What are the other names for Xuanshen (Figwort Root)? A detailed explanation of the key points of cultivation techniques

Xuanshen (Figwort Root) is a common Chinese medicinal herb, the root of the herbaceous plant Scrophularia ningpoensis. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Zhejiang, Sichuan and other places beside streams at relatively high altitudes, under bamboo forests and in thickets. Nowadays, Xuanshen is also widely cultivated artificially, and its ability to adapt to the environment is very strong. Generally, with proper management, a high yield can be obtained. So what are the other names for Xuanshen? What are the key points of cultivation techniques?

1. What are the other names for Xuanshen?

1. Other names: Xuanshen is also called Zhe Xuanshen, Heishen, and Wuyuanshen.

2. Efficacy: Xuanshen can treat warm-heat disease with heat in the nutrient and blood levels, and has a certain effect on fever, thirst, skin eruptions, crimson tongue, bone-steaming consumptive cough, constipation due to fluid damage, restlessness and insomnia due to deficiency, blurred vision with dry eyes, scrofula and phlegm nodes, sore throat, and carbuncle and sore toxin.

3. Morphology: Xuanshen has many roots, which look swollen like carrots, and the thickness can reach more than 3 cm. It generally blooms from June to October, and bears fruit from September to November.

4. Distribution: Xuanshen is a Chinese medicinal herb unique to our country, distributed in Henan, Hebei (southern), Shanxi, Shaanxi (southern), Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guizhou, Sichuan and other regions.

2. What are the key points of Xuanshen cultivation techniques?

1. Sowing time and method

Xuanshen generally has spring sowing and autumn sowing. If sown in spring, it can be harvested in the same year, but the variety is generally ordinary. If sown in autumn, the growth speed is fast, and it can only be harvested in March of the following year, but its commercial quality is strong and the yield is much higher than that of spring sowing.

Xuanshen sowing adopts the method of broadcast sowing or drilling, evenly scattering the seeds on top, covering the seeds with fine soil, and then covering the soil with a layer of wheat straw, which has a heat-preserving effect.

After the Xuanshen seedlings grow out, remove the covering rice straw to let them emerge. After emergence, thinning should be carried out, and appropriate topdressing should be applied. When they grow to 6 cm, they can be planted out.

2. Land selection and land preparation

The soil layer for planting Xuanshen is required to be relatively deep, and then choose a sunny slope for planting, with sufficient base fertilizer.

3. Cultivation and weeding

After planting, Xuanshen should be frequently weeded and loosened, but not too deeply at one time, so as not to damage its roots. After the plant grows larger, there is no need to loosen the soil, and it is only necessary to pull out weeds when seen.

4. Appropriate topdressing

In the early growth stage of Xuanshen, sufficient base fertilizer was applied, but topdressing should be carried out appropriately according to its growth condition, mainly with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Do not apply fertilizer too concentrated, so as to avoid root burning.

5. Watering

Xuanshen is a relatively drought-tolerant medicinal material, so the amount of watering should be controlled, and no water accumulation should occur. If it is the rainy season, excess water should be drained in time to prevent root rot.