High-quality Chinese herbal medicine Gastrodia Elata
Gastrodia elata Blume (scientific name: Gastrodia elata Blume), is
a plant of the genus Gastrodia in the Orchidaceae family. It is
also known as divine grass, red arrow, white dragon skin, mountain
sweet potato, etc. The plants are 30 to 100 centimeters tall and
sometimes can reach up to 2 meters. The rhizome is thick, tuber,
elliptical to nearly dumbbell-shaped, and fleshy. The stem is
upright, orange-yellow, yellow, grayish-brown or bluish-green,
without green leaves, and the lower part is covered with several
membranous sheaths. The raceme is 5-30 (-50) centimeters long and
usually has 30-50 flowers. The capsule is obovate-elliptic, 1.4-1.8
cm long and 8-9 mm wide. The flowering and fruiting period is from
May to July.
Gastrodia elata is widely distributed in China and is produced in
Jilin, Hebei, Gansu, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan,
Tibet and other places. It is also distributed in Nepal, Bhutan,
India, Japan, the Korean Peninsula to Siberia. Gastrodia elata is
distributed in mountainous areas of tropical, subtropical,
temperate and cold zones, and usually grows under sparse forests at
an altitude of 400 to 3,200 meters. It prefers a cool and humid
environment. When the local temperature exceeds 30℃, it stops
growing. Gastrodia elata has strong adaptability and can grow in
common soil. It thrives in sandy loam that is loose in texture,
well-drained, fertile, deep in soil layer and rich in humus.
Gastrodia elata, as a common traditional Chinese medicine, has a
sweet, pungent and neutral nature. Belongs to the liver meridian.
It can be used to subdue wind and stop spasms, calm liver Yang,
dispel wind and unblock meridians. It is mainly used to treat acute
and chronic convulsions, convulsions and stiffness, tetanus,
dizziness, headache, hemiplegia, numbness in limbs, and rheumatic
arthralgia. Gastrodia elata is also a commonly used health food and
is often used as a seasoning for making soup.
In 2004, Gastrodia elata was classified as a vulnerable species
(VU) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
In the Appendix of the 2013 edition of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna
(CITES), Gastrodia elata is classified as a Class II species and
its international trade is regulated [9]. In 2021, the "List of
National Key Protected Wild Plants" listed Gastrodia elata as a
second-class national key protected wild plant.
一, Common usage
1. decocting
After slicing or mashing dry Gastrodia elata, add water to decoct
for 20-30 minutes, take juice and drink, which can be combined with
other medicinal materials (such as uncaria, Ligusticum chuanxiong)
to enhance the effect.
Fresh gastrodia elata can be washed, sliced and decocted directly,
and the taste is more clear and moist.
2. soak in water
Soak dry Gastrodia elata tablets or powder in boiling water for
10-15 minutes to replace tea. It is suitable for daily
conditioning.
It can be matched with Chinese wolfberry, red jujube and other
ingredients to reduce gastrointestinal discomfort caused by single
use.
3. Stewed soup
Gastrodia elata is stewed with black chicken, pigeon, ribs and
other meat. It is recommended to simmer for 1-2 hours after
slicing, which is suitable for the weak.
Match with yam, lotus seed and other spleen strengthening
ingredients to balance the bias of Gastrodia elata.
4. powdering and washing
Dry Gastrodia elata was ground into fine powder, and 1-3 g of warm
water was taken daily. The amount should be strictly controlled to
avoid excessive dizziness and other reactions.
5. Zhuwan powder or patent medicine
Follow the doctor's advice to prepare pills and powders with other
herbs, or use Chinese patent medicine containing gastrodia elata
(such as Gastrodia elata pill), which should be taken according to
the instructions or the doctor's instructions.
