A Detailed Guide to the Main Producing Areas of Yew, the Price of 10 cm Plants, and Their Benefits and Effects
The yew is a shallow-rooted plant with an inconspicuous taproot and well-developed lateral roots. It is recognized worldwide as a rare, endangered natural anti-cancer plant and has a history of 2.5 million years on Earth. So, where are the main producing areas of yew? What is the price of a 10 cm yew? What benefits and effects does it have?
Where are the main producing areas of yew?
The main producing areas of yew are Northeast China's Heilongjiang, Japan, Korea, and Russia (Amur Oblast, Sakhalin, etc.) in the Northeast Asia region.
China has 4 species and 1 variety of yew, distributed across most parts of the country. The Japanese yew is mainly distributed in the Changbai Mountains of Jilin Province and the Heilongjiang area, with a small distribution also found in the mountainous areas of eastern Liaoning. The Yunnan yew is mainly distributed in western Yunnan and 16 counties across prefectures, with a total area of about 90,000 sq km. It is characterized by a wide distribution, scattered growth, no pure stands, and mostly scattered trees within forests. The Chinese yew is mainly distributed in eastern Yunnan, southwestern Yunnan, and eastern Yunnan in pure stands, mostly as scattered trees within forests. Large numbers of natural yews are distributed in Laowan Village, Chaoyi Township, Suining County, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province; Jiaochemiao Village, Yangmingshan, Shuangpai County, Yongzhou City; and Huangshan District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province.
Sichuan, Guangxi, Shandong and other places are also yew producing areas, with large amounts under cultivation. There are also distributions in western Jiangxi (Yichun, Tonggu area) and northern Jiangxi (within Dahetang Village, Zhaochen Town, Ruichang City, about 80,000 plants). The Tibetan yew is mainly distributed in northwestern Yunnan and southern and southeastern Tibet. Yunnan's yews mainly grow and are distributed in the mountainous areas of Lijiang, Diqing, Nujiang and Dali at altitudes of 2600 to 3500 m, in a belt-like distribution and in very small numbers. In Daqiao Town, Ruyuan County, a small town of only just over 300 sq km, more than 100,000 yews have actually taken root, making this the most densely growing area of wild yew in China today.
What is the price of a 10 cm yew?
The yew is extremely valuable, and current market prices are not yet entirely certain. Because it grows relatively slowly, a plant about 30 cm tall with a crown spread of 10-15 cm generally sells for between 2000-3000 yuan on the market.
What benefits and effects does yew have?
1. The stems, branches, leaves and roots are used as medicine. Its main components include paclitaxel, taxine and diterpenoid compounds. It has anti-cancer properties and is effective in suppressing diabetes and treating heart disease.
2. Paclitaxel extracted from the bark and leaves of yew has outstanding therapeutic effects on many kinds of advanced cancer and is called “the last line of defense in cancer treatment”. High-purity paclitaxel is expensive, at about 2 million yuan per kg. However, yew grows slowly and has poor natural regeneration capacity; 10 mu of cultivated plants can yield only 1 kg of paclitaxel at 1% purity.
3. It promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, and treats kidney disease, diabetes, nephritic edema, difficult urination, gonorrhea, and so on.
4. It warms the kidneys and promotes menstruation, and is effective in treating irregular menstruation, postpartum blood stasis, and dysmenorrhea.