Imitation Ginseng is named because its main root is thick and resembles ginseng. It is also known as "fake ginseng". Imitation ginseng is very valuable as it can be used for medicinal purposes, consumed as food, and used as a potted plant for ornamental purposes. But what happens if you eat imitation ginseng and get poisoned? Let's find out together with me!
Picture of imitation ginseng
【Examples of poisoning after eating imitation ginseng】
Mr. Zhao is an insurance salesperson. Recently, due to work stress, he felt a bit weak and wanted to nourish his body.
“I heard about imitation ginseng (fake ginseng) from people in my hometown, so I dug a few roots from a nearby field and ate one on an empty stomach in the morning,” Mr. Zhao said. After eating it, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth and felt weak all over his body, but he didn't think much of it at the time. Unexpectedly, at 11 o'clock noon, he started feeling nauseous and began vomiting violently.
When he saw that the vomit was bright red blood, Mr. Zhao realized that the situation was not good and immediately rushed to the West Xixi Hospital. The doctor sent his vomit for emergency testing and the results showed occult blood, indicating gastric bleeding.
The doctor found out after questioning that Mr. Zhao had mistakenly consumed a plant called Lysimachia, which is commonly known as imitation ginseng. "Lysimachia is commonly referred to as 'fake ginseng' or 'fake ginseng'. It is often mistaken for ginseng and cultivated in various places. Although Lysimachia can be used medicinally, it is toxic and is rarely used in traditional Chinese medicine nowadays," said Zhao Hao, the director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Department at West Xixi Hospital. Lysimachia comes in two types, red and white, with the red stems being more toxic.
In some places, Lysimachia is used to make pesticides for killing insects. If ingested accidentally or in large amounts, it can lead to poisoning.
【Imitation ginseng as a medicinal herb needs to be processed before use】
“After consuming Lysimachia, poisoning symptoms can occur within 30 minutes to 5 hours. Most patients will experience a rise in body temperature, which will return to normal after 2 to 4 days,” said Director Zhao Hao. In severe cases, it can even lead to cardiac and respiratory failure, resulting in death.
Li Huili, the director of the General Internal Medicine Department at West Xixi Hospital, reminded that in fact, most Chinese medicinal herbs themselves are toxic and need to undergo various processing methods before they can be used medicinally. It is also important to strictly control the dosage during use, "otherwise, instead of treating the disease, they become poisonous drugs."
Picture of imitation ginseng
Lysimachia, as an example of plant poisoning, needs to be soaked in vinegar and dried to reduce its toxicity before it can be used medicinally. If accidentally ingested, mildly poisoned patients can induce vomiting and drink milk as symptomatic treatment, while severely poisoned patients should seek medical attention promptly.
Zhang Siquan, the director of the Emergency Department at West Xixi Hospital, reminded that their department often receives patients like Mr. Zhao. Citizens should remember that the imitation ginseng, commonly seen on roadsides and in green belts in residential areas, is a toxic plant and should not be consumed. When it comes to supplementing with ginseng, it is best to use it under the guidance of a doctor and purchase it from reputable sources to prevent mistaking Lysimachia for ginseng.
【Identification of imitation ginseng characteristics】
Imitation ginseng is the root of the plant Lysimachia, which belongs to the Portulacaceae family. It is also known as fake ginseng, water ginseng, grass ginseng, and Lysimachia.
Imitation ginseng is named because its main root is thick and resembles ginseng. Some people also refer to it as "fake ginseng". If it is used for consumption, the best time to harvest is when the new shoots are robust or when new leaves are growing in early summer.
Stem: The whole plant of imitation ginseng is smooth and hairless, and the stems and leaves are soft, juicy, and fleshy. It can grow up to about 60 centimeters in height and has multiple branches at the base. The main root is thick and cylindrical or spindle-shaped, with a brown or dark brown outer appearance.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate, with short petioles or almost no petioles. The leaf blades are inverted ovate or inverted ovate-oblong, measuring 5 to 7 centimeters in length and 2 to 3.5 centimeters in width. They taper at the base and have a sharp or bluntly rounded apex, with smooth margins.
Flowers: The inflorescence is cone-shaped and borne at the top of the branched stem. The peduncle is purplish-green or dark green, and the flowers are small and numerous, with a pale purple-red color and a diameter of about 0.6 centimeters. The flower stalks are slender. There are 2 sepals, oval-shaped with pointed tips, which fall off early. There are 5 petals, which are inverted ovate or elliptical in shape. There are more than 10 stamens with slender filaments. The ovary is spherical, and the style is slender with a deep split at the tip, bending outward. The flowering and fruiting period of imitation ginseng is from May to October.
Fruit: The fruit is a capsule, spherical, with a diameter of about 0.4 centimeters, and turns grayish-brown when ripe. The seeds are small, black, and flattened-round in shape.
