What are the other names for the Chinese medicinal herb banlangen (Isatis root), and how much does a jin of its seeds cost?

Everyone is probably fairly familiar with the Chinese medicinal herb banlangen (Isatis root), which has heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, though we generally consume it more often in granule form. Banlangen is cultivated all over the country, commonly in provinces such as Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu and Anhui, and it has relatively high requirements for the growing environment. So what are the other names for the Chinese medicinal herb banlangen? And roughly how much does a jin of its seeds cost?

1. What are the other names for the Chinese medicinal herb banlangen?

What are the other names for the Chinese medicinal herb banlangen? Songlan, shanlan, dalangen and malangen; it is the dried root of the cruciferous plant Isatis indigotica (woad). The effects of taking banlangen together with different Chinese medicinal herbs vary, and it should be taken specifically under a physician's guidance. This is because not everyone is suited to consuming banlangen; people with a weak constitution, weak spleen or weak stomach are all unsuited to taking it.

Banlangen likes to grow in warm, humid environments, and it is commonly seen in damp places such as mountain woodlands. Banlangen is cold-tolerant and afraid of flooding and waterlogging, so sandy loam with good drainage, strong looseness and relatively high fertility should be chosen for planting.

2. Roughly how much does a jin of banlangen seeds cost?

Banlangen seeds are not expensive; generally the seed prices differ from place to place, ranging from about 15-45 yuan per jin. In addition, the price of banlangen seeds is also affected by factors such as place of origin, market conditions, variety and specification.

When buying banlangen seeds, it is recommended to buy them from a reputable seed market, as this gives a higher germination rate and somewhat higher yield potential when planted.

When buying banlangen seeds, seed selection is crucial; it is best to choose seeds harvested the previous year. If they are new seeds you can identify them by their black outer coat, which means much better maturity and a somewhat higher germination rate. If the seeds have been stored too long, not only will the germination rate be low, but they may also flower in the same year.

After the banlangen seeds have been selected, treating them before sowing can also increase the germination rate. First soak the banlangen seeds in clean water for half a day or a whole day. The benefit of doing this is that it softens the seed coat of the banlangen seeds, which helps sprouting; it can also remove grass debris and shrivelled seeds mixed in with the banlangen seeds. Once the soaked banlangen seeds have been scooped out and dried, you can choose a suitable time to sow them.

There is one more thing growers should note: banlangen seeds bought should ideally be sown right away. The sowing time is generally chosen as autumn sowing or early spring sowing; in the south you can also sow in summer, but the yield is not high.

Before sowing, a suitable plot should be chosen according to the characteristics of banlangen; on no account should it be planted in places such as clay soil or low-lying land.