As a type of traditional Chinese medicine, false ginseng is believed to have the effects of invigorating the spleen, moisturizing the lungs, stopping coughing, and regulating menstruation. It is commonly used to treat spleen deficiency fatigue, diarrhea, lung fatigue with bloody phlegm, dizziness and hot flashes, night sweats and spontaneous sweating, and irregular menstruation and excessive vaginal discharge. Now let's take a look at the picture of false ginseng and its related applications.
Plant Morphology of False Ginseng:
False ginseng is an annual herbaceous plant that can grow up to about 60 centimeters tall. It has fleshy and hairless stems. The main root is thick and branched, and has a brownish appearance. The stem is cylindrical, with branches at the lower part and slight lignification at the base.
The leaves are alternate, inverted ovate or inverted ovate elliptic in shape, measuring 6-7 centimeters in length and 2.5-3.5 centimeters in width. The apex is pointed or bluntly rounded, with smooth and green surfaces. The base gradually narrows into a short petiole.
The top of the stem branches into a conical inflorescence, with purplish green or dark green peduncles. The flowers are small and numerous, with a diameter of about 6 millimeters. The calyx has 2 oval-shaped, pointed sepals that fall off early. The petals are 5 inverted ovate or elliptic in shape. There are more than 10 stamens, with slender filaments. The pistil has a spherical ovary, a linear style, and a 3-lobed stigma that is slightly bent outward.
The mature fruit is grayish brown and has a diameter of about 3 millimeters. The seeds are small, black in color, and flattened and round in shape. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October. The leaves of this plant (false ginseng leaves) are also used as medicinal materials, which will be discussed in detail in a separate section.
Applications of False Ginseng:
1. Treatment for fatigue-related cough: false ginseng, mountain swallow, tonghua root, and rock sugar. Stew with chicken and take orally. (Sichuan Chinese Materia Medica)
2. Treatment for polyuria: false Korean ginseng (2-3 taels), golden cherry root (2 taels). Boil together and take orally 2-3 times a day. (Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine)
3. Treatment for night sweats and spontaneous sweating: false Korean ginseng (2 taels), pig stomach (1). Stew and take orally. (Fujian Eastern Herbal Medicine)
4. Treatment for fatigue and weakness: false ginseng (5-10 grams), or with dried squid (1). Stew with alcohol and take orally. (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine)
5. Treatment for spleen deficiency diarrhea: false ginseng (5-10 grams), jujube (5 grams). Decoction and take orally. (Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine)
Picture of False Ginseng
False Ginseng Picture
