Solomon's seal

Solomon's seal

　　Solomon's seal is commonly found on Jiuhua Mountain. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family, also known as "chicken-head ginseng" or "tiger ginger." It often grows on shady, damp slopes or on both sides of valleys. Each stem bears multiple leaves that are short and bamboo-like, with greenish-white flowers appearing in umbrella-shaped clusters of three to five, hanging from drooping flower stalks. The rhizomes grow horizontally, thick and fleshy. The processing is meticulous, typically involving nine rounds of steaming and sun-drying, commonly referred to as "nine-processed Solomon's seal." The finished product is oily, fragrant, and sweet in taste, suitable for both medicinal and culinary use. It has the effects of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, dispelling wind and dampness, calming the five organs, strengthening bones and muscles, relieving chills and fever, and enriching essence and marrow. It nourishes all types of deficiencies, and long-term consumption can lead to a clear mind, refreshed spirit, and extended lifespan. Legend has it that the eminent Ming Dynasty monk Master Haiyu practiced asceticism in a cave at Baishou Palace on Jiuhua Mountain, surviving without rice and living solely on Solomon's seal, and lived to the age of 110. (Guichi)