What is the difference between Nan Shashen and Bei Shashen? Learn to tell them apart quickly

Nan Shashen, also known as Da Shashen or Kong Shashen, is thick and large in shape, relatively loose in texture, and weaker in efficacy; it specializes in entering the “lung” and tends to clear the lung, eliminate phlegm, and stop coughing;

Bei Shashen, also known as Beitiao Shashen or Xitiao Shashen, is slender in shape, firm and dense in texture, and better in efficacy; it specializes in entering the “stomach” and tends to nourish yin, promote fluid production, and quench thirst, though accounts differ.

Bei Shashen is sweet in flavor and slightly cold. It enters the lung and stomach meridians. Effects: nourish yin and moisten the lung, benefit the stomach and promote fluid production.

Nan Shashen is similar to Bei Shashen in nature, flavor, and functions, but its potency is weaker than that of Bei Shashen. In addition, it has a slight effect of eliminating phlegm and tonifying qi. It is more suitable for dry cough due to lung dryness and insufficient qi and fluid after warm-heat diseases.

Bei Shashen is a perennial herb, 5-20cm tall. The whole plant is covered with white soft hairs. The main root is slender, cylindrical, up to 30cm long and 0.5-1.5cm thick, rarely branched. The part of the stem exposed above ground is relatively short, while the underground part is elongated.

Nan Shashen has white milky juice. The stem is 50-100cm tall. The stem leaves are alternate, narrowly ovate or oblong-narrowly ovate, 3-9cm long and 1.5-4cm wide, with irregularly serrate margins.

The roots and rhizomes of Bei Shashen contain various coumarin compounds: psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin, isoimperatorin, imperatorin.

Nan Shashen contains triterpenoid saponins and xanthotoxin (ammoidin), namely 8-methoxypsoralen.