Highly toxic, it was once involved in a palace murder case, yet farmers have grown rich by cultivating it
According to the Book of Han, during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han (73-49 BC), the wife of General Huo Guang wanted her own daughter to become empress and plotted to murder the then Empress Xu. After Empress Xu gave birth, Huo Guang's wife coerced the imperial physician Chunyu Yan to use the opportunity of administering medicine to carry out the murder. Chunyu Yan secretly brought the crushed Chinese herb Fuzi (Aconitum carmichaelii lateral root) into the palace and stealthily mixed it into the pills Empress Xu was to take. Not long after taking the medicine, Empress Xu felt unwell all over and soon fell into a coma and died.
Fuzi is a highly toxic drug. It is the lateral tuberous root (daughter root) of Aconitum carmichaelii of the Ranunculaceae family. Pungent and extremely hot in nature, it contains many alkaloids, such as aconitine, hypaconitine and mesaconitine. Pharmacological experiments indicate that oral intake of 0.2 mg of aconitine can produce poisoning symptoms, manifesting as tingling and burning sensations in the mouth and throat, numbness of the lips and tongue, slurred speech and an inflexible tongue; in severe cases, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness and blurred vision, rigidity of the limb muscles, paroxysmal convulsions, locked jaw, and even ventricular fibrillation and cardiogenic shock leading to death.
In view of this, throughout history many doctors have taken a cautious attitude toward its use.
But at the same time, Fuzi is also a Chinese medicinal herb of very high medicinal value. Ginseng, prepared rehmannia, rhubarb and Fuzi are called the four pillars of Chinese medicine. Long ago, people already had the notion that Fuzi is the first-choice herb for restoring yang and rescuing from collapse.
Fuzi, also known as Wutou or Fupian, with alternative names: Caowu, salt Wutou, E'erhua, Tiehua, Wudu. It is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan and other places. It is harvested from late June to early August, with the mother root, fibrous roots and mud removed, commonly called "mud Fuzi". It is processed into salt Fuzi, black Fuzi (Heishunpian), white Fupian, light Fupian and prepared Fupian. It belongs to the interior-warming drugs. In Chinese medicine it is "the number one product for restoring yang and rescuing from collapse".
Li Shizhen: Li Shizhen said: in the early stage it is Wutou, resembling a crow's head. What grows attached to Wutou is Fuzi, like a child attached to its mother.
Pharmacology: The Shennong Bencao Jing records: it mainly treats wind-cold cough and rebellious pathogenic qi, warms the middle, removes cold-dampness, treats fractures of the hands and feet, contractures, and knee pain preventing walking, and breaks hard masses, blood accumulations, and metal-inflicted wounds. Zhang Zhongjing: Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang and Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang are representative formulas. Raw Fuzi combined with dried ginger nourishes and supplements while also dispersing; Ganjiang Fuzi Tang and Tongmai Sini Tang.
The traditional production areas of Fuzi are mainly Jiangyou in Sichuan and Chenggu and Mianxian in Shaanxi. New production areas developed after the founding of the People's Republic of China include Anxian, Butuo, Meigu and Chengkou in Sichuan; Nanzheng, Hanzhong, Xingping and Huxian in Shaanxi; Jinxian and Yuanshi in Hebei; Zhushan and Zhuxi in Hubei; Lijiang, Shangri-La Weixi, and Dali Binchuan Weishan in Yunnan; and Heze and Weifang in Shandong. Jiangyou in Sichuan and Chenggu in Shaanxi have a long planting history, large output and good quality, and their products are sold nationwide and exported. Xingping in Shaanxi is a Fuzi seedling production base.
The cost of growing Fuzi is much higher than that of growing ordinary crops, but at the same time, the returns are also much higher. Their products are all pre-processed by themselves before being sold, and after deducting costs, they can earn more than 10,000 yuan per mu of land!
Heishunpian is a longitudinal slice, wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, 1.7 to 5 cm long, 0.9 to 3 cm wide and 0.2 to 0.5 cm thick. The outer skin is dark brown, and the cut surface is dark yellow, oily and glossy, semi-transparent, with longitudinal vascular bundles. It is brittle in texture and horn-like in cross-section. It has a faint odor and a bland taste. Those with large, uniform, brownish-yellow slices and luster are considered the best.
White Fupian has no outer skin, is yellowish-white and semi-transparent, and about 0.3 cm thick. Those with uniform slices, a white interior and semi-transparency are considered the best.
Skillfully used, it greatly tonifies and restores yang to rescue from collapse; abused, it brings confusion and even fainting. Therefore this article is only for popular science. If any friend needs conditioning, it is best to consult a doctor nearby before use, and never use it indiscriminately.