Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) (Cylindrical, beaded, yellowish-white, with concave bract scars, brittle and easily broken, powdery)

Vinegar-processed Gansui (Euphorbia kansui)

【Naming】

Gansui (Euphorbia kansui)

n 【Source】n

Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, Lower Grade

n 【Common Usage Level】n

E

n 【Botanical Origin】n

Dried tuberous root of Euphorbia kansui Liou, of the Euphorbiaceae family.

n 【Characteristics】n

Generally, there are two shapes: thick and slender. The thick ones are beaded, spindle-shaped, or oblong, 3-9 cm long and 0.6-1.5 cm in diameter. The slender ones are irregular, rod-shaped, slightly curved or twisted, with numerous wrinkles, 3-10 cm long and 2-5 mm in diameter. The surface is white or light yellow. Often, a few light yellow fibrous roots or uncleansed reddish-brown cork (bract scars) remain. It is light in weight, easily broken, with a powdery fracture surface. The cortex is white, accounting for about 1/2 of the radius, and the xylem is light yellow. It has a slight odor and a slightly sweet taste with a persistent irritating sensation.nVinegar-Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) resembles the raw product in shape, with a slightly yellowish surface, or may have a fire color, occasionally with scorched yellow spots, and a slight sour odor. The powder becomes grayish-yellow.

n 【Processing】n

1. Raw Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) 2. Processed Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) 3. Baked Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) 4. Vinegar-Gansui (Euphorbia kansui)

n 【Identification】n

《Zheng Lei Ben Cao》: “The one with red skin is superior”, “The one that is solid and heavy is superior”, “The solid and heavy one is good”. 《Ben Cao Bei Yao》: “The skin is red and the flesh is white, the root is beaded, the heavy and solid one is good”. 《Liang Lie Jian Bie》: “Like a fingertip, the outside has red spots, the inside is white, and it is tightly connected like beads is the best”.nThe best is when the body is dry, large, full, the surface is white or yellowish-white, delicate, the fracture surface is sufficiently powdery, and there are no fibers. The next best is when the texture is firm, the roots are thin and long, yellowish-brown, with little powder, and the fracture surface is strongly fibrous. The inferior product has a fracture surface with many fibers and no powder.

n 【Identification Terminology】n

1. Spots: Generally, spots on the surface of medicinal materials that have a different color from the surroundings are usually called “spots” or “scars”. For example, Gansui (Euphorbia kansui) has brown to reddish-yellow bract spots.

n 【Category】n

Root Category