Author: Wu Xuemei, Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association

We have always regarded ginseng as a very good health food. It has very high value both in terms of food and medicine. , ginseng is a very good medicinal material for nourishing the body for the elderly. When talking about ginseng, most people will think of ginseng, American ginseng, Codonopsis pilosula and other qi-tonifying ones, but today we are going to talk about Adenophora ginseng, a traditional Chinese medicine that is very effective in tonifying yin.

Adenophora ginseng, also known as American ginseng and American ginseng, uses its roots as medicine. Plow and harvest in autumn, remove the above-ground parts and fibrous roots, scrape off the rough skin, and dry in the sun immediately. It mainly treats blood accumulation and irritability, removes cold and heat, replenishes the middle and replenishes lung qi ("Herbal Classic"). The root can be eaten after boiling it to remove the bitter taste.

Adenophora can be divided into northern and southern parts. According to ancient literature, the Adenophora used by the ancients is Southern Adenophora. By the Qing Dynasty, it was recorded that Adenophora was divided into two types: southern and northern.

Northern Adenophora mostly grows in coastal sands and beaches, or is cultivated in fertile and loose sandy loam soils. It is mainly produced in Shandong, Hebei, Liaoning, Jiangsu and other places; while Southern Adenophora mostly grows in sunny areas in the mountains. Among the sloping grasses, those produced in Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang have the best quality; Guizhou has the largest yield.

Non-toxic, sweet and slightly bitter, slightly cold in nature, and returns to the lung and stomach meridian. It is nourishing, dispelling cold and heat, clearing the lungs and relieving cough, and is also effective in treating heart and spleen pain, headache, and leucorrhea in women. It is mainly used to treat bronchitis, whooping cough, lung-heat cough, and yellow and thick phlegm.

The names of the traditional Chinese medicine preparation pieces of South and North Adenophora are only one word different, and their effects are similar. However, they come from different families and genera, different plants, and their ingredients and meridians are also different. Although they both have nutritional value. It has the effect of clearing the lungs due to yin, but the southern Adenophora ginseng, also known as the Great Adenophora ginseng, has a thick shape and loose texture, and is long in entering the "lung". It focuses on eliminating phlegm and relieving cough, while the Northern Adenophora ginseng, also known as the Hojo ginseng, has a slender shape and a hard texture. Dense and dense, it is good at entering the "stomach" and tends to nourish yin, promote fluid production and quench thirst. "Compendium of Materia Medica Qiuzhen" records: "There are two types of Adenophora ginseng, southern and northern. North Adenophora ginseng is hard and cold in nature, while Southern Adenophora ginseng is weak and weak." There are still differences in clinical applications, and better curative effects can be achieved by syndrome differentiation and medication.

South Adenophora ginseng is conical or cylindrical, slightly curved, 7~27cm long and 0.8~3cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or light brownish-yellow, and there are often residual rough skins in the depressions. There are many deep horizontal lines in the upper part, which are intermittent rings, and there are longitudinal lines and grooves in the lower part. The top has 1 or 2 rhizomes. The body is light, the texture is loose and foamy, easy to break, the cross section is uneven, yellowish white, with many cracks. The smell is slight and the taste is slightly sweet.

Oral administration: decoction, 10~15g, fresh product 15~30g, or taken into pills or powder. Nansha ginseng is good for clearing away heat, nourishing yin and promoting fluid production when used fresh.

Both southern and northern Adenophora ginseng nourishes yin and clears the lungs, nourishes the stomach and promotes body fluids. It is used to treat cough due to lung heat, insufficient stomach yin, dry throat and thirst. It has a good nourishing effect and is good for many people. Diseases and symptoms can play a certain role in prevention and treatment.

Ingredients: One old duck, 50g each of Adenophora and Polygonatum, 2-3 slices of ginger, 3-4 candied dates

Steps: Wash and cut duck meat into pieces, boil water for 10 minutes Minutes, drain and remove oil. Put all the ingredients into the pot, add enough water at one time, bring to a boil over high heat, drain off the foam, turn down to low heat and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, and season before eating.

This soup nourishes yin and reduces fire, clears away heat and nourishes yin. Just drink it 2 to 3 times a week, or once a week in winter. It not only replenishes heart yin, but long-term drinking will also improve your complexion. However, people with yang deficiency who are afraid of cold and whose hands and feet are particularly cold are not recommended to consume it too frequently to avoid aggravating the symptoms of yang deficiency in the body.

Reviewers: Li Liming, Guangdong Pharmaceutical Association, Guangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhang Geng, Wuhan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine