Codonopsis radix is an oval or round-like thick slice, with a yellowish-brown or grayish-yellow surface, yellowish-white or yellowish-brown facets, fissures or chrysanthemum patterns, and a pale yellow center. The periphery is pale yellowish white and yellowish brown, with longitudinal wrinkles. It has a special aroma and a slightly sweet taste. Raw Codonopsis tablets are good for qi and strength. It is often used for two injuries or two losses of qi and blood.
It is produced in the mountainous forest edges and shrubs at an altitude of 1560-3100 meters above sea level in northern China. There are about 40 species of Codonopsis plants in the world, about 39 species in China, 21 species and 4 varieties for medicinal use. Codonopsis is a commonly used traditional tonic medicine, and in ancient times, Codonopsis ginseng produced in the Shangdang area of Shanxi Province was the top grade, which has the ability to nourish the qi and strengthen the spleen and lungs.
Morphological characteristics of Codonopsis
The base of the stem has many nodulous stem marks, the roots are often hypertrophied and spindle-shaped cylindrical, less branched or slightly branched below the middle, 15-30 cm long, 1-3 cm in diameter, gray-yellow on the surface, and the upper end of 5-10 cm has fine rings.
The stem is about 1-2 m long, 2-4 mm in diameter, mostly branched, lateral branches 15-50 cm, branchlets 1-5 cm, leafy, sterile or anterior with flowers, yellow-green or yellowish-white, ** leaves alternate on the main stem and side branches, nearly opposite on the twigs, petioles 05-2.5 cm, with sparse bristles, leaves ovate or narrowly ovate, 1-6 long5 cm, width 08-5 cm, end blunt or slightly acuminate, base nearly heart-shaped, margins wavy blunt serrations, leaves on branches gradually narrowing, leaf base rounded or wedge-shaped, green above, gray-green below, long stiff or pubescent sparsely or densely attached on both sides, rarely **.
The flowers are solitary at the ends of the branches, alternate or nearly opposite to the petioles, and have stalks. calyx attached to the middle of the ovary, hemispherical tube, lobes broadly lanceolate or narrowly rounded, 1-2 cm long, about 6-8 mm wide, apex obtuse or slightly acuminate, microwave or nearly entire, in between, the bay lacks cuspid; The corolla is superior, broadly bell-shaped, about 18-2.3 cm, diameter 18-2.5 cm, yellow-green, with distinct purple spots on the inner surface, shallowly lobed, lobes triangular, appointed, entire; filaments slightly enlarged at base, about 5 mm long, anthers oblong, 5-6 mm long; The stigma has white prickly hairs. The lower part of the capsule is hemispherical, and the upper part is short conical. Seeds numerous, ovate, wingless, small, brownish-yellow, smooth**. The flowering and fruiting period is from July to October.
Growing environment Codonopsis is a perennial herbaceous vine. It prefers a mild climate, cool summers, and humid air. Hardy, the roots can overwinter in the open field in the soil after cultivation. The light requirements are stricter, and the seedlings like shade and moisture, so the seedling period should not be exposed to the sun. After the seedlings are grown, they enjoy the sun. Codonopsis requires deep soil and loose soil, with fertile sandy loam soil as the best.
Codonopsis processing method
1 Codonopsis slices: Take the original medicinal materials, remove impurities, wash, moisten thoroughly, cut thick slices, and dry.
2 Stir-fry Codonopsis: Put the rice in a hot stir-fry pot, heat it over medium heat until it smokes, put in the Codonopsis slices and stir-fry, take it out when the Codonopsis is yellow, sieve off the rice, and let it cool. (20kg of rice per 100kg of Codonopsis slices).
3 Codonopsis with honey: take the honey and dilute it with an appropriate amount of boiling water, mix it with the codonopsis slices, stuff it thoroughly, put it in a hot stir-fry pot, heat it with a simmer, stir-fry it until it is yellow-brown, take it out when it is not sticky, and let it cool. (For every 100kg of Codonopsis slices, 20kg of condensed honey is used).
4.Stir-fried Codonopsis with Bran: 500g of Codonopsis, 50g of wheat bran. Put the wheat bran in the pot, heat it until the pot smokes, put in the codonopsis section, fry until dark yellow, take out the sieve to remove the bran, and let it cool.
5.Pure Codonopsis: Moisten Codonopsis with water, remove the reeds, cut into 2 cm long segments, and dry in the sun.