Chinese herbal medicine "Dishao Gua" is also known as "Dishao Hua", "Yangbu Naike", "Xiao Sigua", "Fu Piao Ke", "Di Gua Piao", and "Lu Nai Tou". It belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. The whole plant and fruit of Dishao Gua can be used as medicine to clear heat, reduce inflammation, and relieve thirst. Do you know the medicinal properties of Dishao Gua?
Characteristics of Dishao Gua as Medicinal Plant
Dishao Gua is a perennial herbaceous drought-tolerant plant that grows well in sandy and gravelly soil. It looks chubby and a bit like a loofah, which is why it is commonly called Dishao Hua or Nai Gua by rural people.
Dishao Gua can be found in sandy areas, forest edges, grasslands, wastelands, hillsides, and along fields in the northeastern, northern, northwestern, and southern regions of China.
Dishao Gua is more common in northern China and less common or even absent in the south. It is a drought-tolerant plant that generally grows in the vegetation of typical grasslands. It prefers sandy and gravelly soil and can be found in rural wastelands or along fields.
Dishao Gua has a unique appearance, resembling a drop of water. It gradually tapers at both ends and is more swollen in the middle, resembling a spindle.
The stem of Dishao Gua is relatively slender, but it is soft in texture and has a low degree of lignification. Some animals, such as goats, camels, and sheep, love to eat Dishao Gua.
Windbreak and Sand Fixation Functions of Dishao Gua
In the state-owned forest of Jiuyuan District, Harlingol Town, 100 mu of Dishao Gua has grown leaves and bloomed tiny flowers, presenting a lush green scene. "After the fresh fruits come down in mid-June, we will prepare to produce a large quantity of preserved fruits and sell them in the market. In September, we will start to collect seeds to produce more high-quality seeds for desertification control," said Zhao Wenjun, the general manager of Baoji Tian Tian Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.
Dishao Gua, also known as Nv Qing Guo, is a wild plant widely distributed in slopes, sand dunes, dry valleys, wastelands, and other areas in northern China. Its fruit has the functions of promoting lactation, nourishing lung qi, clearing heat, relieving thirst, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain. It has high edible and medicinal value. Moreover, it has good windbreak and sand fixation functions as it is suitable for growing in wastelands and sandy areas.
Recognizing the potential and market prospects of Dishao Gua, with the support of the government of Harlingol Town in Jiuyuan District, Baoji Tian Tian Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. contracted over 100 mu of land in the state-owned forest of Jiuyuan District in 2010 and started to collect the seeds of these wild crops, attempting artificial cultivation.
After 8 years of continuous experimentation and research, the cultivation technology of Dishao Gua has become increasingly mature, with a yield of 300 jin per mu, making it the largest artificial seedling planting base for Dishao Gua in the country.
Habitat Distribution of Dishao Gua
Dishao Gua grows in slopes, sand dunes, dry valleys, wastelands, and field edges at an altitude of 200-2000 meters. It is distributed in Northeast China, North China, Henan, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Gansu, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, and other regions.
Quelpartia grows on the sides of ditches, river banks, shrubs, or grasslands on slopes or roadsides. It is distributed in Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shaanxi, Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, and other regions.
Harvest and Storage
Dishao Gua is harvested, washed, and dried in summer and autumn.
