Differences Between Huaishan and Shanyao, Authentic Producing Areas, and How to Treat Itchy Hands

Huaishan generally refers to Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya), roughly equivalent to Huaishan yam, and broader than Huai yam. So is there a difference between it and Shanyao? What are the authentic producing areas? What to do about itchy hands? It is understood that the Huaishan from Wen County, Wuzhi, and Bo'ai in the Xinxiang region of Henan, with most concentrated in Qinyang County, Henan (formerly part of the Huaiqing Prefecture), has large output, excellent quality, is supplied and sold throughout the country, and is exported in large quantities.

Is there a difference between Huaishan and Shanyao?

1. Appearance

Ordinary Shanyao is generally rather thick, and the top is thicker, that is, the head is thick while the lower part is thinner. The skin of ordinary Shanyao is relatively smooth, while the skin of Huaishan yam has many pitted spots. Also, the skin of ordinary Shanyao has no rust-like spots, while the surface of Huaishan yam is covered with rust-like spots, and these cannot be washed off.

2. Quality

Because ordinary Shanyao is planted in large quantities artificially, it contains more water. Huaishan yam, however, has a relatively fine and hard texture, so it does not break easily. Huaishan yam has a relatively high density, so picking it up feels a bit like picking up a stone.

3. Producing area

This can be said to be the most fundamental reason for the difference between the two. Huaishan is a medicinal material with extremely high medicinal value, known in traditional Chinese medicine as a genuine regional drug, that is, a medicinal material produced in its place of origin. In our country, the place of origin of Huaishan is near Jiangsu and Anhui, and only what is produced there can be called Huaishan, while what is produced elsewhere is what we commonly call Shanyao, whose medicinal and nutritional value cannot compare with that of true Huaishan.

4. Cut surface

The cut surface of ordinary Shanyao turns yellow after being cut for just a short while, while that of Huaishan yam does not, and the milky white color of the cut can be maintained for a relatively long time. The skin of Shanyao becomes slippery after just a simple scrub, while Huaishan yam requires fairly forceful washing.

5. Cooking time

Ordinary Shanyao requires a long cooking time before it can be eaten, and it cannot achieve the effect of melting in the mouth, while Huaishan yam needs only six or seven minutes of cooking to reach that feeling. So when the Shanyao you buy takes ages to cook, it shows that this kind of Shanyao is very ordinary.

6. Uses

Huaishan is a specialized medicinal material, and in health preservation we mostly use it as a medicinal dish. As for Shanyao, we mostly use it as a food, and I believe many people have also eaten food ingredients made from Shanyao.

What to do if Huaishan makes your hands itch?

1. Soak in hot water (at a temperature you can bear; it is best not to use warm water, as it has little effect) for a few minutes, which can effectively relieve the itching.

2. Rub with edible salt and then soak in hot water for a better effect. Be sure to soak rather than wash; washing has no effect.

3. Rubbing and washing in rice water works very well.

4. Apply vinegar to your hands, and remember not to wash it off right away; washing it off immediately has no effect and the itching will continue. If time permits, it is recommended to wash it off as late as possible, which can completely stop the itching.

If you want to avoid itchy hands, it is best to take preventive measures in advance:

1. Before peeling, wear gloves or put on a plastic bag to avoid touching the mucus.

2. After wearing gloves, wash the soil off the Huaishan and put it in hot water to blanch it. After the mucus of the Huaishan is broken down, you can easily peel off the skin gently with a knife.

3. Before peeling, rub some vinegar on your hands and then peel, and it will not itch.