I Can Hear the Heart's Voice of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chapter 491 - 207: Identifying Herbs (2)

"But similar to other counterfeit Gentiana, although it’s bitter, it doesn’t compare to the extreme bitterness of genuine Gentiana."

"This guy really has some skills!"

The staff who was dispensing the herbs originally thought Lu Xuan was just casually wanting to look at the traditional medicine, but unexpectedly, Lu Xuan knew so much. He not only recognized Gentiana but also knew the characteristics of several counterfeit Gentiana in detail.

This guy is incredible!

She was slightly surprised as she placed the Yinchen in front of Lu Xuan, wanting to see if this guy was really that impressive.

"No problem with the Gentiana, right?" she asked Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan put down the Gentiana he was holding and shook his head: "Not a big problem, though it seems like it was harvested in spring, which is not as effective as the autumn harvest. However, the quality of the herbs is still decent."

He can even tell the harvest season?

The staff’s eyes widened like copper bells, looking at Lu Xuan in disbelief.

Not only her, at that moment, even Ji Xiuwen was a bit incredulous.

"No way, Lu Xuan, you can even tell the harvest season? How’s that possible?"

Lu Xuan smiled and said: "Generally speaking, Gentiana harvested in spring is mainly dried because of the high humidity in spring, while in autumn, due to the dry air, air-drying is more common. Based on this, it’s not hard to judge. However, with advancing technology, it’s possible to dry Gentiana collected in any season, which makes it more difficult to determine."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiuwen and the others didn’t say anything, but the staff who was dispensing herbs looked a bit enlightened.

Gained some knowledge.

Didn’t expect that identifying traditional medicine involved so much detail.

The key was that she knew Lu Xuan was absolutely correct; this Gentiana was indeed dried, not air-dried. She had previously glanced at the label, confirming it was harvested in spring.

At this moment, she completely dared not underestimate Lu Xuan anymore.

Although he looked young, he had significant skills.

No matter his medical skills, this ability to identify herbs is rare nationwide.

To put it bluntly, if Lu Xuan were willing to stay at Huian Pharmacy, even in this small county, the owner would offer a salary in the tens of thousands per month.

While this may not be considered high in a big city, it’s worth noting that the average salary in Anjiang County is only one to two thousand, and ten thousand would surpass 99.999% of Anjiang County.

Now, she no longer had the intention to watch passively. She placed the Yinchen in front of Lu Xuan and whispered, "This is Yinchen, take a look. If there’s a problem, just let me know."

Honestly, she didn’t know if the herbal medicine procured by the pharmacy had any issues.

It’s certain they aren’t top-quality herbs, as high-quality herbs often mean high prices. In this small county of Anjiang, there aren’t many people getting traditional medicine, and this pharmacy is the only one in the entire county, otherwise the purchased herbs would likely grow mold sitting in the cabinet.

As for whether there are counterfeit drugs, she’s not sure and can’t say for certain.

She only felt a bit uneasy in her heart after knowing Lu Xuan was so talented.

"There shouldn’t be any counterfeit drugs, right?"

With this thought in mind, she moved her steps to look for the third medicine.

Meanwhile, Lu Xuan picked up a little Yinchen in his hand, smiling as he said: "This is Yinchen, often used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and is a relatively common and frequently used herbal medicine."

Ji Xiuwen nodded. He had stayed in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for half a year, knowing that many prescriptions from doctors include Yinchen. After seeing it many times, he naturally knew this is Yinchen.

The herbal medicine procured by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, although not top-quality, does not contain counterfeits either.

"Yinchen is divided into two types: one is the Mian Yinchen harvested in spring, and the other is the Hua Yinchen harvested in autumn," Lu Xuan introduced.

"These two types of Yinchen should have differences, right?" Ji Xiuwen inquired further.

"Of course, there are differences."

Lu Xuan, without much thought, said: "The one I’m holding is Mian Yinchen. Mian Yinchen was first mentioned in Zhang Lu’s book ’Origin of the Canon’ from the Qing Dynasty."

"There are two types of Yinchen: one with leaves as thin as green wormwood, named Mian Yinchen, which is specialized in promoting water excretion and is an essential medicine for damp-heat jaundice.

