Zhijin Dipsacus

Zhijin Dipsacus

Zhijin Dipsacus is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Zhijin Dipsacus

　　An authentic medicinal herb from Guizhou, and one of the three most renowned Dipsacus varieties in the region.

　　Texture: thick roots, soft texture, greenish-brown cortex; the root is long cylindrical, slightly flattened, mildly curved, 5–15 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diameter. The surface is brownish or grayish-brown with numerous prominent, twisted longitudinal wrinkles and grooves, along with visible transverse lenticels and a few rootlet scars. It is somewhat soft in texture but becomes harder after prolonged drying. Easily broken, with an uneven fracture surface—cortex greenish-brown or light brown, wood yellowish-brown, often showing radial patterns. It has a faintly fragrant aroma, a bitter taste with slight sweetness followed by astringency.

　　A well-known proverb in Guizhou folklore goes: “When you must cut, cut with Zhijin Dipsacus,” referring to its traditional use in treating infertility in both men and women. For male infertility (Dipsacus + Eucommia + Goji berries + Dodder seeds + Polygonatum 12g + Deer antler glue), and for female infertility (Dipsacus + Angelica + Eucommia + Morinda officinalis + Epimedium, etc.).

　　Identification

　　Authentic Dipsacus: The dried root appears long and cylindrical, tapering downward, slightly flattened, 7–10 cm long, 0.5–2 cm in diameter. The surface is grayish-brown or yellowish-brown with many prominent, twisted longitudinal wrinkles and shallow grooves, along with transversely cracked lenticels and a few root scars. The fracture surface is uneven, slightly horny in texture, with a blackish-green cortex about half as wide as the wood, and vascular bundles in the wood arranged radially in yellowish-brown or grayish-green hues. It has a faintly fragrant smell, and tastes bitter, slightly sweet, then astringent.

　　Fake Dipsacus: The dried tuberous root appears conical-cylindrical, slightly thicker at the upper end, smaller in diameter than the genuine (about 0.1–1 cm), with a grayish-brown surface lacking the aforementioned characteristics of the genuine product. The fracture surface is flat and dark red. It has a faint smell without the fragrance of the genuine, and tastes sweet with no astringency.

　　Modern pharmacological research confirms that Dipsacus helps prevent vitamin E deficiency; it also has effects such as pus drainage, hemostasis, analgesia, and promoting tissue regeneration for boils and abscesses. However, the fake species Phlomis, which is not in the same plant family as Dipsacus, lacks these therapeutic properties and therefore cannot be used as a substitute for genuine Dipsacus.