Chinese medicine Codonopsis pilosula replenishes vitality and is cultivated locally, so there is no need to worry about unscrupulous goods

The Council of Agriculture's Hualien District Agricultural Improvement Station has introduced the health crop "Codonopsis pilosula" and has successfully tested it in the eastern region. In the future, it will pass on high-quality and safe cultivation techniques to local farmers. Based on the characteristics of Codonopsis pilosula in replenishing the middle and replenishing qi, harmonizing the stomach and nourishing the blood, it will tailor-make health products. Local production is high-quality, safe, and has a stable supply, so there is no need to worry about the "three markets a day" caused by the effects of globalization.

Codonopsis pilosula is a commonly used ingredient in health-preserving medicinal diets. The Hualien Agricultural Improvement Station of the Council of Agriculture introduced the health-preserving crop "Codonopsis pilosula" and successfully tested it in the eastern region. (Photo courtesy of the Council of Agriculture)

Zhang Tongwu, associate researcher at the Crop Improvement Section of the Hualien District Agricultural Improvement Station, pointed out that Taiwan's Chinese herbal medicine market has always been dominated by imports. Imported Chinese herbal medicines often have safety concerns such as pesticide residues, heavy metals and improper processing. In recent years, due to the impact of global warming and extreme climate, the price and quality of the Chinese herbal medicine market have fluctuated greatly, affecting consumer safety and the development of the Chinese herbal medicine industry. The Hualien Agricultural Innovation Station has developed high-quality and safe cultivation technology, and will guide farmers in producing Codonopsis pilosula. In the future, it will not only be able to supply the domestic Chinese herbal medicine market demand, but also develop related health care functional products.

Codonopsis pilosula is a twining herb of the Campanulaceae family, and its root is the most useful part. According to the records in herbal literature, Codonopsis pilosula is mild in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen and lung meridians, and has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, harmonizing the stomach and nourishing blood. Used to treat weak spleen and stomach, loss of appetite, etc. Codonopsis pilosula is rich in various nutrients such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, etc. Its main components include polysaccharides, inulin, glucose, phytosterols, saponins, amino acids, codonopsis pine, volatile oils and alkaloids.

The growth of Codonopsis pilosula in Hualien area is good. According to the records in herbal literature, Codonopsis pilosula is mild in nature, sweet in taste, enters the spleen and lung meridians, and has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, harmonizing the stomach and nourishing blood. (Photo courtesy of the Council of Agriculture)

Codonopsis can enhance the body's immune function and has anti-inflammatory, expectorant and antitussive effects. In daily life, Codonopsis pilosula is often used with yam, angelica, astragalus and other ingredients as a health-preserving medicinal diet, which has the effect of replenishing vitality. For busy modern people, it can be used as one of the Chinese medicinal materials for daily health care.

Zhang Tongwu emphasized that Codonopsis pilosula prefers a cool environment and can be propagated by seeds. It can be planted by direct seeding or seedling transplanting. The suitable planting period is September to October every year. Those who adopt the direct seeding method can sow the seeds in rows on the bed surface after the land is prepared and the bed is made, and then cover it with a little soil. Because the seeds of Codonopsis pilosula are small, covering the soil too deeply will affect germination.

The Codonopsis pilosula plant is in bloom. The agricultural improvement farm uses seeds to propagate it and plants it in different ways, such as direct seeding or seedling transplanting. (Photo courtesy of the Council of Agriculture)

For seedling transplantation, sow the seeds in seedling trays. The seeds will germinate in about 5-7 days. When 4-6 leaves grow, they can be transplanted into the field for planting. The planting row spacing is 100×30 cm. After planting, the roots of Codonopsis pilosula can be harvested in July or August of the following year. The harvested roots should be washed with clean water to remove mud, sand and impurities, and then dried in an oven at 40°C. After drying, they should be vacuum packed and stored in a refrigerator at 4°C.