Jian Shi Hou Po

Jian Shi Hou Po

Jian Shi Hou Po is a product certified with a Geographical Indication for Agricultural Products.

　　Jian Shi Hou Po is distributed across ten townships in Jian Shi County, including Maotian Township, Longping Township, Gaoping Town, Huaping Town, and Guandian Town. It is one of the county’s authentic medicinal herbs, covering a regional area of 266,572 hectares. Jian Shi Hou Po boasts high yields, with bark that is 2–3 mm thicker—up to as much as 7 mm—than other varieties. It is hard in texture, easy to break, with a glassy fracture and low fiber content. It emits a fragrant aroma and has a spicy taste. Bark from trees over 25 years old can reach 5–7 mm in thickness, with a barrel circumference of 18–25 cm. The outer surface is dark brown, rough, and oily, sometimes showing numerous small bright purple-red spots, occasionally flaky and relatively easy to peel off, with distinct oval lenticels and longitudinal wrinkles. When the coarse outer bark is scraped off, the inner surface appears yellowish-brown. The inner surface is brown or tan, relatively smooth with fine longitudinal lines, and shows oil marks when scratched. The bark, flowers, and leaves of Jian Shi Hou Po can all be used medicinally. Compared to Chuan Hou Po and Zi You Hou Po, it has broader medicinal applications, mainly in health care and pharmaceutical fields. The bark of Jian Shi Hou Po is thick, rich in oil content, and high in phenolic compounds. It contains less fiber and has lower strength but higher phenol content than Chuan Hou Po and Zi You Hou Po. As a renowned traditional Chinese medicine, it helps resolve dampness and stagnation, aids digestion and dispels phlegm, and relieves wind and pain. The large, dense leaves of Hou Po, which can grow up to 25–30 cm long and 10–15 cm wide, are fragrant and can be used as traditional food packaging material—they prevent food from sticking and offer anti-corrosion and health benefits. Locally operated businesses now export the leaves to South Korea and Japan as eco-friendly food packaging material after primary processing. Jian Shi Hou Po is an authentic traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history and wide distribution. It was recorded in the Jian Shi volume of the "Kuizhou Prefecture Annals" from the seventh year of the Ming Zhengde era (1512), and the “Jian Shi Hou Po” trademark was successfully registered in 2011. Over the past decade, Jian Shi County has established a 50,000-mu (approximately 3,333-hectare) Jian Shi Hou Po base through key forestry projects such as the Grain for Green Program, Natural Forest Conservation Program, and follow-up industry development. A sales network has been formed with major herbal medicine markets including Bozhou in Anhui, Anguo in Hebei, Yulin in Guangxi, and Qingping in Guangzhou. Annual sales of Jian Shi Hou Po reach 1,000 tons, generating an output value of 16 million yuan and foreign exchange earnings of 3.2 million yuan through exports.

　　Hou Po, an aromatic herb that resolves dampness, is primarily used to treat: food stagnation and qi blockage; abdominal distension and constipation; dampness obstructing the middle burner, epigastric fullness, vomiting, and diarrhea; phlegm congestion and rebellious qi; chest tightness and wheezing cough. It originates from the "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica." It is now a Class II nationally protected wild plant.

　　The bark, root bark, flowers, seeds, and buds can all be used medicinally, with the bark being the main component. As a renowned traditional Chinese medicine, it helps resolve dampness and stagnation, regulate qi and calm wheezing, aid digestion and dispel phlegm, and relieve wind and pain. The seeds have benefits for improving vision and boosting energy, while the buds are used in gynecological medicine. The seeds can be pressed for oil, containing 35% oil content with a 25% oil yield, suitable for making soap. The wood is used in construction, boards, furniture, carving, musical instruments, and fine woodworking. The large, shade-providing leaves and beautiful blossoms make it suitable as an ornamental greening tree species.

　　Applicant: Jian Shi County Qianjin Forestry Professional Cooperative

　　Region: 2013

　　Regional Scope

　　Jian Shi County is under the jurisdiction of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hubei Province. It is located in the northern part of the southwestern mountainous region of Hubei, spanning from 30°06′ to 30°54′ north latitude and 109°32′ to 110°12′ east longitude. It borders Badong County to the east, with the Yesan River as the boundary; Enshi City to the west, with the Taiyang River as the boundary; Hefeng County to the south, with the Changhe and Chaliao rivers as the boundaries; and is adjacent to Wushan County of Chongqing Municipality to the north. To the northwest, it borders Fengjie County and Wushan County of Chongqing. Jian Shi Hou Po is mainly distributed across ten townships in Jian Shi County, including Maotian Township, Longping Township, Gaoping Town, Huaping Town, and Guandian Town. It is one of the county’s authentic medicinal herbs, covering a regional area of 266,572 hectares. The planting area of Jian Shi Hou Po reaches 50,000 mu, with the base area approaching 10,000 mu, and annual output nearing 3,000 tons.