🌿 Folk Prescriptions

There is still some time until the winter solstice on December 21st, but winter tonic preparations in Shanghai have already begun to heat up. In addition to the brisk sales of tonics and health supplements, many citizens are now purchasing various Chinese medicinal herbs for decoction, tea brewing, wine soaking, or powder grinding to nourish their bodies. Yesterday, experts from the city's traditional Chinese medicine quality inspection department warned consumers that some herbal products sold by unlicensed street vendors are counterfeit, urging caution against being deceived.
Identification of Chinese Medicinal Materials
Observe Shape: Refers to the physical form of the herb. For example, genuine donkey-hide gelatin appears as rectangular or square blocks. High-quality Ganoderma lucidum has thick flesh, short stalks, an umbrella-like shape, a round or kidney-shaped cap, and under magnification, tube pores can be observed on its back or underside.
Measure Size: Refers to length, thickness, and width. For instance, Toad Oil (Hematopus) is irregularly shaped, bent and overlapping, measuring 1.5–2 cm long and 1.5–5 mm thick. It is derived from the dried oviducts of female Chinese forest frogs.
Distinguish Color: Refers to color and luster. Red ginseng is reddish-brown; wild mountain ginseng has a gray-yellow surface; donkey-hide gelatin is brown and semi-transparent; wild Ganoderma lucidum is dark brown-black with a glossy sheen.
Smell Aroma: Refers to the natural scent of the herb. Astragalus has a bean-like odor; Angelica has a strong fragrance. When tasting slices of ginseng or American ginseng, both exhibit a slightly bitter yet sweet taste. Pearl powder has no unpleasant smell and tastes bland without sweetness.
Fake Chinese Medicinal Materials
Counterfeit Donkey-Hide Gelatin: Made from cowhide or other animal hides boiled down. When viewed under light, it appears turbid black-brown; after dissolving, it emits a strong fishy odor, and upon melting, visible impurities remain.
Counterfeit Pearl Powder: Has a foul, fishy, or earthy smell.
Counterfeit Toad Oil: Often consists of oviducts from various frog species, primarily those of the Chinese giant toad.
Counterfeit Gastrodia Rhizome: Commonly substituted with roots of purple morning glory, Dali flower (Asteraceae), Stachyurus japonicus, potatoes, or toxic Phytolacca roots.
Counterfeit Cordyceps Sinensis: Confused with species such as Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Ophiocordyceps camphorata, Liangshan cordyceps, or ground beetles; or made from starch and soybean powder molded and dyed to deceive.
Counterfeit Antelope Horn: Often replaced by Tibetan gazelle horns; recently also found to be made from plastic molds.