Coix seed (Yi Yi Ren) is a well-known medicinal food in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), praised for its rich nutritional value and referred to as the “king of cereal health supplements.” It is commonly used in daily life, often made into a porridge suitable for all ages, and has now become an important ingredient in … Read more
The complete Fu Ling (Poria) appears in round, oval, flat, or irregular clumps of varying sizes. The outer skin is thin, brownish or blackish-brown, rough, with wrinkles and constrictions, sometimes partially peeling off. It is solid in texture, with a granular fracture surface, light red near the edge, and small honeycomb-like holes, while the interior … Read more
1. Differences Between Saffron and Carthamus Saffron and Carthamus differ by just one character, often leading to confusion as the same medicinal substance. In fact, they belong to different plant families and have vastly different market prices. According to the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the summarized information is as follows: Saffron (Crocus sativus) … Read more
Identification of the Quality of Safflower (Honghua): 1. Observe the Origin The primary production area of safflower is in Xinjiang, where the safflower has a high content, good appearance, and is the most expensive. Yunnan safflower also meets the pharmacopoeia requirements, but has a lower content. 2. Examine the Appearance: Xinjiang safflower is relatively short … Read more
Identification of High-Quality Dan Shen (丹参): 1. Observe the morphology High-quality Dan Shen consists of multiple rhizomes that are relatively thick and short. 2. Observe the color It should be brick red or light red, with a surface that is not smooth and has many wrinkles. 3. Observe the cross-section The texture of Dan Shen … Read more
Bai Shao (白芍), also known as Jin Shao (金芍), is the root of the perennial herbaceous plant Paeonia lactiflora, belonging to the Ranunculaceae family, and is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. In the market, there are instances where the dried roots of a related plant, Paeonia veitchii, are sold as Bai Shao, so care … Read more