Detailed Explanation of Harvesting and Processing Techniques for Medicinal Scutellaria baicalensis

Scutellaria baicalensis(Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), also known as shancha root and tujincha root, is a plant of the genus Scutellaria in the Lamiaceae family. It is a semi-wild, semi-cultivated variety and a perennial herbaceous plant. The root of Scutellaria baicalensis is a medicinal herb, bitter in taste and cold in nature, capable of clearing heat and drying dampness, purging fire and detoxifying, stopping bleeding, and calming the fetus. It mainly treats warm febrile diseases, upper respiratory tract infections, lung-heat cough, damp-heat jaundice, pneumonia, dysentery, hemoptysis, red eyes, restless fetal movement, hypertension, carbuncles, swellings, boils and sores, and other conditions. In clinical application, Scutellaria baicalensis has even better antibacterial effects than Coptis chinensis, and does not produce drug resistance.

1. Seed Harvest

Seed fields are harvested for seed when the plants are 2-3 years old. Seeds generally mature in August and September, and are harvested in stages and batches to prevent natural shattering.

2. Commercial Harvest

Harvesting period: For cultivated Scutellaria baicalensis, the peak yield period is at 3 years of age, and the peak quality period is in September, when the content of active ingredients is high. Therefore, the appropriate harvesting age is 3 years, and the best harvesting period is mid-to-late September.

Harvesting method: Mechanical harvesting is mostly used in production, though manual harvesting is also possible. When harvesting, dig deeply and remove everything cleanly, removing all residual stems and soil. Post-harvest processing at the production site.

After harvesting, transport the roots back to the drying yard, and strictly protect them from rain during drying. Dry until 90% dry, then use a drum-type skin-bumping machine to bump off the skin at 21-24 revolutions per minute for 15 minutes. After one round of skin bumping, the root skin is basically cleaned off, and then continue drying until fully dry.

Market prospects: Scutellaria baicalensis has a long history of use, and social demand is growing ever larger. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine formulas, proprietary Chinese medicine raw materials, and exports, the export volume of Shuanghuanglian powder injection and oral liquid, which use Scutellaria baicalensis as the main raw material, is increasing day by day. The international market outlook is favorable, so the demand for raw materials will inevitably increase day by day. There is great potential for cultivating Scutellaria baicalensis artificially, and its development prospects will only get better and better.