What are the main production areas of Angelica sinensis and how do you select it?

Angelica sinensis is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines. Its root can be used as medicine and has the effects of nourishing and harmonizing blood, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, moistening dryness and lubricating the intestines, fighting cancer, resisting aging, and enhancing immunity. So, where are the main production areas of Angelica sinensis? What selection methods are there? What varieties of Angelica sinensis are there?

1. Where are the main production areas of Angelica sinensis?

Angelica sinensis originated in western Asia, and is widely cultivated in European and North American countries. It is also widely cultivated in Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Ningxia and other parts of China, growing in cold, rainy mountainous areas. In fact, Angelica sinensis is always a cultivated product. It is mainly produced in Minxian, Tanchang, Wudu, Zhangxian, Weiyuan, Wenxian and other places in Gansu, as well as Weixi, Deqin, Zhongdian, Lanping and other counties in Yunnan, and is also produced in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei and other provinces. Among these, Minxian and Tanchang in Gansu have high yields and the best quality, and are known as the “hometown of Chinese Angelica sinensis.”

2. Selection methods for Angelica sinensis

1. Appearance: Angelica sinensis with a large head, a thick and long main root, and few branches is considered high quality. This kind of Angelica sinensis absorbs more sunlight, water, and nutrients during growth, and is more valuable.

2. Cut surface: For Angelica sinensis, a yellow-white cross-section is high quality, while a red-brown cross-section is inferior. Choose Angelica sinensis with a compact cut surface, because Angelica sinensis with a spongy, loose density is mostly grown in shady areas.

3. Color: For selecting Angelica sinensis, earthy brown or dark brown is preferred, while golden-yellow Angelica sinensis indicates that it has been more heavily sulfur-fumigated.

4. Smell: Good Angelica sinensis has a rich fragrance, is sweet and pungent in taste, and slightly bitter. Overall, Angelica sinensis with a thick and long main root, few branch roots, a yellow-white cross-section, and a rich fragrance is considered high quality.

3. What varieties of Angelica sinensis are there?

1. Dong Danggui (Angelica acutiloba): Dong Danggui is also called Yamato Danggui, Japanese Danggui, Yanbian Danggui, etc. It is used as a medicinal Angelica sinensis in some areas of Northeast China, and the local Korean ethnic group in Jilin believes its effects are similar to those of Angelica sinensis. Its root is shorter than that of Angelica sinensis, with a yellow-brown or brownish-brown surface, and the whole root has fine longitudinal wrinkles and horizontally protruding lenticel-like scars. The texture is hard and brittle, the bark of the cross-section is off-white, and the wood is yellow-white or yellow-brown. It is aromatic, sweet at first and then slightly bitter.

2. European Angelica (Levisticum officinale): European Angelica is the root of the Umbelliferae plant Levisticum officinale. It differs from Angelica sinensis in properties and pharmacological effects, and has adverse reactions that Angelica sinensis does not have, so it cannot be mixed in as a medicinal substitute for Angelica sinensis. The root of European Angelica is conical, with an enlarged root head, more than two root crowns, and transverse ring patterns. The surface is gray-brown or gray-yellow, and scars from removed lateral roots can be seen. It is fragrant but turbid in odor, slightly sweet at first and then pungent and numbing to the tongue.

3. Yunnan wild Angelica: Yunnan wild Angelica is the root of the Umbelliferae plant Yunnan wild Angelica. Its effects are similar to those of Angelica sinensis, and it is used as a medicinal Angelica sinensis in some areas of Yunnan. Its root is conical, with fewer branches, and the surface is brown, red-brown, or black-brown. The top has stem scars or stem remnants, and the root head has transverse ring patterns. The surface has longitudinal wrinkles and lenticel-like scars. The texture is hard, and the cross-section is yellow-white. It has an aroma similar to Angelica sinensis, is slightly sweet at first and then bitter.

4. Peucedanum decursivum: Peucedanum decursivum is the root of the Umbelliferae plant Peucedanum decursivum, also called Yajiaoqi, wild Danggui, etc. It is actually the authentic medicinal Peucedanum. Its main root is irregularly conical, with a brownish-brown surface, longitudinal wrinkles, leaf-base scars at the top, and several branch roots growing below. The surface has longitudinal wrinkles and transverse lenticel-like scars. The texture is relatively hard and easy to break. In the broken cross-section, the bark is brownish-brown and the wood is yellow-brown, and some cross-sections are lighter in color.

5. Pubescent Angelica (Angelica pubescens): Pubescent Angelica is the root of the Umbelliferae plant Angelica pubescens, that is, the root of the authentic medicinal Pubescent Angelica. Its root is slightly cylindrical, with an enlarged root head, conical, and mostly transverse wrinkles. The surface is gray-brown or brownish-brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and transversely raised lenticels and fine root scars. The texture is relatively hard but softens when damp. In the cross-section, the bark is gray-white with scattered brown dotted oil chambers, and the wood is gray-yellow to yellow-brown, with a brown cambium ring.

6. Large Pubescent Angelica: Large Pubescent Angelica is the root of the Umbelliferae plant Large Pubescent Angelica. In some areas of Jilin, it is also called local Danggui, wild Danggui, fresh Danggui, and was once used as a medicinal substitute for Angelica sinensis. The root head is short and thick, with ring patterns on the surface, leaf-base scars at the top, and several branch roots below. Longitudinal wrinkles and transverse lenticel-like scars can be seen on the surface, and some show exuded brownish-brown viscous resin-like substances. The texture is brittle and easy to break. In the cross-section, the bark is gray-white and the wood is yellow-white.