What are the other names for Mingdangshen? What are the key points for growing it?

Mingdangshen is a relatively precious Chinese medicinal herb, with effects such as clearing the lungs, calming the liver, harmonizing the stomach, and detoxifying. Mingdangshen is mainly distributed on mountain slopes, rocks, or in rock crevices in places such as Anhui, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu in our country. It has relatively high requirements for soil and likes to grow in fertile places. Let us take a look below at what are the other names for Mingdangshen? What are the key points for growing it?

1. What are the other names for Mingdangshen?

The other names for Mingdangshen are Turenshen, Fenshashen, Hongdangshen, Shanluobo, and Mingshashen. It is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its surface is brownish brown or pale yellow, and the inside is white. The stem of Mingdangshen is very straight, and it produces umbel flowers that change from light purple to white. It generally blooms in April.

Mingdangshen contains polysaccharides, glucose, fructose, inulin, sucrose, phosphate, and 17 kinds of amino acids, including 7 essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize, such as lysine. In addition, it also contains saponins, volatile oil, fat, and 14 elements such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, copper, and iron.

There is a difference between the effects of Mingdangshen and Dangshen. Dangshen is a qi-tonifying medicine, while Mingdangshen is a phlegm-resolving medicine and is cold in nature.

2. What are the key points for growing Mingdangshen?

1. Soil requirements

Mingdangshen is suitable for planting in relatively fertile sandy loam with good drainage and strong air permeability. Mingdangshen grown in sandy loam has tuberous roots that are not easy to rot, and the branches that grow are very thick and sturdy, with relatively good quality. If Mingdangshen is grown in yellow clay, the quality produced is very hard, and it grows relatively short and small.

2. Land preparation

After selecting the plot, carry out land preparation work, plow the soil, loosen it, and then level it, keeping the soil moist.

3. Seed selection

There are two varieties of Mingdangshen, one with white flowers and one with purple flowers. Most people plant the purple-flowered variety, which has a slightly higher survival rate. However, the white-flowered variety has larger roots and slightly better quality, but it is a little more difficult to manage.

4. Sowing

The sowing methods for growing Mingdangshen include direct sowing and transplanting. In the common direct sowing method for growing Mingdangshen, in July of that year, dig furrows and apply diluted manure as base fertilizer, then sow. After sowing is completed, cover with a thin layer of fine soil and set up a shade shed, shading during the day and uncovering it at night, so as to prevent the sun from burning the seeds.

In August and September, Mingdangshen will sprout. Remember to apply additional fertilizer and remove weeds so as to prevent them from competing with the Mingdangshen plants for nutrients.

5. Harvesting

If the growing conditions are suitable, it generally matures by the end of the following autumn, and can be harvested in August and September. After digging up Mingdangshen, wash the soil off its surface and dry it in the sun. For the specific processing method, you can consult a professional, and try to process it soon after harvesting.