White Atractylodes is a medicinal herb that is primarily used for its root and rhizome. It has multiple medicinal functions and is believed to contribute to longevity and overall health. Its key functions include strengthening the spleen and stomach, promoting digestion, enhancing the body's vitality, and strengthening the immune system.
Introduction to White Atractylodes
White Atractylodes is a perennial herbaceous plant that has been used as medicine for a long time. It was mentioned in the ancient Chinese book "Er Ya" but was called "Mountain Thistle" or "Yangfu Thistle" at that time. It was not until the book "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" that it was referred to as "Atractylodes". In various ancient herbal texts, it has been referred to by more than twenty other names, such as Tian Thistle, Mountain Mustard, Mountain Ginger, Mountain Essence, Mountain Lotus, Qili Jia, and Winter White Atractylodes, indicating its significance in traditional medicine.
White Atractylodes is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces in China. Among them, Zhejiang has the highest production and best quality, with wild White Atractylodes grown in the Yusan and Changhua Tianmu Mountains considered the top-grade variety. Locally, it is known as "Yu Shu" and referred to as "Monkey Atractylodes" or "Dog Head Atractylodes" due to its gnarled and beast-like appearance.
In ancient times, White Atractylodes was meticulously processed. In addition to being categorized as "raw Atractylodes", "sun-dried Atractylodes", and "winter Atractylodes" according to the season of harvesting, it was also specially processed according to clinical needs. Commonly used variations include stir-fried Atractylodes, charred Atractylodes, and various special Atractylodes preparations that include auxiliary ingredients such as bran, yellow soil, honey water, ginger juice, rice soup, milk, and alcohol, in order to meet the different requirements of various treatment combinations.
Longevity Effects of White Atractylodes
In terms of health preservation and disease treatment, the correct use of White Atractylodes is crucial, as evidenced by numerous historical examples. The book "Shou Qin Yang Lao Xin Shu" by Chen Zhi from the Song Dynasty includes a recipe for a White Atractylodes health wine, claiming that regular consumption can "turn white hair black again, regenerate lost teeth, and give the face a radiant glow. Long-term use can extend one's lifespan and keep one young". It also cites a poem by Shao Kangjie that praises its effects: "Frequently consumed, it brings a slight intoxication; patting the belly, one is filled with the joy of spring." Other ancient medical texts, such as "Lan Shi Mi Cang", "Qian Jin Liang Fang", "Gang Mu Shi Yi", and "Dan Xi Xin Fa", also contain records that demonstrate the wide-ranging and effective use of White Atractylodes.
Medicinal Properties of White Atractylodes
The main functions of White Atractylodes are tonifying the spleen and stomach, drying dampness, and regulating the middle burner. It is used to treat conditions such as spleen and stomach qi deficiency, poor appetite, abdominal distension, diarrhea, edema, phlegm and fluid retention, jaundice, difficult urination, dizziness, and spontaneous sweating. It has been regarded by generations of medical practitioners as a "divine herb for the spleen and stomach", "the top medicine for dispelling wind and dampness", "the essential medicine for resolving stagnation and accumulation", and "the first choice for enhancing digestion and eliminating food stagnation".
In clinical practice, White Atractylodes is often combined with various other herbs to treat related diseases. As renowned physician Zhang Xichun stated, White Atractylodes "works well with cold and cool herbs and is good at tonifying the lungs; it works well with dispersing herbs and is good at regulating the liver; it works well with stabilizing herbs and is good at nourishing the heart; it works well with nourishing yin herbs and is good at replenishing the kidneys". Its most common application is in the treatment of spleen and stomach disorders, as "when the spleen is deficient and weak, Atractylodes can tonify it; when the spleen is weak and cannot receive, Atractylodes can assist it". Pharmacological and animal experiments have shown that White Atractylodes has significant and long-lasting diuretic effects, hypoglycemic effects, anti-coagulant effects, antibacterial effects, and muscle-strengthening effects, further demonstrating its wide range of applications.
