Wild ginseng is a dual-purpose ingredient, both as medicine and food. It is the rhizome of the wild plant Lulan, which has strong vitality. It is named wild ginseng because its main root is thick and resembles ginseng, and is also known as "earth ginseng". Now let's learn about the efficacy and function of wild ginseng.
Image of wild ginseng
【Identification of Wild Ginseng】
Wild ginseng is the root of the Lulan plant, a member of the Portulacaceae family. It is also known as earth ginseng, water ginseng, ginseng grass, earth foreign ginseng, and Lulan.
Wild ginseng is named after its thick main root, which resembles ginseng. It is also known as "earth ginseng". If it is used for consumption, the best time to harvest is when new seedlings are strong in early summer or when new leaves are growing.
Stem: The entire plant of wild ginseng is smooth and hairless, with soft and juicy stems and leaves. The stems can reach a height of about 60 cm and are branched at the base. The main root is thick and cylindrical or spindle-shaped, with a brownish-brown or dark brown appearance.
Leaves: Leaves are alternate, with short petioles or almost no petioles. The leaf blade is inverted-ovate or inverted-ovate elliptic, 5-7 cm long and 2-3.5 cm wide, gradually narrowing at the base, with a sharp or blunt round apex, and entire margins.
Flowers: Inflorescence is cone-shaped, borne on the top of branching stems. The peduncle is purplish-green or dark green, the flowers are small, numerous, and light purple-red, with a diameter of about 0.6 cm, and the flower stalks are slender. The calyx has 2 ovoid sepals with pointed tips, which fall off early. The petals are obovate or elliptic. There are more than 10 stamens, with slender filaments. The ovary is spherical, the style is slender, and the stigma is deeply divided into 3 lobes, with the tip bent outwards. The flowering and fruiting period of wild ginseng is from May to October.
Fruit: The fruit is a capsule, spherical, with a diameter of about 0.4 cm, and turns grayish-brown when ripe. The seeds are small, black, and flattened round.
Image of wild ginseng
【Efficacy and Function of Wild Ginseng】
1. Treating fatigue and weakness
When feeling mentally exhausted and constantly fatigued, with weakness in the limbs, you can use 5-10 grams of wild ginseng and a dried cuttlefish, stewed in alcohol and taken orally.
2. Treating spleen deficiency and diarrhea
When suffering from spleen deficiency and diarrhea, with reduced appetite, fullness and discomfort in the epigastric region after eating, and loose or watery stools, you can use 5-10 grams of wild ginseng and 5 grams of jujube, boiled in water and taken orally.
3. Treating cough due to asthenia
If suffering from cough due to asthenia, with chronic cough or extreme fatigue, dry and painful throat, extreme fatigue, bloody and foul-smelling phlegm, and inability to speak, you can use wild ginseng, Tonghua root, Geshanqiao, rock sugar, and chicken, stewed together and taken orally.
4. Treating night sweats and spontaneous sweating
If suffering from spontaneous sweating or night sweats, with profuse sweating during the day, especially more severe during movement, or excessive sweating after falling asleep, which stops after waking up, you can use 30 grams of wild ginseng and a pig stomach, stewed and taken orally.
Image of wild ginseng
【Cultivation Methods of Wild Ginseng】
1. Propagation by cuttings
The stem of wild ginseng is fleshy. When propagating by cuttings, it is generally necessary to choose fully mature and robust branches. The cuttings should be about 10 cm long and inserted into the soil to a depth of 5 cm. The seedbed should preferably be made of new soil or sterilized nutrient soil.
Wild ginseng can be propagated by cuttings during the growing season, but it is best from late March to mid-late October. In summer, it is advisable to cultivate seedlings under shade nets to improve survival rate.
Generally, the cuttings can take root and survive after 1 week, and after about 10 days, they should be lightly fertilized with manure water or compound fertilizer to strengthen the seedlings. They can be transplanted into the field after 15-20 days of cutting.
2. Propagation by seeds
The seeds of wild ginseng are small and have thick and hard shells. Generally, untreated seeds take 20-25 days to germinate. Before sowing, soak the untreated seeds in water at a temperature of 30-40°C for 2 days to ensure smooth germination.
Since the seeds of wild ginseng are very small and are sensitive to soil compaction, well-structured sandy loam should be used. If the soil has high stickiness, it is advisable to improve the soil structure by applying organic fertilizer, sand, and slag. Water the soil thoroughly before sowing, and use fine soil to retain moisture during sowing.
Summer seedlings require rich organic matter and loose fertile soil. The seedbed can be covered with shade nets or mulched with shredded grass to prevent soil compaction. Maintain a certain temperature and humidity during the seedling stage.
