Wuzhishan ginseng is a perennial or biennial herbaceous plant. Its rhizome is used as medicine and has the effects of refreshing the mind and nourishing the body. Let's learn about the medicinal value and cultivation methods of Wuzhishan ginseng.
【Morphology of Wuzhishan Ginseng】
The leaves of Wuzhishan ginseng are thin and long, similar to water spinach, and the stems and leaves are especially long, growing out of the soil. They can grow up to one meter tall with many branches, so there are many leaves.
Every summer, Wuzhishan ginseng blooms with red flowers, which has high ornamental value. It will bear fruit around October, and the capsules are oval-shaped and not very large.
The roots of Wuzhishan ginseng are fleshy and stout, with many branching roots. The color is slightly yellow, and it is indeed similar to ginseng, but it is not ginseng.
However, the roots of Wuzhishan ginseng are a kind of medicinal material. They are harvested in autumn and winter, washed and dried for use. The processing method of rural people is to steam and dry them, so they can be stored for several years without deterioration.
Medicinal uses of Wuzhishan Ginseng
Wuzhishan ginseng is used as medicine for treating stomach pain, neurasthenia, and is used externally for promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, treating bruises, sprains, and fractures. In northern Vietnam, the roots are used as antidiarrheal and tonic.
The rhizome of Wuzhishan ginseng is slightly warm in nature with 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, back and leg pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, etc.
This study determines its nutritional composition and the effects of removing flower buds on yield and antioxidant enzyme system, providing a basis for further research on its pharmacological effects and health functions.
Cultivation of Wuzhishan Ginseng
Wuzhishan ginseng plants generally flower from May to November. The flowers are red, five-petaled, very beautiful, with a fragrant smell, and they grow alone in the leaf axils.
The fruits are elongated, 2.5-4 centimeters long, with five edges. When the fruits turn yellow and the stems turn black, they can be cut off. Cut them one by one when they mature, dry them together with the fruit peel, and do not tear open the fruit peel for better preservation.
When planting, tear open the fruit peel to expose the seeds. The seeds are black, with 20-40 seeds in each fruit. Each plant can produce more than 1,000 seeds in a year.
