Fake Ginseng also known as Soil Ginseng, is a type of tonifying traditional Chinese medicine. It is named after its main root, which is thick and resembles ginseng. Fake Ginseng has a wide range of uses and benefits, it can be used medicinally, as a food ingredient, and can also be grown as a decorative plant. What are the effects and functions of Fake Ginseng?
[Botanical Characteristics of Fake Ginseng]
Lan Orchid, an annual herbaceous plant, can grow up to about 60 centimeters in height. It has a fleshy, hairless body. The main root is thick and branched, with a brownish-brown outer appearance. The stem is cylindrical, with branches at the lower part, and the base slightly woody.
Leaves are alternate: inverted ovate or inverted ovate-oblong, 6-7 centimeters long, 2.5-3.5 centimeters wide, with a pointed or blunt round tip, entire margin, gradually narrowing at the base to form a short petiole, and smooth and green on both sides.
The top branches of the stem form cone-shaped clusters of flowers. The peduncle of the inflorescence is purplish-green or dark green; the flowers are small, pale purple-red, with a diameter of about 6 millimeters, and slender pedicels; the sepals are 2, ovate, pointed, and fall off early;
The petals are 5, inverted ovate or elliptical; the stamens are more than 10, with slender filaments; the pistils have a spherical ovary, a linear style, and a 3-lobed stigma, which spreads outward and bends slightly at the tip.
The fruit is brownish-gray when ripe, with a diameter of about 3 millimeters. The seeds are small, black, and flattened. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
[Effects and Functions of Fake Ginseng]
The entire plant of Fake Ginseng can be used medicinally. Fake Ginseng has a sweet and mild nature, is non-toxic, and has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. It has certain therapeutic effects on qi deficiency and weakness, spleen deficiency and diarrhea, lung dryness and cough, and neurasthenia.
It can tonify the vital energy, nourish the body fluids, calm the mind, and strengthen the heart. It is used to treat deficiency of qi and blood, excessive sweating due to deficiency, exhaustion and collapse, and low blood pressure. Although Fake Ginseng is not as prestigious as real ginseng, it is still a very effective tonifying traditional Chinese medicine.
The tender leaves of Soil Ginseng are a delicious wild vegetable in spring. They can be picked and used to make various dishes. The taste is refreshing and slightly resembles the taste of black fungus. Consuming the tender leaves of Fake Ginseng also has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing internal heat.
In rural areas, Fake Ginseng is often used as a remedy for insufficient breast milk: fresh Fake Ginseng leaves are picked and stir-fried as a vegetable, which has a good effect on promoting lactation.
For the treatment of abscesses and swellings: fresh Fake Ginseng leaves are mashed with brown sugar and applied to the affected area. It can have the effect of reducing inflammation, dispersing stasis, and eliminating viruses.
To treat fatigue and weakness: when feeling mentally exhausted and often fatigued, with symptoms of physical weakness, take 5 grams to 30 grams of Fake Ginseng and a dried cuttlefish, stew them together with alcohol, and consume after cooking.
[Planting Methods of Fake Ginseng]
1. Propagation by cuttings
The stems of Fake Ginseng are fleshy stems. When propagating by cuttings, it is generally necessary to choose fully mature branches. The cuttings are about 10 centimeters long and should be inserted into the soil to a depth of 5 centimeters. The nursery bed should preferably use new soil or sterilized nutrient soil.
Fake Ginseng can be propagated by cuttings during the growing season, but it is most suitable from late March to mid-October. In summer, seedlings should be grown in a shaded shed to improve survival rate.
Generally, the cuttings can take root and survive after 1 week, and about 10 days later, they should be lightly fertilized with manure water or compound fertilizer water to strengthen the seedlings. They can be transplanted to the field after 15 to 20 days of rooting.
2. Seed propagation
Fake Ginseng seeds are small, with thick and hard shells, and untreated seeds usually take 20 to 25 days to germinate. Before sowing, the seeds can be soaked in water at a temperature of 30 to 40°C for 2 days to ensure smooth germination.
Since the seeds of Fake Ginseng are very small and sensitive to soil compaction, well-structured sandy loam should be selected. If the soil is highly cohesive, organic fertilizer, sand, and slag should be applied to improve the soil structure. Before sowing, water should be fully irrigated, and fine soil should be used to retain moisture.
During summer seedling cultivation, the bed soil should be rich in organic matter, loose, and fertile. The nursery bed can be covered with shade nets or covered with chopped straw to prevent soil compaction. The temperature and humidity should be maintained at a certain level during the seedling stage.
