What is the difference between Mingyuecao and Changshoucao? A quick guide to tell them apart
Changshoucao is also called mingricaoo, mingriye, Bazhangcao, shenxiancao, etc. It is the legendary herb of longevity that Emperor Qin Shi Huang sent Xu Fu to find. Mingyuecao and mingricaoo differ by only one character, so what is the difference between them? Below is an introduction to the differences between Mingyuecao and Changshoucao.
Difference 1: Different families and genera
Mingyuecao is also called baibeicai, baizicai, jimaoocai, baibei sanqi, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Gynura of the family Asteraceae, 30-60 cm tall. Changshoucao is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Angelica of the family Apiaceae, with a plant height of 80-120 cm.
Difference 2: Different appearance
The stems of Mingyuecao are erect, or more or less obliquely ascending at the base, woody, with ridges when dry, unbranched or sometimes with inflorescence branches in the upper part, hairless or covered with short soft hairs, slightly purple; the leaves are petiolate or nearly sessile, with leaf blades ovate, elliptical, or oblanceolate, green above, purple beneath, covered with short soft hairs on both sides, with a blunt or acute apex, coarsely toothed margins, sometimes lyrate-parted, rarely entire. Changshoucao closely resembles celery in appearance, with erect, much-branched stems, and the stems and leaves contain yellow sap; the leaves have long petioles, with leaf blades ovate or broadly ovate, smooth and hairless on both sides, with a pointed apex and finely serrated margins.
Difference 3: Different flowers and fruits
The flowering and fruiting period of Mingyuecao is from August to October, with small orange-yellow flowers that are fragrant, cylindrical brown achenes covered with fine hairs, and white plumose pappus. The flowering period of Changshoucao is from May to October, and the fruiting period is from September to December, with small creamy-yellow flowers and long elliptical, slightly flattened fruits.
Difference 4: Different effects
Mingyuecao can be eaten and also used medicinally. The edible parts are its tender stems and leaves, which can be stir-fried over high heat, blanched and served cold, or used as an ingredient in stewed soups, fish, meat, and eggs. It has biological activities such as lowering the “three highs”, treating scurvy and anemia, detoxifying, preventing cancer, antioxidation, antimutagenesis, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antitumor, protecting the liver and promoting bile flow, and regulating immune function. The medicinal part is its whole plant, which can be used fresh or dried in the sun. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relaxing sinews and setting bones, and cooling blood and stopping bleeding, and is used for bronchopneumonia, high fever in children, whooping cough, red swollen painful eyes, rheumatic joint pain, and abnormal uterine bleeding; externally it is used to treat bruises, fractures, traumatic bleeding, mastitis, sores and boils, and burns and scalds.
Changshoucao can be eaten, used medicinally, and also used as feed. The edible parts are its tender stems and leaves, which have a unique aroma, can remove the fishy and gamy odors of fish and meat, and can be stir-fried, served cold, juiced, deep-fried, used in hot pot, cooked in soup, stewed with meat, or made into tea. It has effects such as fighting cancer, preventing cell aging, and regulating chronic diseases. The medicinal part is its whole plant, which has the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination, strengthening the body, and promoting lactation, and has effects such as inhibiting the central nervous system, lowering blood pressure, regulating the endocrine system, strengthening the pancreas, purifying the blood, promoting insulin secretion, removing excess cholesterol, alleviating rheumatic pain, and reducing the burden on the liver. The leaves of mingriye cannot be eaten once they age, but can be harvested as feed and used to feed chickens and dairy cows.