Chinese medicinal false ginseng is a natural ingredient that can be used as both food and medicine. It is rich in nutrients and can be consumed as a green vegetable or used as a traditional Chinese medicine for cooling and reducing inflammation. Let's take a look together!
Image of false ginseng
False ginseng is a perennial herb with short, bamboo-like rhizomes that grow horizontally and have 2 to several fleshy roots. The cylindrical fleshy roots are about 2-4 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, with longitudinal wrinkles when dried.
The aboveground stem is solitary, about 40 cm tall, with longitudinal ridges and no hairs. The base has persistent scale leaves.
The leaves are palmately compound, with 4 leaflets arranged in a whorl at the top of the stem. The leaf stalk is 4-5 cm long, with longitudinal ridges and no hairs. The bracts are small and lanceolate, about 5-6 mm long.
There are 3-4 thin, translucent leaflets, which are inversely ovate to inversely oblong-elliptic. The central leaflet is about 9-10 cm long and 3.5-4 cm wide, while the lateral leaflets are smaller. The apex is gradually pointed, the base is gradually narrow and extends downward. The margin has serrated teeth with prickly tips. The upper surface has densely growing bristles on the veins, which are about 1.5-2 mm long. The lower surface is hairless. There are 8-10 pairs of prominent lateral veins on both surfaces, with distinct reticulate veins. The leaflet stalks are 2-10 mm long and densely covered with bristles at the junction with the leaf stalk.
Image of false ginseng
The umbel inflorescence is terminal and about 3.5 cm in diameter, with 20-50 flowers. The peduncle is about 12 cm long, with longitudinal ridges and no hairs. The flower stalks are slender, hairless, and about 1 cm long. The bracts are not obvious. The flowers are yellow-green. The calyx is cup-shaped (the calyx of male flowers is top-shaped) with 5 triangular teeth on the edge. There are 5 petals, 5 stamens, and a 2-celled ovary. The styles are 2 (1 on the vestigial pistil of male flowers) and reflexed. The fruit is not seen.
Medicinal use: False ginseng is named because its roots are similar to ginseng. In history, the roots were harvested for medicinal use. The roots are used as a nourishing and strengthening agent, tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, moistening the lungs and generating body fluids. The leaves can be used to reduce swelling, detoxify, and treat boils and abscesses.
Food use: (1) False ginseng is originally an ornamental plant. The stems and leaves are thick, tender, and dark green. They contain high potassium and low sodium. Each 100 grams of fresh leaves contain 6.2 micrograms of selenium, making it a rare health vegetable. It can be used to make soup or stir-fried dishes, and can also be mixed with chicken, fish, or meat to make soup dishes.
(2) It has a similar taste to wood ear vegetables, with a crisp and refreshing texture and a fragrant taste. It has the effects of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, moistening the lungs, generating body fluids, and promoting lactation. It can enhance the constitution and prevent and treat influenza, fatigue, and seasickness.
The fleshy roots can also be consumed and have a nourishing and strengthening effect.
