Restoring the production of the Chinese medicinal herb Pinellia ternata (ban xia) brooks no delay
Restoring the production of ban xia brooks no delay
Before the previous century, ban xia grew in abundance in the wild in rice paddies, along streams in damp grassy thickets or open woods, and could be seen everywhere, so its resources could truly be called plentiful. However, with the adjustment of the cropping structure and the shift in cultivation methods, and with the widespread use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, the living and growing environment of ban xia has suffered severe damage, and its resources have gradually dwindled; today they are on the verge of exhaustion. The ban xia that once grew wild in open fields has basically disappeared, and only occasional remnant traces can now be found around houses and along ditches and canals.
Ban xia is one of the main varieties used in Chinese medicine manufacturing and for export, and the exhaustion of its wild resources and the growing gap between supply and demand have proceeded at a pace rarely seen among commonly used Chinese medicinal herb varieties. The market price has gradually risen from 20 yuan/kg in 2000 to the current 120 yuan/kg, and supply is scarce while prices remain firm. As standardized production of Chinese medicinal herbs advances in China, all Chinese medicine factories nationwide must implement GMP standard certification, and processing plants of decoction pieces must also produce according to GMP standards. In addition, with the strengthening of efforts to crack down on counterfeit products in the future, the varieties formerly used as substitutes for ban xia, such as water ban xia (Pinellia pedatisecta, li tou jian) and xiao nan xing (Pinellia pedatisecta, zhang ye ban xia), will be eliminated, making ban xia even scarcer and more expensive. In the next few years, ban xia will continue to be in short supply.
Therefore, in order to protect traditional wild ban xia resources, preserve this endangered variety, develop the agricultural economy and increase farmers' income, farmers with the right conditions should develop ban xia production as soon as possible to meet market demand. It is suggested that the relevant departments promptly research, develop, demonstrate and formulate standardized operating procedures (SOP) for ban xia production; this is an urgent task, something farmers need and the country looks forward to. Scientific, standardized, large-scale and easy-to-operate ban xia production demonstration bases should be used to drive China's agricultural development, rural prosperity and farmers' income growth.
Li Hongjun, Heze City Runkang Chinese Medicinal Herb Research Institute, Shandong Tel: 0530-3978801
Statement: If this article is reproduced, the author, institution and contact information must be credited; otherwise, liability for copyright infringement shall be borne!