The other grows with bell-like seeds, named Mountain Yinchen, also known as Horn Wormwood. Its taste is spicy and bitter with a slight toxicity, specialized in pest eradication and superior in treating oral ulcers, entering the Foot Taiyang meridian.

The ’Canon’ mentions treating wind, dampness, cold, and heat, hot knot jaundice, diseases arising from dampness lying dormant in Yangming, all referring to Mian Yinchen."

What Zhang Lu referred to as Mian Yinchen actually pertains to the basal composition of ancient medicinal Yinchen, both Artemisia scoparia and Artemisia capillaris.

Besides, Zhang Lu mentioned Mountain Yinchen too, which first appeared in Rihua’s "Rihua’s Materia Medica" from the Five Dynasties period: "Stone Yinchen, bitter, cold, non-toxic... also known as Artemisia capillaris, Mountain Yinchen. This originates from Benchuhe State and South Mountain, also found on Lingshan."

What Mr. Rihua referred to as Stone Yinchen, Artemisia capillaris, Mountain Yinchen, actually also pertained to ancient medicinal Yinchen’s basal composition of Artemisia scoparia and Artemisia capillaris, merely being wild Yinchen rather than todays’ predominantly cultivated ones."

Ji Xiuwen nodded, realizing that the medicinal records from ancient times likely pertained to wild types, considering planting wasn’t common then. Even if some traditional medicine achieved cultivation, the scale wasn’t significant.

Moreover, wild medicinal effects aren’t comparable to cultivated ones.

Wild effects surpass cultivated ones, undoubtedly.

Just like ginseng, the value of wild ginseng is significantly higher than cultivated ginseng.

They might seem to have the same constituents, but in treating illnesses, there’s a vast difference between them.

Wild ginseng of sufficient age can be life-saving, whereas cultivated ginseng, perhaps not so much.

"So, is there any difference between the Yinchen we use now and the ones you just mentioned?" the staff, curious, asked while fetching herbs.

She had been paying attention here, and when no one spoke, curiosity got the better of her. After a moment’s hesitation, she asked, biting her lip.

Lu Xuan looked up, seeing her looking over eagerly, and noticed the interest others had in herb identification. After pondering a bit, he said: "Regarding this, we must mention the 2015 edition of the ’Pharmacopoeia’ that recorded it.

The basal composition of medicinal Yinchen comes from Artemisia scoparia and Artemisia capillaris, divided by harvesting time into two types: harvested in spring is ’Mian Yinchen,’ while harvested in autumn is ’Hua Yinchen.’

As seen, today’s Mian Yinchen differs in significance from the one recorded by Zhang Lu in the Qing Dynasty.

Nonetheless, this basal composition inevitably involves an issue: due to different harvesting times, the plant’s maturity level differs, resulting in different effective contents and hence different effects.

For instance, the ’Hidden Aspects of the Materia Medica’ notes: ’Green Peel, Dried Tangerine Peel are one kind, Citrus Peel, Citrus Peel are one kind, only distinguished by being harvested early or late, thus naming them old and tender.’

Pharmacological studies also indicate that Mian Yinchen’s main components are volatile oils and chlorogenic acid-related compounds, with its choleretic and anti-pathogenic effects noticeably superior to Hua Yinchen. Hua Yinchen’s main components are coumarins and flavonoids, with good anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and analgesic properties.

Thus, Mian Yinchen and Hua Yinchen should be used differently.

Both are Yinchen, but with different effects, they naturally should be used as two types. You’ve brought Mian Yinchen, but I need Hua Yinchen."

After speaking, he smiled slightly.

"Hua Yinchen..."

Murmuring to herself, the staff glanced at the medicine cabinet: "I think I saw there are two kinds. Let me check."

She placed down the tiger cane, stowed the previously collected Mian Yinchen, and found Hua Yinchen in the same drawer cabinet, smiling as she said: "This should be Hua Yinchen, right?"

Lu Xuan glanced up, confirmed it, and nodded, saying: "That’s it."

"You’re really impressive, to have such knowledge of traditional medicine at such a young age; people might think you’re in this profession." The staff measured two liang of Hua Yinchen and placed them on yellow paper.

"I studied traditional medicine, so I know a bit," Lu Xuan modestly replied.

"This is more than just knowing a bit."