng (scientific name: Panax ginseng, also known as Asian ginseng, native name "Bangchui" in Northeast China) is a fleshy root that can be used medicinally. Ginseng belongs to the Araliaceae family and is mainly grown in East Asia, especially in cold regions. Ginseng is a common medicinal material in Asia, and American ginseng is also widely used in North and Central America. Various ginseng pieces and extract health products can be found in many herbal shops and supermarkets, which are used for recovery, strengthening physical strength, regulating hormones, lowering blood sugar and controlling blood pressure. , control liver index and liver function health care, etc. The saponins contained in ginseng roots are its active ingredients. Wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain in China has higher saponin content, but it is difficult to obtain and the price is high.

Species Introduction

Endangered species. Ginseng is a relict plant from the Tertiary Period. It belongs to the Araliaceae family and is a perennial herb with a stem height of about 40~50cm and whorled palmate compound leaves. Small yellow-green flowers bloom in early summer, with single terminal inflorescences and oblate fruits. It is also a precious Chinese medicinal material and one of the "Three Treasures of the Northeast". It has a long history of medicinal use in China. For a long time, due to over-exploitation and depletion of resources, the forest ecological environment on which ginseng depends for survival has been severely damaged. Therefore, the Central Plains production areas represented by Shanxi Araliaceae "Shangdang Shen" include southern Shanxi, southern Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. Ginseng in the West and other places has long been extinct. At present, Northeastern ginseng is also on the verge of extinction. Therefore, protecting the natural resources of this species is of great significance.

Ginseng has been listed as a national rare and endangered protected plant, and has been protected in nature reserves such as Changbai Mountain. Other distribution areas should also be protected and mining should be strictly prohibited so that ginseng resources can be gradually restored and increased. It has been widely cultivated in the three northeastern provinces, and has recently been introduced in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and other provinces.

Ginseng is a plant of the Araliaceae family and is a close relative of famous medicinal plants such as Panax notoginseng and American ginseng. Wild ginseng has relatively high requirements for the growth environment. It is heat-resistant, afraid of drought and sun, and requires loose, fertile soil, moist and cool air, so it mostly grows in the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests of Changbai Mountain at an altitude of 500 to 1,000 meters. Every July and August is the ginseng flowering season. The purple-white flowers produce bright red berries, which is very attractive. Wild ginseng grows very slowly in deep mountains. The roots of wild ginseng that are 60 to 100 years old only weigh a few dozen grams. In 1989, farmers in Fusong County picked up a "King Ginseng" tree in Changbai Mountain that weighed 305 grams and was estimated to have grown underground for 500 years. This "King Ginseng" is the largest wild ginseng harvested in my country so far, and has been purchased and preserved by the country as a "national treasure". [1]

my country has begun to cultivate ginseng artificially since the Tang Dynasty. Artificially cultivated garden ginseng is currently cultivated in large quantities in Northeast China, Hebei, Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Hubei and other provinces and regions. Under careful artificial management, cultivated ginseng can be harvested in 6 years, but in terms of medicinal value or rarity, it seems that it cannot be compared with the century-old wild ginseng. Wild ginseng is harvested in large quantities and has become increasingly rare. Wild ginseng is on the verge of extinction. This "king of traditional Chinese medicine" and "grass that can cure all diseases", together with precious plants such as metasequoia, silver fir, and cypress, has been listed as a first-level national key protected plant in my country.

Collapse and edit this paragraph Morphological characteristics

Perennial herb; main root is fleshy, cylindrical or spindle-shaped, fibrous roots are slender; rhizome (reed head) is short, with stem marks ( Reed bowl) and buds; stems solitary, upright, apex acuminate, edges serrated, sparsely covered with setae along the midrib. The umbel is terminal and the flowers are small; the flowers are bell-shaped, with 5 teeth; the petals are 5, light yellow-green;. Stamens 5, filaments short, anthers globose; ovary inferior, 2-chambered, style 1, stigma 2-lobed. Berry-like drupe, oblate spherical or kidney-shaped, bright red when mature; 2 seeds, oblate, yellow-white.

Collapse and edit this paragraph's growth habits

It likes cold and humid climates, avoids direct sunlight, and has strong cold resistance. The seeds can be dried and stored in the shade. The seed embryos have morphological after-ripening and physiological after-ripening characteristics; the former requires a temperature change of 20-10°C, and the latter requires a low temperature of 2-4°C, which takes 3-4 months each. There are no seeds that have completed post-ripening. Cannot germinate. It has strict soil requirements and should be cultivated in sandy loam and humus loam rich in organic matter and good permeability. Continuous cropping is avoided.

