Basic Introduction to Qingyuan Gentiana
“Qingyuan Gentiana” refers to the Gentiana produced in Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province. The Gentiana grown in Northeast China is also known as Northern Gentiana. It is a perennial herbaceous plant used medicinally for its roots, which contain the active ingredient gentiopicroside. In Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County of Liaoning Province, Gentiana is a distinctive local medicinal herb of high quality, with gentiopicroside content 5-9 times higher than that stipulated by pharmacopeia standards for medicinal use. Besides extensive wild growth, cultivation began in the late 20th century. By the early 21st century, more than 3,000 people had mastered proficient planting techniques. Gentiana has become the pillar variety of Chinese medicinal herb cultivation in Qingyuan. Annual production can reach 1,000 tons, accounting for 80% of the national market. It has won awards including the Silver Prize at the 1995 China Agriculture Expo, the Gold Prize at the 2000 Liaoning Province Chinese Medicinal Herb Variety Expo, the 2002 Liaoning Agricultural Achievements and Quality Agricultural Products Award, and the “Agricultural Science and Technology Industrialization Demonstration Unit Award” at the 6th China Beijing International Expo in 2003. In December 2008, after review by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ), it was decided to implement national geographic indication product protection for Qingyuan Gentiana.
Nutritional Value
1. Both the root and stem of Gentiana can be used medicinally and have antibacterial and diuretic effects; Gentiana promotes gastric juice and gastric acid secretion, stimulating appetite; Gentiopicrine has an excitatory effect on the central nervous system but can have an anesthetic effect when used in large doses, useful for analgesic and sedative purposes.
2. Patients with weakened spleen and stomach, yin deficiency and fluid injury, or without dampness and heat should avoid taking this herb. Do not take the medicine on an empty stomach.
3. Its medicinal components include gentiopicroside and alkaloids. Its pharmacological actions include hepatoprotective effects, digestive stimulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and antibacterial effects.
Product Characteristics
Qingyuan Gentiana is a perennial herbaceous plant used medicinally for its roots, which contain the active ingredient gentiopicroside. In Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County of Liaoning Province, Gentiana is a distinctive local medicinal herb of high quality, with gentiopicroside content 5-9 times higher than that stipulated by pharmacopeia standards for medicinal use. Besides extensive wild growth, cultivation began in the late 20th century. By the early 21st century, more than 3,000 people had mastered proficient planting techniques. Gentiana has become the pillar variety of Chinese medicinal herb cultivation in Qingyuan.
Historical Folklore
Legend has it that there was once a poor boy named Zeng Tong in the village of Dayang Mountain who spent his days herding cattle for a wealthy landlord. One day, while leading his cattle up the mountain, Zeng Tong saw a beautiful woman bathing in a pond on the hillside and hid among the bushes to watch. After a while, the woman finished her bath and stepped out onto the shore, suddenly transforming into a giant snake that curled up by the pond and fell asleep, with a pearl glowing in its mouth. Zeng Tong, bold and fearless, approached and quietly picked up the pearl to play with. This was a spirit snake that had been cultivating for many years and could transform into human form. This pearl was its Gallstone.
The spirit snake woke up and, upon discovering the loss of its gallstone, panicked and hastily transformed into an elderly man to search around. The old man asked Zeng Tong, “Young cowherd, did you see a pearl fall to the ground?” Zeng Tong took out the gallstone from his bag and returned it to him with both hands.
The old man, seeing Zeng Tong's honesty, asked, “Child, what is your name? Do you have a family?” “I am called Zeng Tong. My parents died long ago, leaving me alone.” “Child, if you are willing, become my godson and come to my home where I will provide food, clothing, and teach you to read and practice martial arts. Would you like that?” Seeing no ill intent from the spirit snake, Zeng Tong nodded and followed the spirit snake away.
From then on, Zeng Tong became the godson of the spirit snake and lived in the cave for three years. Before Zeng Tong left, the spirit snake gave him a needle and an empty bottle for eye medicine powder, then transformed back into a giant snake, lying on the ground with its mouth wide open. Zeng Tong entered the snake's belly through its mouth, felt for the Gallbladder, pricked it with the needle, collected a few drops of gallbladder fluid, and then came out.
The spirit snake packed Zeng Tong's belongings and sent him off at the door. As they parted, the spirit snake told Zeng Tong, “If you ever need help, come find your mother. Just climb the thirty-three steps of the cliff and knock three times, and your mother will come to open the door.” Zeng Tong remembered this and walked on his way.
Zeng Tong arrived in the capital and answered the imperial proclamation, using the gallbladder fluid to cure the crown prince's illness. The emperor, pitying him for his youth and the death of his parents, kept him to accompany the crown prince in his studies and martial arts training, even granting him the name Zeng Xiang, promising to appoint him prime minister when the crown prince ascended the throne.
A year later, the emperor's princess contracted the same illness as the crown prince. The emperor summoned Zeng Xiang and said, “If you can cure the princess, I shall make you my son-in-law.”
Zeng Tong thought of the spirit snake's instructions before parting and hurried back to Dayang Mountain overnight. Climbing the cliff steps, he stopped at the thirty-third step and knocked three times. The stone door immediately opened. Mother and son were delighted to see each other again.
The spirit snake knew Zeng Xiang's intentions and gave him another needle and an empty bottle, reminding him, “When you enter the belly to collect the gallbladder fluid this time, prick only once. Do not be greedy!”
Zeng Xiang entered the snake's belly and pricked once to collect the gallbladder fluid, but then thought: This gallbladder fluid is so effective, why not take a little more? Mother, don't be stingy, let me take a bit more! With this thought, he raised his hand and pricked several more times. The snake, in pain, closed its mouth and tightened its body, rolling over a few times before fainting. Zeng Xiang suffocated to death inside.
The spirit snake woke up in pain and began vomiting repeatedly. The gallbladder fluid vomited onto the grass became “snake gallbladder grass.”
The spirit snake blamed Zeng Xiang for his greed but pitied the princess's severe illness, so she transformed into an elderly man, gathered some snake gallbladder grass, and went to the imperial palace, claiming that Zeng Xiang had died suddenly and that she was delivering the medicine in his stead. She gained the emperor's trust. The princess recovered after taking the snake gallbladder grass.
In a moment of joy, the emperor asked about the name of the Herbal medicine. Mishearing “snake gallbladder grass,” he said, “Dragon gallbladder grass is good, dragon gallbladder grass is good!” Since the emperor's words were considered “golden,” “snake gallbladder grass” became known as “dragon gallbladder grass.” Later, someone built a “Spirit Snake Temple” atop Dayang Mountain, with a couplet carved inside: “Return the pearl with a calm heart, the spirit snake becomes mother; stab the gallbladder with a greedy heart, the spirit snake swallows the son.”