Changyang Medicinal Herbs

Changyang Medicinal Herbs

　　Located in Changyang County within the mountainous region of western Hubei Province’s Xiangfan, the area boasts an exceptionally rich variety of medicinal herbs. The local Chinese herbal medicine company lists 198 officially purchased species, including 38 cultivated varieties. Among the key species—18 in total—are papaya, eucommia, magnolia bark, phellodendron, gardenia fruit, angelica pubescens, codonopsis, coptis, angelica sinensis, gastrodia, magnolia flower, dipsacus, and great burdock. Notably, “Jingfeng Papaya,” “Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens,” and “Jinfu Red Gardenia” are renowned both domestically and internationally as premium varieties. Papaya and angelica pubescens branded with “Ziqiu” have been included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, recognized as natural, pollution-free “authentic medicinal materials,” and qualify as export-exempt products. The medicinal herbs are broadly divided into two categories: woody and herbaceous. Key woody species include eucommia, magnolia bark, phellodendron, magnolia flower, coptis, gardenia fruit, and papaya. Herbaceous species mainly consist of angelica pubescens, codonopsis, gastrodia, and great burdock, with the latter two being the most extensively cultivated. Changyang is abundant in medicinal herb resources, particularly those such as Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens, Ziqiu Wrinkled Papaya, and Jinfu Red Gardenia, which are celebrated for their superior quality and strong brand reputation, earning widespread acclaim in the industry. Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens is a traditional authentic medicinal herb variety from Changyang. The locally cultivated plant is *Angelica pubescens* Maxim. f. biserrata, a high-quality variety within the angelica pubescens commodity category and an officially recognized species in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The 1993 edition of *Compendium of Materia Medica* describes “Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens” as “soft in texture with a rich aroma.” *Pharmacognosy* states, “Angelica pubescens produced in Ziqiu, Hubei, and Wufeng, Changyang, among other areas... is considered top-grade.” The placement of “Ziqiu” before the county name highlights the brand strength of “Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens.” “Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens” enjoys a high reputation both domestically and abroad, and is particularly popular in Southeast Asian markets. A standardized planting demonstration base for Ziqiu Angelica Pubescens is expected to undergo evaluation and acceptance by the end of the year. Driven by this demonstration base, a commercial production base centered around Huangjinzang has taken shape, with over 5,000 acres currently under angelica pubescens cultivation. This base has signed a cooperation agreement with Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. to jointly develop a medicinal herb production base.