What are the main varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs in Chongqing?
Everyone knows that Chinese medicinal herbs grow in different regions because of the different climatic conditions and temperatures they need to grow, so what varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs are there in Chongqing?
There are many Chinese medicinal herbs produced in Chongqing, such as Coptis chinensis, honeysuckle, gallnut, moutan cortex, eucommia bark, magnolia bark, Corydalis yanhusuo, etc. Chongqing is also one of the relatively important production areas of Chinese medicinal herbs in the country.
1. Coptis chinensis
Coptis chinensis is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family and the Coptis genus, also called wei lian, chuan lian, chicken-claw lian, etc. Its main distribution areas are Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei and other places.
Coptis chinensis prefers cool, moist and shaded conditions, and avoids high temperatures and drought. It is generally distributed in high mountain areas of 1200~1800m, and needs a natural environment with low temperatures and high air humidity. It cannot withstand strong sunlight and prefers weak light, so it needs shading.
2. Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a perennial semi-evergreen twining and creeping shrub of the Caprifoliaceae family and the Lonicera genus. It is distributed throughout all parts of China, with the main distribution areas being Shandong, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, Hubei, etc.
3. Gallnut
Gallnut comes from a deciduous small tree or shrub of the Anacardiaceae family and the Rhus genus, also called bai chong cang, bai yao jian, bang zi, etc. Its main effects are astringing the lungs and reducing fire, astringing the intestines and stopping diarrhea, and removing toxin and dispersing abscesses.
4. Moutan cortex
Moutan cortex is the dried root bark of the Ranunculaceae plant tree peony. It is cultivated in many places throughout the country, with the main production areas being Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, Shandong, Guizhou, etc. Among them, the moutan cortex produced in Fenghuangshan, Tongling, Anhui has the best quality.
5. Eucommia bark
Eucommia is a deciduous tree of the Eucommiaceae family and the Eucommia genus. The tree can reach 20 m in height, with a diameter at breast height of about 50 cm. Medicinal eucommia is the dried bark of the Eucommiaceae plant Eucommia ulmoides. It is a tonic medicinal material and has the effects of tonifying the liver and kidneys, strengthening tendons and bones, regulating the Chong and Ren meridians, and stabilizing menstruation and preventing miscarriage.
6. Magnolia bark
Magnolia bark is a plant of the Magnoliaceae family and the Magnolia genus. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei and other places. In Chinese medicinal herbs, it specifically refers to the dried trunk bark, root bark and branch bark of this plant. It has therapeutic effects on diseases such as food accumulation with qi stagnation, abdominal distension and constipation, and dampness obstructing the middle jiao. It can also be added to cancer drugs.
7. Corydalis yanhusuo
Corydalis yanhusuo is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Papaveraceae family and the Corydalis genus. It is a commonly used Chinese medicine, with the tuber used as medicine. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis, and regulating qi and relieving pain. It mainly treats stomach pain, dysmenorrhea, traumatic injuries, etc. It is distributed in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and is mainly produced in Zhejiang.