Zi Cao (Soft Zi Cao) (Long conical cylinder, twisted and soft, purplish-red, loose layered overlapping skin, light body, stains hands)
[Naming]
[Source]
Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, Middle Grade
[Botanical Origin]
Root of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Pauls. or Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. of the Zi Cao family (Boraginaceae). The former is commonly known as Soft Miao Zi Cao, and the latter is commonly known as Hard Miao Zi Cao.
[Characteristics]
(1) Xinjiang Zi Cao (Soft Zi Cao): It is a twisted conical shape, 8~14.5㎝ long, 1.5~2.5㎝ in diameter, with a purplish-red or purplish-black appearance, slightly longitudinally striated. Both the bark and xylem are easily peeled into thin slices, exposing yellowish-white thin lines (i.e., vessels and fibers). Often multiple skin roots are twisted together, dark purple, with layered overlapping scales on the bark. The texture is loose, soft, and brittle, easily broken. The fracture surface is uneven, fragmented, purplish-black, with layered overlaps. Vessels and fibers appear as yellowish-white dots. The taste is slightly bitter and astringent, with a slight sour odor.
(2) Guan Zi Cao (Hard Zi Cao): The complete root is a twisted fusiform or cylindrical shape, about 0.7~1.5㎝ long and about 0.5~1.5㎝ thick. Occasionally, there are branches at the lower end, twisted, and the head has branched residual stems, dark purple with longitudinal grooves. The texture is hard and brittle, and the fracture surface is purple with obvious layering. The commercially available product is a longitudinally cut block. The appearance is dark purple, the surface is rough, with twisted longitudinal grooves, and there is scaly peeling of the cork. The stem is hollow. The texture is brittle and easily broken. The fracture surface shows a purplish-red bark and a whitish xylem, with deep-colored rays and red substances. The xylem of old roots sometimes decays. The odor is faint, and the taste is slightly sweet.
[Processing]
1. Soft Miao Zi Cao 2. Hard Miao Zi Cao
[Identification]
1. Good Soft Zi Cao is characterized by thick, long, and fleshy roots, no residual stems, no sediment, deep purplish-red color, soft texture, and a small white core. 2. Good Hard Zi Cao is characterized by thick, long roots, purplish-red color, and no residual stems.
[Identification Terminology]
Texture: Generally refers to the firmness, softness, compactness, looseness, fleshiness, leanness, weight, lightness, oldness, and tenderness of the medicinal material. For example, Zi Cao is divided into soft and hard. Soft Zi Cao: The texture is soft, loose and light; Hard Zi Cao: The texture is hard, light and brittle.
[Category]
Root