Aster (Zi Wan) (Braided Aster) (Knobby chunks, with residual leaf stalks at the stem base, purplish-brown, braided like a ponytail, densely packed fine roots, flexible and tough)

Aster (Zi Wan) (Unbraided Aster)

Aster (Zi Wan) slices

Honey-fried Aster (Zi Wan) slices

【Naming】

Aster (Zi Wan)

 【Source】

Classified as a medium-grade herb in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing

 【Common Usage Level】

C

 【Botanical Origin】

The root and rhizome of Aster tataricus L. f. of the Asteraceae family.

 【Characteristics】

Commercial products are often entirely braided. The rhizome is approximately 1-3 cm long and about 1 mm thick. Some rhizomes extend downwards, forming a cylindrical, knobby head, reaching up to 7 cm in length and about 5 mm in diameter. They appear grayish-brown, with leaf bases, residual stems, or buds at the upper end, and numerous slender, fibrous roots attached to the sides and lower end. The roots are about 6-15 cm long, sometimes up to 27 cm, and about 0.5-2 mm thick. The outer surface is grayish-brown to purplish-brown, with fine longitudinal wrinkles. The texture is flexible and tough.
Prepared slices: presented as small, slender strips, about 1-1.5 cm long. The rhizome portion may be cut into transverse slices. The surface is purplish-red-brown, with yellowish-white veins in the center. The periphery has longitudinal wrinkles. The texture is flexible and tough. It has a fragrant aroma, and a sweet taste followed by a slightly bitter taste.

 【Processing】

1. Raw Aster (Zi Wan) 2. Processed Aster (Zi Wan)

 【Identification】

“The moist and soft ones are superior.” (Zheng Lei Ben Cao). “Yan Yi said: The ones with purple color on both sides are superior.” (Zheng Lei Ben Cao). “Purple Su, the one with purple leaves on both sides is genuine.” (Yi Fang Lei Ju). “The ones with red root color are good.” (Ben Cao Pin Hui Jing Yao). “Shi Zhen said: According to Chen Ziming, the Aster (Zi Wan) produced in Laoshan, with roots like Asarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum, is the best.” (Ben Cao Gang Mu). “The ones with nodes on the root, purple color, and moist and soft texture are good.” (Ben Cao Bei Yao). “The ones with a fragrant aroma are good.” (Ben Cao Bei Yao). “The superior ones have countless fine, long roots attached and are soft and bendable.” (Liang Lie Jian Bie). “The superior ones have a high aroma, a large axis, or no mixed debris.” (Liang Lie Jian Bie).
The best ones are dry, have thick and long roots, are purple in color, have neat braids, are flexible and tough, are cleaned of stems and seedlings, and are free of mud.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Braided Aster (Zi Wan) (small braids, braided Aster (Zi Wan)): The rhizome of Aster (Zi Wan) is irregularly lumpy, with numerous fibrous roots clustered below, resembling a ponytail. Because the medicinal material is soft and has many fine roots, it is often braided and sold.

 【Category】

Roots