Qian Banxia

Qian Banxia

Qian Banxia is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Qian Banxia is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　A monocotyledonous plant of the Araceae family, Banxia is a toxic herbaceous plant with small tubers underground. It has palmate compound leaves with three leaflets, and the base of the petiole features tumor-like protrusions known as bulbils. It blooms in early summer, with a yellowish-green spathe enclosing the spadix. It grows wild under trees or in dry fields and is highly adaptable. Its dried, unprocessed tubers are called "1", which are toxic, while the processed ones are called "processed Banxia". In traditional Chinese medicine, processed Banxia is commonly used. It is warm in nature and pungent in flavor, with functions such as drying dampness, resolving phlegm, harmonizing the stomach, and relieving vomiting. It is mainly used to treat conditions such as phlegm-dampness, fluid retention, chest tightness, distension, and vomiting.

　　Banxia is an important medicinal herb in China’s traditional pharmacopoeia, produced only in China and Japan in Asia. Its functions include drying dampness, resolving phlegm, harmonizing the stomach, and relieving vomiting. It is mainly used to treat symptoms such as phlegm-dampness, vomiting, and coughing or wheezing.

　　There are two types of Banxia: aquatic (water Banxia) and terrestrial (dry Banxia). Dry Banxia has higher medicinal value than water Banxia. Qianjiang is one of the main production areas of dry Banxia in China. The Cihai (Sea of Words) dictionary, under the entry for "Qianjiang", mentions that the area is "rich in the production of Banxia and other Chinese medicinal materials." Therefore, Banxia produced in Qianjiang is honored with the name "Qian Banxia". Older generations of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners would write "Qian Banxia" in their prescriptions, much like how "Chuan Bei" (Fritillaria) gets its prestige from the prefix "Chuan" (Sichuan). "Qian Banxia" is also a renowned and valuable Chinese herbal medicine, well-known both domestically and internationally.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Qian Banxia is produced in sixteen districts and towns within the jurisdiction of Qianjiang City, Hubei Province, including Gaoshibei Town, Wangchang Town, Jiyukou Town, Guanghuasi Subdistrict, Zhouji Subdistrict, Zhouji Management Area, Zhugen Tan Town, Yuanlin Subdistrict, Yangshi Subdistrict, Haokou Town, Houhu Management Area, Xiongkou Town, Zongkou Management Area, Longwan Town, Yuyang Town, and Laoxin Town. The geographical scope spans longitude 112°29′ to 113°91′ and latitude 30°04′ to 30°39′. The total area is 2,004 square kilometers, with over 10,000 mu currently cultivated in Banxia, and suitable planting area exceeding 200,000 mu.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Characteristics of Qian Banxia Seed Tuber: The seed tuber is nearly spherical, smooth-surfaced, large, round, and regular, with a transverse diameter of 1.0–1.2 cm and a diameter of 1.0–1.5 cm. Each tuber weighs 1–2 g. The seed coat is yellowish-brown, and the flesh is pure white without foreign matter, deformities, damage, rot, deterioration, pathogens, pests, or weed seeds. The germination rate is over 80%. 2. Characteristics of Qian Banxia Commercial Tuber: (1) Appearance characteristics: The dried tuber is nearly spherical, sometimes slightly oblique, with a diameter of 1.0–1.5 cm. The surface is white or light yellow, with unremoved outer skin showing as yellow spots. The upper end is mostly flat and round, with a central sunken stem scar surrounded by closely spaced brown concave dot-like rootlet scars. The lower part is bluntly round and smooth. The texture is firm and dense. The cross-section is pure white and starchy; older or improperly dried tubers may appear grayish-white or show yellow streaks. It has a faint scent, a pungent taste, feels sticky when chewed, and causes numbness on the tongue and a prickling sensation in the throat. (2) Internal quality indicators: Calculated on a dry weight basis, the product contains not less than 0.28% total acid (calculated as succinic acid), not less than 9.0% water-soluble extractives, not more than 4.0% total ash, and not more than 14% moisture. 3. Safety requirements: Compliant with the standards of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2010 Edition), Part I.