What are the latest methods to tell real ginseng from fake?

Ginseng is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Panax in the family Araliaceae, also known as guigai, shencao, tujing, etc. It has effects such as greatly tonifying vital energy, restoring the pulse and stabilizing collapse, tonifying the spleen and benefiting the lungs, promoting fluid production and calming the mind. There are many types and varying qualities on the market, so it is necessary to learn a little identification knowledge. Now let us take a look at how to identify real and fake ginseng!

How to identify real and fake ginseng?

1. Fibrous roots: The long strip-like fibrous roots are old and tough, clear, sparse and long, with small millet-grain-like nodules attached. Those that are white, tender and brittle are not wild ginseng.

2. Rhizome: The rhizome of wild ginseng is relatively long and is divided into two-segment rhizome, three-segment rhizome, line rhizome and goose-neck rhizome.

3. Skin: Old skin is yellowish brown, tight in texture and glossy. Those with tender and white skin are not wild ginseng.

4. Lines: At the shoulder end of the upper part of the hairy root there are fine, dense and deep screw-like transverse lines. Those with rough, shallow and discontinuous transverse lines are not wild ginseng.

5. Straightness: The roots of wild ginseng are orderly and straight. Those with a single leg or two legs close together are mostly not wild ginseng.

What types of ginseng are there?

1. Sun-dried ginseng: The surface of sun-dried ginseng is earthy yellow, with dark brown transverse lines and longitudinal wrinkles. It is brittle, light in weight, flat in cross-section, white, with radial fissures, aromatic in odor and bitter in taste.

2. White dried ginseng: The epidermis of the main root of white dried ginseng has all been removed. The body surface is light yellow or off-white, the upper transverse lines are not obvious, but shallow longitudinal wrinkles and branch root scars can be seen. Other traits are similar to sun-dried ginseng.

3. Red ginseng: The surface of red ginseng is brownish red and semi-transparent, the rhizome is earthy yellow, the texture is hard and brittle, the cross-section is flat, horny, brownish red, with a light-colored central circle in the middle, aromatic in odor and slightly bitter in taste.

4. Wild mountain ginseng: The main root of wild mountain ginseng is short and thick, equal in length to the rhizome or shorter, mostly with two main branch roots, shaped like a human body. The fibrous roots are sparse and long, not easy to break, and have obvious wart-like protrusions on them.

5. Garden ginseng: The rhizome of garden ginseng has reed bowls on one or both sides, with no round rhizome. The upper end of the main root has thick transverse lines, not spiral-shaped, and sometimes transverse lines can be seen throughout. The fibrous roots are broom-like, relatively short and brittle.

The five forms and six bodies of ginseng

1. Five forms: “five forms” refers to the rhizome, adventitious roots, body, fibrous roots and lines of wild mountain ginseng.

① Rhizome: The rhizome of wild mountain ginseng, also called the rhizome head.

② Adventitious roots: The adventitious roots of wild mountain ginseng.

③ Body: The main root and skin of wild mountain ginseng.

④ Fibrous roots: The fibrous roots and pearl points of wild mountain ginseng.

⑤ Lines: The transverse lines on the main root of wild mountain ginseng.

2. Six bodies: “six bodies” refers to the main root of wild mountain ginseng, namely old, tender, horizontal, straight, lively and clumsy.

① Old: The skin color of wild mountain ginseng is old and the age of the ginseng is long.

② Tender: The skin color of wild mountain ginseng is tender and white, and the age of the ginseng is short.

③ Horizontal: The main root form of wild mountain ginseng is thick and short, with two legs extending to the sides.

④ Straight: The main root form of wild mountain ginseng is straight.

⑤ Lively: The main root form of wild mountain ginseng is exquisite and beautiful, and the body and legs are clearly distinguishable.

⑥ Clumsy: The main root form of wild mountain ginseng is clumsy and unattractive, and the two legs are uneven.