Where does Hanzhong Gastrodia elata come from?

Hanzhong Gastrodia elata, also known as Shaanxi Gastrodia elata, has a long history and is a famous specialty in Hanzhong, Shaanxi. Tied with Gastrodia elata from Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Lichuan, Hubei and Jilin as the six famous Gastrodia elata in China. China's earliest pharmaceutical monographs "Han Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing" and "Bielu of Famous Doctors" recorded that Gastrodia elata was produced in Chencang, Chuangu and Yongzhou. "Chencang and Yongzhou" are Fengxian, Taibai and Meixian in Baoji and Ningqiang, Mianxian and Liuba in Hanzhong. Historically, they have been sold all over the country, and some have been exported. Hanzhong has become the largest gastrodia elata production base in China, with an annual purchase volume of about 6.5438+0.5 million kilograms, ranking first in the country. Products are sold well in domestic provinces and exported to Japan, Southeast Asia and other places.

Gastrodia elata, the ancients said it was a divine medicine. Gastrodia elata, natural hemp, immortal sowing, mortal digging. Because its stem is red, it stands upright like an arrow shaft, and its common name is "Red Arrow". The aboveground part of Gastrodia elata is a purplish red seedling, which is also called "Dingfengcao" because it "does not move when there is wind, but shakes when there is no wind". Because it has little contact with the wind. The plant is hard, even if it encounters strong wind, the swing is not obvious; On the contrary, in windy and warm weather, the sun shines and the temperature rises, which makes the "red arrow" change from hard to soft and sway in the sun. This is called "headwind grass" in terms of ecological habits. From the pharmacodynamic analysis, it belongs to calming the liver and calming the wind, so it is very accurate to call Gastrodia elata as "headwind grass". There are many other names for it: Shen Jian, Shenma, Shencao, Dibao, Eremocha, Mingri Ma, Ghost Du You, Chijianzhi, Du Yaozhi, Water Duck Wood, Bailong Skin, Mountain Radish, Mountain Potato and so on. In addition, gastrodia elata seeds only have embryos and no endosperm, which are nourished by germinated bacteria. It has no roots, no green leaves, can not carry out photosynthesis, and can only grow on Armillaria mellea. When the tuber is ripe, a yellow-red stem emerges, and its growth process is very strange. It is difficult to find its trace on the ground at ordinary times, which adds to its mystery.

Gastrodia elata contains vanillin, vitamin A, various alkaloids, gastrodin, mucus, calcium, magnesium and other components, which plays an important role in the medicine altar. It is sweet in taste, mild in nature, non-toxic, beneficial to qi and nourishing the liver, and is mainly used to treat dizziness, numbness of limbs, calming the wind and calming the convulsion, hyperactivity of liver wind, convulsion, infantile convulsion, mouth and eyes askew, speech disorder and neurasthenia. In recent years, it has been found that it can treat hypertension, headache, insomnia, fatigue, rheumatism paralysis, hemiplegia, blood circulation of altitude pilots and other diseases, and can improve intelligence and memory. Long-term service can benefit qi, while intellectual fit can prolong life. Therefore, Gastrodia elata enjoys a high reputation at home and abroad, and it is a high-priced and best-selling medicinal material. Especially in the international market, China Gastrodia elata is more popular than Ginseng.