Collapse and edit this section distribution area

Most grow between 40 and 45 degrees north latitude, with an average temperature of -23~5℃ in January and 20~26℃ in July. It has strong cold tolerance and can withstand low temperatures of -40°C. The suitable growth temperature is 15~25°C, the annual accumulated temperature is 2000~3000°C, the frost-free period is 125~150 days, the snow cover is 20~44 cm, and the annual precipitation is 500~1000 mm. The soil is well-drained, loose, fertile, brown forest soil with a deep humus layer or mountainous grayish brown forest soil, with a pH value of 5.5~6.2. It mostly grows under mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests or deciduous broad-leaved forests dominated by Korean pine, with a canopy density of 0.7~0.8. Ginseng usually blooms in 3 years and bears fruit in 5 to 6 years. The flowering period is from May to June and the fruiting period is from June to September.

Geographical distribution: Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Hebei (Wulinshan, Dushan), Shanxi, Hubei.

Collapse and edit this section Cultivation Technology

Cultivation Technology

Mainly use seeds for propagation. For germination, mix 1 part of seeds with 3 parts of river sand, and spray the soil surface with 600-800 times of new high-fat film to increase the germination rate. Then put it into a germination box and place it in a suitable place indoors or outdoors for germination. Pay attention to frequent inspections for tipping, and control the temperature and humidity for sowing. Jilin Fusong often sows dry seeds in late June (dry seeds were collected from the previous year). Transplant, spring or autumn. Spring planting should be done in mid-to-late April, before the overwintering buds sprout; autumn planting should be done in mid-to-late October, before the soil freezes. Plant as you go, generally according to the spacing between rows and plants (15-30) cm × (6-12) cm, planted flat or diagonally, and covered with soil 5-9cm. Sheds can be divided into full-shade sheds, double-transparent sheds, single-transparent sheds or double-transparent greenhouses, which can be selected according to climate, soil quality and terrain conditions.

Field management

Cover the border with crushed straw or semi-rotted fallen leaves after emergence, loosen the soil and weed, usually 3-5 times a year to prevent soil hardening and eliminate weeds To remove diseased plants, cultivate the soil and support the seedlings. For top dressing, apply organic fertilizer to the root side of the ditch. Thin out flowers and pick buds, and leave them for planting fields. In the early flowering stage, thin out 1/3-1/2 of the flower buds in the middle of the inflorescence; in production fields, pick all buds before flowering. To protect against cold during the winter, the border surface should be earthed up or covered with fallen leaves before freezing, with a thickness of 5-15cm. Set up windproof barriers in the four areas of the border or at the wind outlets to prevent freezing damage.

Notes

After preparing the ground for planting, spray the soil surface with a new high-fat film to isolate the sources of diseases and insect pests and improve the emergence rate. After emergence, the soil is loosened and weeded to eliminate weeds and diseased plants, the soil is cultivated and top-dressed, the flowers are thinned and buds are removed, and the medicinal root root is sprayed on the leaves to make the rhizomes expand rapidly and the medicinal content is greatly improved. Strengthen the comprehensive control of pests and diseases and spray new high-lipid films to enhance the control effect.

Collapse and edit this section Traditional Chinese Medicine Value

The reason why ginseng is very rare and valuable is mainly related to its medicinal value. In the very early medical book "Shen Nong's Materia Medica", it is believed that ginseng has the effect of "tonifying the five internal organs, calming the spirit, calming the soul, stopping panic, eliminating evil spirits, improving eyesight, happiness and improving intelligence", and "long-term use can lighten the body and prolong life". Li Shizhen also highly praised ginseng in "Compendium of Materia Medica", believing that it can "treat all deficiencies in men and women." For thousands of years, ginseng has been classified as a "top grade" in Chinese herbal medicine. In addition, ginseng has a unique shape, especially wild old wild ginseng, which often has a human shape, that is, it has a head (rhizome, commonly known as reed head), a body (tap root), shoulders (the upper part of the root), and legs ( root) and fibrous roots, which gave rise to various mysteries, the so-called "ginseng essence" and "ginseng doll", and many touching stories were compiled.

The effects of ginseng on strengthening the body, prolonging life and prolonging life are indeed real. Modern medical research and laboratory analysis have shown that ginseng contains a chemical substance called ginsenoside, which has obvious effects on regulating the central nervous system, strengthening the heart, resisting fatigue, regulating material metabolism, etc., so it is good for treating the nervous system. It has a good therapeutic effect on many diseases of the cardiovascular system, endocrine system and reproductive system.

Overview of folded medicinal materials

It is the dried root of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, a plant of Araliaceae.

