Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng is a perennial or biennial herbaceous plant. Its rhizome is used medicinally and has the effects of refreshing the mind, nourishing the body, and strengthening the body. Now let's understand the medicinal value and cultivation methods of Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng.
Identification of Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng
Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng grows to a height of 0.3 to 1 meter. Its roots are fleshy and radish-shaped. The small branches are sparsely covered with long hairs, and the leaves are opposite; they have various shapes, such as broad oval or nearly round, with heart-shaped or lance-shaped bases. The upper leaves are sometimes arrow-shaped, with 3 to 5 shallow or deep lobes; both sides are sparsely covered with coarse hairs, and the edges have blunt teeth. The bracts are narrow lanceolate or linear, and they are hairy.
The flowers are solitary and axillary, with flower stalks 3 to 5 centimeters long, which elongate after flowering; there are 5 to 8 linear bracts, with long hairy margins. The calyx is bell-shaped, hairy on both sides. The corolla is red, with 5 petals, about 4 centimeters long. The stamen tube is shorter than the corolla, and the stigma is divided into 5 branches with a flat top.
The capsule is oval or elongated, 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, with a short or long beak. The fruit skin is thin and leathery, sparsely covered with yellow coarse hairs. The seeds are kidney-shaped, with longitudinally split tooth-like glandular spots.
Medicinal Uses of Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng
Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng is used medicinally with its roots. It is used to treat stomach pain, neurasthenia, and is used externally to dispel stasis, reduce swelling, treat bruises, sprains, and promote bone healing. In northern Vietnam, the roots are used as an antidiarrheal and tonic.
The root rhizome of Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng is slightly warm in nature and has a sweet and mild taste. Long-term consumption has no toxic side effects. It can refresh the mind, nourish the body, and treat neurasthenia, dizziness, lower back and leg pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, and more.
This study determined its nutritional composition and the effects of removing flower buds on yield and antioxidant enzyme systems, laying the foundation for further research on its pharmacological effects and health benefits.
Cultivation of Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng
Wuzhi Mountain Ginseng plants generally flower from May to November. The flowers are red, with five petals, extremely beautiful and fragrant, and they bloom singly in the leaf axils.
The fruit is elongated, 2.5 to 4 centimeters long, with five edges. When the fruit turns yellow, the stalk turns black, and it can be cut off. Mature fruits should be dried with the peel intact, without tearing the peel to facilitate storage.
When planting, the peel is torn open to expose the seeds. The seeds are black, with 20 to 40 seeds in each fruit. Each plant can produce more than 1000 seeds in one year.
