<img class="size-full wp-image-13046" src="https://whatsintcm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/p52-10-1太子參.png” alt=”” width=”882″ height=”586″ /> Prince Ginseng (elongated spindle shape, yellowish-white, smooth, wrinkled, rat-tail tip)

[Name]

Prince Ginseng

 [Source]

Essentials of Materia Medica (Bencao Beiyao)

 [Frequency of Use]

C

 [Botanical Origin]

The dried tuberous root of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax. et Hoffm. (also known as Child Ginseng), belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family.

 [Characteristics]

The dried tuberous roots are slender, elongated, or spindle-shaped, slightly curved, about 2 to 6 cm long and 3 to 6 mm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white, translucent, with fine wrinkles and sunken fibrous root scars. The root head is blunt and round, often with residual stem scars on it, and the lower end gradually tapers like a rat’s tail. It is brittle and easily broken, with a flat, yellowish-white and shiny fracture surface. The fracture surface of directly sun-dried ones is white and powdery. It has a slight aroma and a slightly sweet taste.

 [Identification]

The best quality is thick, plump, moist, yellowish-white, and without fibrous roots.

 [Category]

Roots