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From Shangdang’s verdant pine and Yiling’s cinnabar red,
A precious ink, condensed with musk and orchid, is spread.
Its lustrous sheen is truly a sight to behold.
A young girl, with hair like a raven’s wing, gold-adorned,
Carries it in a brocade bag, close to her heart.
Today it’s gifted to the Orchid Pavilion,
Where inspiration flows and brushes dance on Mount Kuaiji.
Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty
In the poem, Li Bai expressed gratitude to Zhang Sima for the gift of ink produced in Shangdang. This ink, made from pine trees that grew in the unique geographical conditions of Shangdang, was unparalleled in the world due to the meticulous craftsmanship of the local people. According to the Book of Tang, the Great Governor’s Office of Shangdang County, Luzhou Prefecture, paid tribute to the court with cloth, ginseng, honey, and ink. This shows that Shangdang County also produced a high-quality medicinal herb that was a tribute item during the Tang Dynasty. Although initially called ginseng, later research revealed that this was a different plant from the ginseng in the Araliaceae family. However, because its root resembled ginseng and it was produced in Shangdang, and it was commonly used as a tonic during the Lidong (start of winter) period, it was named ‘Dangshen’.
According to the fourth edition of the Taiwan Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Codonopsis pilosula (http://en.whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/%e9%bb%a8%e5%8f%83/) is a plant of the family Campanulaceae, Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf., Suhua. Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. var. modesta(Nannf.) L.T.Shen or the dried root of Codonopsis tangshenOliv. It is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu, Sichuan and other places. Codonopsis pilosula grown in Jincheng, Shanxi and other places is called “Ludang”, also known as “Baipidang”, while those grown wild in Wutai Mountain in Shanxi are often called “Taiwan ginseng”. , the texture is usually relatively hard, and those produced in Gansu, Shaanxi and northwestern Sichuan are called “Xidang”, and those produced in northeastern Sichuan are called “Dongdang”. Because it is a root medicinal material, it is usually harvested in autumn, washed, and dried in the sun for later use. It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature, and has the effects of nourishing the body and replenishing qi, strengthening the lungs and spleen. Because it is produced in the Shangdang area, it is also called “Shangdang ginseng”. Other aliases include Shangdang ginseng, lion head ginseng, Zhongling grass, etc. The original medicinal materials are usually long cylindrical, slightly curved, with a gray-brown to yellow-brown surface. It is rarely bifurcated, with a body length of 10 to 22 cm and a diameter of usually about 0.5 to 2 cm. The root head usually has many warty protruding stem marks and buds, shaped like a lion’s head, so it is called “lion panhead reed”. , its texture is strong, light and elastic. The cross section is light yellowish brown, with fissures, and a yellow center in the middle. It smells special and tastes slightly sweet. The cross section of the medicinal material is radial, shaped like an open chrysanthemum, so it is also called “chrysanthemum pattern”. In addition, the root medicinal materials The cross-section is loose, but the wood is strong, so it is also called “skinned with loose skin and tight flesh”. It is usually better to have thick and long strips, strong smell, and “slag” when chewed, and the so-called “slag” refers to medicinal materials. It means that there are no residues when chewed by mouth. It is generally believed that the quality of “Taiwan Dang” and “Xidang” is better. In addition, Codonopsis Codonopsis is also known as Tiaodang, Baxiandang, Banqiaodang, etc. Its medicinal properties are slightly similar to Codonopsis pilosula. Usually there are also reeds at the root, but the stem marks are less and smaller. The roots are long cylindrical, mostly in the shape of a single branch, so it is called “Tiaodang”. The skin of the pieces bought in the market is grayish-yellow to yellow-brown, which smells like Fragrance, chewing slightly sweet and no residue is better. In addition, depending on the clinical use, rice-fried Codonopsis pilosula can be used. Its shape is like Codonopsis pilosula slices and dark yellow in color, with occasional burnt spots.
When buying from the public, please note that there is another plant of the Campanulaceae family that is easily confused. Its root is medicinally called “Codonopsis pilosula”. It mainly nourishes blood and calms the nerves, nourishes lung qi and relieves coughs. In addition, there are < /span>The medicinal name of the dried roots of the Umbelliferae plant Codonopsis pilosula is “Codonopsis pilosula”. The names are very similar, so be careful when purchasing and using it. The Taiwanese Government Pharmacopoeia clearly stipulates the detection content of heavy metals and sulfur dioxide, so as long as the public finds a qualified manufacturer, they can use it with peace of mind and have a good winter.
[Picture provided] Professor Zhang Xianzhe’s “Illustrated Guide to Authentic Medicinal Materials” http://en.whatsintcm.com