Radix Salviae Millettiae

Radix Salviae Millettiae

　　Radix Salviae Millettiae, commonly known as Blood Ginseng, is a variety of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. It is renowned for its superior quality and remarkable therapeutic effects, as it is grown in Yuzhou (present-day Fangcheng County) in Nanyang.

　　　　Fangcheng County is situated at the junction of the Tongbai and Funiu mountain ranges, the Huai River and Yangtze River basins, and the northern subtropical and southern warm temperate zones. Its special geographical position and unique climate endow the locally grown Radix Salviae Millettiae with thick roots, deep purple-red color, excellent quality, and outstanding efficacy. It was hailed by the “Medicine Sage” Zhang Zhongjing as the finest type of Salvia miltiorrhiza, and eminent physicians such as Tao Hongjing of the Northern and Southern Dynasties also wrote extensively about it. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a popular saying praised its reputation across the nation: “The king of Salvia grows in Yuzhou, with fine quality and excellent healing power. It is stored in pharmacies in Shanghai and Wuhan, transported by waterways, and exported overseas.”

　　　　To protect this wild medicinal herb resource, Fangcheng County has implemented policies such as closing hillsides to foster herb growth and converting farmland back to herbal cultivation. In accordance with GAP standards and green food production criteria, the county has established pollution-free, semi-wild Radix Salviae Millettiae planting bases. Testing by the Herb and Deer Product Quality Inspection Center of the Ministry of Agriculture revealed that the tanshinone A content in these products exceeds the Pharmacopoeia standard by 2–3.4 times. In 1991, Radix Salviae Millettiae won the Silver Award at the “Zhongjing Cup International Expo,” followed by the title of “China Famous-Brand Product” at the China International Agricultural Expo in 2001. In 2002, it received the first prize for technological advancement in pollution-free semi-wild Salvia miltiorrhiza production techniques in Nanyang. In 2003, it obtained certification for pollution-free production areas in Henan Province, and the same year, it was granted the National Origin Protection Certification by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. In 2007, Fangcheng Radix Salviae Millettiae was designated as one of the top ten medicinal herb cultivation bases in Henan Province.

　　　　As a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Radix Salviae Millettiae is primarily used in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as high blood lipids, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and gynecological disorders. Among the local people in Fangcheng, Salvia-infused egg custard is a traditional health food for those with high blood pressure or cholesterol. Currently, a range of products have been developed using Radix Salviae Millettiae as the main ingredient, including Salvia tea and Salvia honey.