Artemisia argyi from Qichun

Artemisia argyi from Qichun

Artemisia argyi from Qichun is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Artemisia argyi from Qichun, a type of mugwort, is named after Qizhou (the former name of Qichun County) where it is produced. It is one of the "Four Treasures of Qichun" (Qizhu bamboo, Artemisia argyi from Qichun, Qishé snake, and Qigui turtle) in Hubei Province’s Qichun County, a specialty medicinal herb, and a product with a National Geographical Indication in China. Both its stems and leaves can be used medicinally. Artemisia argyi from Qichun contains 17 known compounds, and its volatile oil content, total flavonoid content, and combustion heat output are significantly better than those of mugwort produced in other regions. The oil from Artemisia argyi from Qichun has clear effects in relieving wheezing, suppressing coughs, removing phlegm, and clearing inflammation.

　　Artemisia argyi from Qichun is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a long history and widespread fame across China. As early as the Ming Dynasty, pharmacologist Li Shizhen held Artemisia argyi from Qichun in high regard and recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica: “In recent times, only that from Tangyang is called Beiai (Northern Mugwort), that from Siming is called Haiai (Sea Mugwort), but since the Chenghua era, the one from Qizhou (former name of Qichun) has been considered superior. It is used as an offering and esteemed throughout the land, hence called Artemisia argyi from Qichun.” It is said that mugwort from other places cannot penetrate a wine jar when used for moxibustion, but Artemisia argyi from Qichun can. According to the Annals of Qizhou, “White mugwort comes from Qizhou.” Artemisia argyi from Qichun is named after its place of origin. Li Shizhen’s father, Li Yanwen, who conducted extensive research on Artemisia argyi from Qichun, wrote the Biography of Artemisia argyi from Qichun, stating that it “is produced on sunny hillsides, harvested at the Dragon Boat Festival, and used in treating illnesses through moxibustion, with benefits that are not trivial.” In ancient times, Artemisia argyi from Qichun was all wild. With growing demand and the need for standardized production, it gradually began to be cultivated artificially and processed into various products for sale, receiving very positive market feedback.

　　Botanical Characteristics

　　Also known as mugwort, it belongs to the Asteraceae family, Artemisia genus, and is a perennial herbaceous plant. Its stem is upright, growing three to four feet tall; the leaves are whorled, shaped like mugwort, with each leaf having five large indentations, and three to four smaller indentations on the large ones. The leaf surface is green, while the back of the stems and leaves is densely covered with soft, smooth white down. It grows abundantly along the edges of fields and embankments in Qichun County that are near water and exposed to sunlight, and is also found in small quantities on mountain slopes.

　　Chemical Composition

　　According to quantitative analysis by the South China Institute of Botany at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou, comparing the essential oil chemical components of Artemisia argyi from Qichun and common mugwort, the main components of Artemisia argyi from Qichun leaves are 1,8-cineole, camphor, borneol, α-terpineol, carveol, and others. Its essential oil yield (1.06%) is twice that of common mugwort (0.54%). Additionally, Artemisia argyi from Qichun contains thujone (15.6%) and iso-thujone (2.7%), which are not found in common mugwort. The oil from Artemisia argyi from Qichun has clear effects in relieving wheezing, suppressing coughs, removing phlegm, and clearing inflammation.