Cultivated ginseng is called "garden ginseng"; wild ginseng is called "mountain ginseng"; those sown and grown naturally in the wild state are also called "forest ginseng", commonly known as "forest ginseng". Seed Sea". It is mostly collected in autumn and washed; garden ginseng is sun-dried or oven-dried, and is called "raw sun-dried ginseng"; fresh roots are punctured with needles, soaked in sugar water and dried in the sun, called "sugar ginseng"; mountain ginseng is sun-dried. , called "raw sun-dried wild ginseng". After steaming and drying, it is called "red ginseng". Red ginseng: Steam with high-temperature steam for 2 hours until fully cooked. After drying, remove the ginseng whiskers and press into irregular square columns. Efficacy: Warming and tonic. White ginseng: Use Korean ginseng that is short and inferior in quality. Boil it in boiling water for a while and then dry it in the sun. Efficacy: mild in nature.

Origin

(1) Wild ginseng: The production is rare and it is mainly found occasionally in the Changbai Mountains and Xiaoxinan Mountains. Rarely found in North Korea and the Russian Far East.

(2) Forest ginseng and garden ginseng: Mainly produced in Jilin, China; also produced in Huanren, Xinbin, Fengcheng, Tieling, Fushun and other places in Liaoning; Tieli, Yichun, and Dong in Heilongjiang It is also produced in Ningxia, Mudanjiang and other places.

Collection and Processing

Garden ginseng: plucked raw between September and October. If it is more than 5-6 years old, the stems, leaves and soil are removed and processed into different products. Wild ginseng: Excavated from May to September, remove the roots and fibrous roots and clean the soil.

Processing

Remove the reed heads and cut into thin slices.

Folding properties of medicinal materials

Raw sun-dried ginseng: The main root is spindle-shaped or cylindrical, 3 to 15 cm long and 1 to 2 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-yellow, with sparse and intermittent thick horizontal lines and obvious longitudinal wrinkles on the upper part or the whole part. There are 2 to 3 branches on the lower part, and there are many slender fibrous roots. There are often small and unobvious warts on the fibrous roots. protuberance. The rhizome (reed head) is 1 to 4 cm long and 0.3 to 1.5 cm in diameter. It is mostly spasmodic and curved, with adventitious roots and sparse pit-like stem marks (reed bowl, only one grows per year). The texture is relatively hard, the cross-section is light yellowish-white, pinkish-yellow, the cambium annulus is brownish-yellow, and the skin has yellowish-brown dotted resin channels and radial fissures. The aroma is specific and the taste is slightly bitter and sweet.

Raw and sun-dried wild ginseng: the main root and rhizome are as long or shorter, commonly known as neck reed, and are herringbone, rhombus or cylindrical, 2 to 10cm long. The surface is grayish-yellow, with vertical lines, and there are tight and deep circular horizontal lines on the upper end, commonly known as "iron lines". There are mostly 2 supporting roots, and the fibrous roots are slender, clear and not messy, with obvious wart-like protrusions. It is commonly called "pearl knot" and the fibrous roots are called "pearl whiskers". The rhizome is slender, with dense stem scars on the upper part, and the adventitious roots are thicker and shaped like jujube pits, commonly known as "jujube pits". The overall characteristics can be classified as follows: reeds with long bowls, dense jujube cores, and tight skin with fine lines and pearl whiskers.

Folding ginseng classification

Species classification

One is the root of the Araliaceae plant ginseng; the other is the root of the Araliaceae plant American ginseng.

Classification of processed traditional Chinese medicine

Raw and sun-dried ginseng, red ginseng, wild ginseng and American ginseng

Classification of origin

According to the origin of ginseng, ginseng can be It is divided into: Jilin ginseng, Korean ginseng (also known as: Korean ginseng, other direct ginseng), and American ginseng.

Efficacy classification

Ginseng: Red ginseng is the most common, and its performance is similar to that of red ginseng, but its effect is smaller and milder.

Raw and sun-dried ginseng: relatively mild in nature, neither warm nor dry, it can replenish qi and promote body fluids. It is suitable for strengthening the body, dispelling evil, and enhancing physical fitness and disease resistance.

White ginseng (sugar ginseng): Korean ginseng, which is short and inferior in quality, is mostly used. The fresh roots are boiled in boiling water for a while, pricked with needles, soaked in sugar juice, and then dried in the sun.

Efficacy of white ginseng (sugar ginseng): the mildest in nature, relatively small in efficacy, suitable for strengthening the spleen and lungs.

Wild ginseng: It has no warming or drying properties and is a great tonic for vitality. It is the top-grade ginseng. However, it has few resources and is expensive, so it is rarely used.

Red ginseng: Steam with high-temperature steam for 2 hours until fully cooked. After drying, remove the ginseng whiskers and press into irregular square columns. Effects of red ginseng: Warming and tonic. Qi replenishing has strong and warm properties, is good at invigorating Yang Qi, and is suitable for first aid to restore Yang.

Organic ginseng: no pesticide residues, no chemical fertilizers, and no genetically modified organisms. The ingredients and effects of ginseng are retained to the greatest extent.

