Artemisia lactiflora, also known as apricot leaf sand ginseng, apricot leaf vegetable, citrus bellflower, and white-faced root, is a perennial herbaceous plant. The root can be used as medicine and is called sand ginseng (or southern sand ginseng). It has similar effects to Rhodiola rosea. The tender leaves can be consumed and are generally harvested from spring to late autumn, making it a good spring wild vegetable. Artemisia lactiflora is widely distributed and grows in grassy slopes. It has the strong effect of resolving dampness and quenching thirst and is commonly used to treat boils and abscesses.
【Plant Morphology】
The root is cylindrical and can grow up to 30 cm long. The stem is unbranched and 50-90 cm tall. The stem bears alternate leaves with no or very short petioles. The leaf blades are narrowly ovate, rhomboid-ovate, or elongate-ovate, 3-8 cm long and 1-4 cm wide. The apex is gradually pointed or acute, and the base is wide-wedge-shaped or wedged. The margins have irregular serrations, and the upper surface is hairless while the lower surface has short hairs along the veins. The inflorescence is spike-like, with slight branching in the lower part. It has sparse or slightly dense short hairs. The calyx has short hairs, with 5 lanceolate lobes that are 6-8 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide, shallowly divided into 5 lobes. The corolla is purple-lilac, bell-shaped, 1.5-1.8 cm long, and shallowly divided into 5 lobes. There are 5 stamens. The filaments are widened at the base with dense soft hairs on the edges. The disc is wide cylindrical. The pistil is nearly equal in length to the corolla. The fruit is nearly spherical with hairs, and it flowers from September to October.
【Distribution】
Artemisia lactiflora is distributed widely and grows in grassy slopes. It can be found in Henan, Shaanxi, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi.
【Characteristics and Odor】
(Root) Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
【Medicinal Parts】
The root of Artemisia lactiflora is used as medicine and has similar effects to Rhodiola rosea.
【Harvesting and Storage】
It is generally harvested from spring to late autumn. After digging out the root, wash it with water, peel off the outer skin, and dry it. When fresh, store the harvested root in moderately temperature soil indoors and use as needed.
【Propagation and Pest Control】
It can be propagated by seeds. Due to its long taproot, it is not suitable for division. It prefers loose and fertile soil.
【Application and Prescription】
"Compendium of Materia Medica" records that Artemisia lactiflora is sweet, cold, and non-toxic. It is used to counteract the poison of Glechoma hederacea (leaves of Glechoma hederacea are similar to a type of celery and can be life-threatening if mistakenly consumed). Take 8 liang (about 240 grams) of Artemisia lactiflora and boil it with 6 liters of water until it is reduced to 3 liters. Take 50 grams each time, 5 times a day.
【Precautions】
① "Annotated Compendium of Materia Medica" warns against using it in combination with Polygonum aviculare and Vitex negundo.
② "Commentary on the Compendium of Materia Medica " advises against using it for those with deficiency of the internal organs, heat, lung deficiency, and cold invasion.
