False ginseng, also known as Chinese ginseng or Codonopsis pilosula, is a natural ingredient that can be used both as food and medicine. It is rich in nutrients and can be consumed as a green vegetable or used in traditional Chinese medicine to clear heat and reduce inflammation.
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【Methods of Consuming False Ginseng】
False ginseng's tender leaves can be used as a delicious wild vegetable in spring. They can be picked and used to make various dishes, with a taste similar to wood ear fungus. Consuming the tender leaves of false ginseng also has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing inflammation.
False ginseng is a safe and natural green vegetable. It is nutrient-rich and has become a popular leafy vegetable in recent years.
The tender stems and leaves of false ginseng have a crisp and smooth texture and can be stir-fried or used in soups. The fleshy roots of false ginseng can be used in cold dishes or stewed with meat, making it a beneficial dish that can be used as both medicine and food.
In rural areas, false ginseng is often used as a remedy for insufficient breast milk production: fresh false ginseng leaves are stir-fried in oil and eaten as a vegetable, which has a good effect on promoting lactation.
For the treatment of abscesses and swelling, fresh false ginseng leaves can be crushed and applied to the affected area with red sugar. This can reduce inflammation, eliminate stasis, and remove viruses.
False ginseng is also called "rice cooking flower" because it usually blooms in the afternoon or evening, which is the time for cooking dinner or making soup.
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【Medicinal Value of False Ginseng】
1. Treating Anemia
The tender leaves of false ginseng contain ginsenosides, amino acids, and various vitamins. Regular consumption can assist in the treatment of anemia, neurasthenia, sexual dysfunction, and digestive system cancers.
2. Treating Weakness and Spleen Deficiency
The roots of false ginseng can treat weakness and spleen deficiency. When dried and stewed, it can treat malnutrition syndrome and regulate women's menstrual irregularities when used with other medicinal herbs. Rural people usually like to steam eggs with false ginseng, especially for children who are growing, as it is very nutritious.
3. Treating Colds and Coughs
False ginseng has medicinal properties and is a very helpful health product for the human body. Many rural people use it to cook chicken soup when they have a cold, cough, dizziness, or anemia.
4. Treating Boils
Fresh false ginseng leaves can be externally applied to treat boils and other diseases. It is said that in South America, people crush the stems and leaves and apply them externally to disperse stasis and reduce swelling. The decoction can be used to treat conjunctivitis, and internal use can alleviate the condition of mentally depressed individuals.
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【Methods of Cultivating False Ginseng】
1. Site Selection
False ginseng prefers a warm and humid living environment, so the air, water quality, and soil conditions should all meet the standards for pollution-free vegetable plots. For greenhouse cultivation, false ginseng should be transplanted in mid-March and will be available from late April to early December. For outdoor cultivation, it can be planted from April 20th to August, and will be available from early June to early November.
2. Planting
False ginseng has strong adaptability to soil, but in order to produce high-quality tender stems and leaves, well-drained sandy loam soil should be selected for planting. Before planting, the soil should be well prepared and organic fertilizer or specialized organic-inorganic compound fertilizer for leafy vegetables should be applied. After planting, sufficient water should be applied to establish the root system, usually watering every 3-5 days. If using seedling trays, there is no need for a seedling acclimatization period, just water once to establish root system.
3. Management
False ginseng prefers moist soil. Generally, water should be applied every 3-5 days on sunny days, and watering should only be done when the soil is dry in protected cultivation. False ginseng is not tolerant to waterlogging, so drainage should be paid attention to during rainy seasons. After each harvesting of tender stems and leaves, a topdressing should be applied to the roots.
4. Diseases and Pests
False ginseng is rarely affected by diseases and pests, but attention should be paid to root rot and stem rot diseases, and occasionally there may be damage from Helicoverpa armigera on the leaves. Generally, agricultural pest prevention measures such as placing insect-proof nets and improving ventilation should be taken. Every 15-20 days, spraying 70% methyl thiophanate 800 times liquid or 77% killing 1000 times liquid can be used for prevention. Once the disease occurs, spray the above-mentioned agents every 3-5 days, continuously for 3-4 times, and promptly remove diseased plants. After the condition stabilizes, new seedlings can be replanted.