Identification of folded medicinal materials

(1) Cross section of this product: The cork layer is a sequence of cells. The cortex is narrow. There are fissures on the outside of the phloem, and the parenchyma cells on the inside are densely arranged, with scattered resin channels containing yellow secretions. The cambium forms rings. The xylem has broad rays, and the vessels are scattered singly or in several clusters, arranged intermittently in a radial pattern, and there are occasional non-lignified fibers next to the vessels. Parenchyma cells contain calcium oxalate clusters.

Raw sun-dried ginseng powder is light yellowish white. Resin tract fragments are easily visible, containing yellow lumpy secretions. Calcium oxalate cluster crystals have a diameter of 20 to 68 μm and sharp edges and corners. Cork cells are square or polygonal, with thin walls and fine wavy curves. The diameter of reticulated and ladder-shaped conduits is 10~56μm. There are many starch granules, single granules are spherical, semicircular or irregular polygonal, with a diameter of 4 to 20 μm, and umbilical dots or cracks; complex granules are composed of 2 to 6 sub-granules.

(2) Take 1g of the powder, add 40ml of chloroform, heat and reflux for 1 hour, discard the chloroform solution, evaporate the solvent from the residue, add 0.5mkl of water, mix well and moisten, then add water-saturated n-butanol. 10ml, use the lower solution of imitation-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (15:40:22:10) placed below 10℃ as the developing agent, unfold, take out, dry, spray with 10% sulfuric acid ethanol solution, at 105℃ Heat until the spots are clearly colored and inspect them under sunlight and ultraviolet light (365nm). In the chromatogram of the test product, spots or fluorescent spots of the same color appear respectively at the positions corresponding to the chromatogram of the reference medicinal material; at the positions corresponding to the chromatogram of the reference substance, the same three purple-red spots appear under sunlight and under ultraviolet light. (365nm), the same yellow and two orange fluorescent spots are displayed.

Identification of folded wild ginseng

Wild ginseng grows in mountain coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests or mixed wood forests, mainly in Changbai Mountain and Xiaoxinan Mountains. At present, wild ginseng is very rare. The price of wild ginseng varies greatly depending on the year and size. An expensive wild ginseng can be sold for tens of thousands of yuan. Be careful when purchasing wild ginseng.

(1) Beard: long beard, old and tough, sparse and long, with small millet-like bumps on it, which are called "pearl points". Those that are white in color and tender and crispy (commonly known as water whiskers) are not pure wild ginseng.

(2) Reed: The reed is longer and divided into two-section reed, three-section reed, line reed and wild goose-neck reed.

(3) Skin: old skin, yellowish brown, tight and shiny. If the skin is tender and white, it is not pure wild ginseng.

(4) Grain: On the upper shoulder of the hair root, there are fine and deep screw-like horizontal grains. Those with rough, shallow and inconsistent horizontal lines are not pure wild ginseng.

(5) Body: refers to the hairy root

Folding legend of traditional Chinese medicine

The legend about the name of ginseng

Ginseng is called " "King of Herbs" is one of the famous "Three Treasures of the Northeast" (ginseng, mink, and deer antler). It is a precious medicinal material well-known at home and abroad and known to all ages. There is an interesting story about ginseng, which the editor of Kangmei Chinese Medicine Network will tell you:

It is said that one day in late autumn, two brothers were going to the mountains to hunt. The kind-hearted old man advised them not to go into the mountains because it was going to snow soon! If the mountain is closed, you won't be able to get down! But because of their youth and strength, they refused to listen to the old man's advice. They took their bows, arrows, knives and forks and went hunting in the mountains.

After entering the mountains, the two brothers indeed hunted a lot of wild animals. As they continued to hunt their prey, it began to snow, and soon the mountains were covered with snow. The two had no choice but to hide in a cave. In addition to burning wild animals in the cave, they also dig some wild plants next to the cave to satisfy their hunger and improve their taste. They found something that looked like a humanoid and tasted very sweet, so they dug up a lot of it and ate it as fruit. Soon, they discovered that although they felt strong after eating this kind of food, nosebleeds would occur if they ate too much of it. For this reason, they only eat a little bit every day and dare not eat more. Sometimes when the weather cleared up, they would walk through the thick snow and hunt for wild animals nearby. In a blink of an eye, winter turned to spring, the ice and snow melted, and the two brothers returned home happily, carrying many prey on their shoulders.

The people in the village felt strange when they saw that they were still alive and white and fat, so they asked them what they had eaten in the mountains. They briefly introduced their experiences and showed everyone some plant roots they brought back. The villagers saw that this thing looked like a human being, but they didn't know its name. A respected elder with white beard smiled and said: "It looks like a human being, and you two brothers survived thanks to its help." Call it 'life'!"

Later, people changed the name of "life" to "ginseng".