Where are the latest production areas of Angelica sinensis? Introduction to the main production areas
Angelica sinensis is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines, also known as Western angelica, Minxian angelica, golden angelica, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Angelica in the Apiaceae family, and its root can be used as medicine, with effects of nourishing and harmonizing blood, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, moistening dryness and lubricating the intestines, fighting cancer, resisting aging, and enhancing immunity. Now let us take a look together at where the production areas of Angelica sinensis are!
Where are the production areas of Angelica sinensis?
Angelica sinensis is native to western Asia, and is widely cultivated in various countries in Europe and North America. In China, it is widely cultivated in Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Ningxia and other places, growing in high-cold and rainy mountainous areas. In fact, Angelica sinensis is all cultivated. It is mainly produced in Minxian, Tanchang, Wudu, Zhangxian, Weiyuan, Wenxian and other places in Gansu, and is also produced in Weixi, Deqin, Zhongdian, Lanping and other counties in Yunnan Province, as well as in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei and other provinces. Among them, Minxian and Tanchang in Gansu have high yields and the best quality, and are known as the “hometown of Chinese angelica”.
How to select Angelica sinensis
1. Appearance: Angelica sinensis with a large head, thick and long main root, and few branches is high-quality angelica. This kind of angelica absorbs more sunlight, water, and nutrients during growth and has higher value.
2. Cut surface: For angelica, a yellow-white cross-section is high quality, while a reddish-brown cross-section is inferior. Choose angelica with a dense cut surface, because angelica with a spongy, loose density is mostly grown in the shade.
3. Color: Angelica is best selected in earth-brown or black-brown color, while golden-yellow angelica indicates relatively severe sulfur fumigation.
4. Odor: Good angelica has a rich aroma, is sweet and pungent, and slightly bitter. Overall, angelica with a thick and long main root, few branch roots, a yellow-white cross-section, and a rich aroma is high quality.
What varieties of Angelica sinensis are there?
1. Dong angelica: Dong angelica is also known as Yamato angelica, Japanese angelica, Yanbian angelica, etc. In some areas of Northeast China, it is used medicinally as angelica. Local Korean people in Jilin believe its effects are similar to angelica. Its root is shorter than that of angelica, with a yellow-brown or brown surface, and the whole body has fine longitudinal wrinkles and transversely protruding lenticel-like scars. The texture is hard and brittle, the phloem of the cross-section is off-white, and the xylem is yellow-white or yellow-brown. The odor is aromatic, and the taste is sweet and then slightly bitter.
2. European angelica: European angelica is the root of the Apiaceae plant European angelica. It differs from angelica in properties and pharmacological effects, and has adverse reactions that angelica does not have, so it cannot be mixed and used medicinally as angelica. The root of European angelica is conical, the head of the root is enlarged, with more than two root heads and transverse rings. The surface is gray-brown or gray-yellow, and scars left by broken lateral roots can be seen. The odor is aromatic but turbid, and the taste is initially slightly sweet and then pungent and numbing to the tongue.
3. Yunnan wild angelica: Yunnan wild angelica is the root of the Apiaceae plant Yunnan wild angelica. Its effects are similar to angelica, and it is used medicinally as angelica 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 rings. 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, and the taste is slightly sweet and then bitter.
4. Peucedanum decursivum: Peucedanum decursivum is the root of the Apiaceae plant Peucedanum decursivum, also known as duck-foot seven, wild angelica, etc., and is actually the genuine medicinal Peucedanum. Its main root is irregularly conical, with a brown surface, longitudinal wrinkles, leaf base scars at the top, and several branch roots growing below. The surface has longitudinal wrinkles and transversely lenticel-like scars. The texture is relatively hard and easy to break. The phloem of the broken surface is brown, and the xylem is yellow-brown, while some have a lighter-colored cross-section.
5. Pubescent angelica: Pubescent angelica is the root of the Apiaceae plant Angelica pubescens, that is, the root of the genuine medicinal pubescent angelica. Its root is slightly cylindrical, the root head is enlarged and conical, with many transverse wrinkles. The surface is gray-brown or brown, with longitudinal wrinkles, transversely raised lenticels, and fine root scars. The texture is relatively hard but softens when damp. The phloem of the cross-section is gray-white with scattered brown dotted oil chambers, and the xylem is gray-yellow to yellow-brown, with a brown cambium ring.
6. Large pubescent angelica: Large pubescent angelica is the root of the Apiaceae plant large pubescent angelica. In some areas of Jilin, it is also called local angelica, wild angelica, fresh angelica, and was once used medicinally in place of angelica. The root head is short and thick, with rings on the surface, leaf base scars at the top, and several branch roots below. Longitudinal wrinkles, transversely lenticel-like scars, and sometimes exuded brown viscous resin-like substances can be seen on the surface. The texture is brittle and easy to break, the phloem of the cross-section is gray-white, and the xylem is yellow-white.