　　Medicinal Efficacy

　　Artemisia argyi from Qichun tastes bitter and pungent, is non-toxic, and can be used for washing, fumigation, or ingestion. It can warm the middle burner, dispel cold, remove dampness, and treat a variety of diseases. The Compendium of Materia Medica states: “Artemisia argyi from Qichun can be used for moxibustion to treat all kinds of illnesses. It can be decocted to stop vomiting blood and dysentery, treat sores in the lower body, uterine bleeding in women, promote vaginal discharge, generate flesh, ward off wind and cold, and help conceive. When making a decoction, avoid exposure to wind. Crushed juice can be applied externally to stop bleeding, kill roundworms, and can be used in water decoctions or pills. It stops uterine bleeding, intestinal hemorrhoids, and bleeding from wounds, relieves abdominal pain, and calms the fetus. Prepared with bitter wine, it is very effective in treating ringworm...”. Artemisia argyi from Qichun “when ingested, travels through the three yin meridians and dispels all cold and dampness, transforming the harsh and killing qi into harmony; when used in moxibustion, it penetrates all meridians and treats a hundred types of pathogenic factors, reviving those suffering from chronic illness and bringing them health and longevity. Its efficacy is truly great.” In addition to treating many diseases, Artemisia argyi from Qichun also has a distinctive fragrance. Fumigating its branches and leaves can repel mosquitoes and flies, clear miasma, and has the function of dispelling toxins and killing poison. Later research suggests that Artemisia argyi from Qichun can regulate qi and blood, dispel cold and dampness, regulate menstruation and calm the fetus, warm the meridians to stop bleeding, clear heat and relieve cough and dissolve phlegm. It is mainly used to treat irregular menstruation, cold pain in the abdomen, uterine bleeding, restless fetus, cold uterus infertility, and is one of the commonly used key herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine gynecology. Taken internally, it can serve as a hemostatic agent. When charred, its hemostatic effect is quite strong, and it can treat vomiting blood, dysentery, nosebleeds, and bloody stools. Crushed and taken as juice, it stops bleeding, kills roundworms, treats leukorrhea, stops cholera cramps, and post-dysentery chills and fever. Formulas using Artemisia argyi from Qichun can also treat chronic bronchitis, asthma, gastroenteritis, and dysentery in the elderly. Used externally, Artemisia argyi from Qichun can treat skin itching, vulvar itching, eczema, and scabies. Rubbing hands with mugwort or taking a bath with its decoction can prevent and treat skin diseases. For postpartum women and infants, washing with mugwort leaves can disinfect and strengthen the body. Drying and pounding mugwort leaves into fluff, known as “moxa wool,” and forming it into moxa cones for moxibustion on acupoints, or dipping in sesame oil to ignite the cones, can moisten the moxibustion sores until healed without pain. Moxibustion has miraculous effects, can dispel cold and dampness, warm and unblock qi and blood, and open meridians and collaterals. Therefore, physicians say mugwort can be used for moxibustion to treat all diseases (from the Supplementary Records of Famous Physicians), calling it the “moxibustion herb.” One instance of moxibustion is called a “moxa cone.” Artemisia argyi from Qichun not only treats many diseases but also has a distinctive fragrance and can be used as a raw material for perfumes. Fumigating its branches and leaves can repel mosquitoes and flies and has the effect of dispelling toxins and killing bacteria. “Willows are inserted on Qingming, mugwort on Dragon Boat Festival.” People in Qichun especially regard Artemisia argyi from Qichun as more fragrant than common mugwort, with better medicinal efficacy.

　　Related Customs

　　As an auspicious item. There used to be a folk rhyme: “On the afternoon of the fifth day of the fifth month, the Heavenly Master rides an ai tiger. Calamus swords slay centipedes, and all insects return to the underworld.” “The fragrant mugwort on barren slopes, calamus by the stream grows with the stones. The green smoke of sword-like leaves can drive away plague, standing guard at the door every Dragon Boat Festival.” To this day, on the Dragon Boat Festival, people still enjoy burning Artemisia argyi along with calamus to fumigate their rooms, often chanting as they do so.

　　Geographical Indication Product Protection

　　Production Area Scope

　　The production area scope for the geographical indication product protection of Artemisia argyi from Qichun is the current administrative region of Qichun County, Hubei Province.

　　Use of Special Mark

　　Producers within the production area scope of the geographical indication product protection of Artemisia argyi from Qichun may apply to the Qichun County Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau of Hubei Province for the use of the “Special Mark for Geographical Indication Products.” After review by the Hubei Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau, approval is announced by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China. The statutory testing institution for Artemisia argyi from Qichun is designated by the Hubei Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau.

　　Technical Requirements

　　(1) Source: Artemisia argyi (Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant. cv.) of the Asteraceae family. (2) Site Conditions: Soil is yellow-brown loam, with a plowing layer thickness ≥25 cm, soil pH value between 5.7 and 6.3, and soil organic matter content ≥1.6%. (3) Cultivation Management: 1. Propagation: Division propagation is used. 2. Planting: Planting time is February to March, with ≤83,250 holes per hectare, and 2 to 3 plants per hole. 3. Fertilization: Primarily organic fertilizer, with ≥45,000 kg of organic fertilizer applied per hectare annually. 4. Environmental and Safety Requirements: The use of pesticides, fertilizers, etc., must comply with national regulations and must not pollute the environment. (4) Harvest: 1. Harvest Period: Within one week before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, harvested at noon (12–14 PM) on sunny days. 2. Post-Harvest Processing: After harvesting, rinse clean with water, dry until no moisture remains on the leaves, then strip the mugwort leaves. 3. Drying: Naturally air-dried, with moisture content ≤14.0%.

　　Quality Characteristics

　　1. Sensory Characteristics: Broad and thick leaves, densely covered with long hairs; light bluish-green or grayish-white color, consistent in hue; rich fragrance. 2. Physicochemical Indicators: Volatile oil ≥0.8. 3. Safety Requirements: Product safety indicators must meet the relevant national standards for similar products.