<img class="wp-image-13047 size-full" src="https://whatsintcm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/p53-11-1巴戟天一等-e1608105238636.png” alt=”” width=”550″ height=”866″ /> First Grade Morinda Root (Enlarged Bark) (Beaded Shape)

Second Grade Morinda Root (Chicken Intestine)

Third Grade Morinda Root (Exposed Woody Core at Constrictions, Small and Tough)

Salt-Steamed First Grade Morinda Root (Thick Flesh)

Wine-Morinda Root (Top Two Grades with Core Removed)

Morinda Root Slices (Sliced, Light Purple, Core Removed)

Morinda Root (Round, Not Flattened, Not Steamed)

Round Morinda Root (Steamed)

Round Morinda Root Slices (Steamed)

Hai Fang Morinda Root

【Naming】

Morinda Root

 【Source】

Superior Class in the Classic of Herbal Medicine

 【Common Usage Level】

B

 【Botanical Origin】

The dried root of Morinda officinalis How of the Rubiaceae family.

 【Characteristics】

This product is slightly (1) flattened into a flat round shape or (2) unflattened into a cylindrical shape, curved, and the transverse cracks in the bark expose the woody part, forming a beaded shape, like a chicken intestine. It varies in length and has a diameter of about 1~2.5㎝. The outer surface is greyish-brown with longitudinal wrinkles. The bark is easily broken, and the woody part is strong and tough. The transverse section shows a very developed bark, which is deep purplish-brown and twice the width of the woody part. The woody core is thin, firm and tough, and yellowish-brown; the xylem has longitudinal grooves, and the cross-section resembles a small gear. The flesh is thick and easily detached, with a sweet and slightly astringent taste.

The prepared slices are hollow, flat, cylindrical segments with a rough, greyish-black surface and longitudinal wrinkles. The texture is firm and tough, the flesh is thick and easily peeled off, and the slices are light purple. It tastes sweet and slightly astringent.

 【Processing】

1. Morinda Root 2. Salt-Morinda Root 3. Stir-fried Morinda Root

 【Identification】

“The best Morinda Root is purple,” according to the Illustrated Materia Medica. “The best roots are beaded and have thick flesh,” according to the Classified Materia Medica. “The core should be removed from Morinda Root, and the purple ones are the best,” according to the Universal Relief Formula. “Sichuan Morinda Root is blackish-purple, large, and has a hollow core,” according to the Classified Collection of Medical Formulas. “The genuine product has a slightly white and speckled color and a slightly darker texture, even though the center is purple,” according to the Essentials of Materia Medica. “A slightly darker texture is genuine,” according to Seeking Truth in Materia Medica. “A slightly darker texture is genuine,” according to Distinguishing Enhanced Herbs. “Good quality Morinda Root has thick flesh, a sweet taste, and is moist. Poor quality Morinda Root is connected like beads, tastes astringent, has thick, blackish-brown bark,” according to Good and Bad Identification.

Good quality Morinda Root has a clean body, thin core, large and plump strips, a beaded shape, thick flesh, a purple color, and is sweet and moist. Inferior quality Morinda Root has a loose body, coarse and thick bark, a thick and large core, and is prone to cracking. Depending on the origin, those produced in Guangdong are of good quality, while those from Hainan Island are inferior. Generally, cultivated ones are better than wild ones because they are cultivated properly, excavated in a timely manner, uniform in size, have reddish and moist outer skin, and plump, purple flesh. Wild ones lack management, have rough outer skin, are brownish, have hard, dry flesh, and are often cylindrical.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Woody core: Generally refers to the woody stele seen in the center of the cut surface of root medicinal materials, which is harder and often easily separated from the bark.
2. Woody nature: The texture of the medicinal material is strongly lignified and hard like dry firewood, such as the woody part of the false Morinda Root, Janus Grape.
3. Beaded shape (beaded, strung): Root medicinal materials are shaped like strung beads.
4. Chicken intestine: The root of Morinda Root has coarse and shallow wrinkled lines, shaped like a chicken intestine.

 【Category】

Roots