After extensive development, the traditional Chinese medicine system has become highly sophisticated. Memorizing the vast array of herbal medicines is challenging, especially for the general public. Some individuals, influenced by cost or other factors, turn to non-traditional sources for herbal remedies, yet struggle to discern their authenticity. Below, we introduce methods to distinguish genuine from counterfeit Chinese herbs—women, don't miss this. So, what are the methods for identifying the authenticity of Chinese herbs?
Musk—Thread Test Method
Musk is an aromatic herb that revives consciousness and is also a precious perfume. It possesses the effects of opening orifices, unblocking meridians, invigorating blood circulation, and dispersing nodules. It is primarily used to treat stroke-induced coma, delirium and incoherent speech in febrile diseases, infantile convulsions and spasms, traumatic injuries, and abscesses, boils, and carbuncles.
Identification method: Dip a thread in scallion juice, thread it through the sachet, and pull it back and forth several times. If the scallion scent disappears, it is genuine; if the scent persists, it is counterfeit.It is used for cold hands and feet, weak pulse, and cold abdominal pain or diarrhea caused by deficiency-cold. It also treats deficiency-cold lumbar pain, rheumatism, cold sores, and traumatic swelling and pain.
Identification Method: Take 2–3 pieces and place them in a pot of boiling water. Genuine cinnamon will immediately stop the boiling; counterfeit products lack this characteristic.
Amber—Knife-Shaving Boiling Test
Amber is a precious Chinese medicinal herb.It possesses sedative, blood-activating, and diuretic properties. Indicated for convulsions, epilepsy, palpitations, insomnia, dysuria, hematuria, and painful urination. Identification Method: Grate amber into powder; genuine amber yields a fine, pale yellow powder. Counterfeits produce coarse fragments rather than a fine powder.Additionally, genuine amber remains insoluble and unsoftened when boiled in water, while counterfeits dissolve and soften under boiling conditions.
Horse Gems——Odor Test
They possess properties to clear heat, detoxify, calm convulsions, and resolve phlegm.Indications: Epilepsy, mania, hemoptysis, epistaxis, excessive phlegm accumulation, abscesses, and toxic sores. Identification Method: Horse/Mule Gastric Calculus is a stomach stone from horses or mules. When sawed open, it emits a horse manure odor.Place a small amount of powder on foil and heat from below; genuine material rapidly aggregates at the center with a horse urine odor.
Rhinoceros Horn—Long Split Test
This ingredient clears heat, detoxifies, calms convulsions, cools blood, and stops bleeding.It is indicated for acute febrile diseases, persistent high fever, delirium with incoherent speech, and convulsions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Identification Method: In addition to recognizing its characteristic appearance, when splitting rhinoceros horn longitudinally, it should be brittle without fibrous strands. The longitudinal split surface should have straight fibers as thick as pig bristles, emitting a fragrant aroma.
Toad Oil — Expansion Method
Toad oil, also known as frog oil, is an excellent tonic for deficiency conditions. It nourishes yin and moistens the lungs. Primarily used to treat physical weakness, fatigue, and neurasthenia.
Authentication Method: Genuine toad oil expands 15–20 times its original size when exposed to water, forming a soft white mass with a slippery texture.
Saffron — Water Soaking Method
This precious herb promotes blood circulation. It activates blood flow, disperses stasis, and alleviates depression.It primarily treats menstrual irregularities due to blood stasis in women, postpartum lochia retention, traumatic injuries, pain caused by blood stasis, as well as depression and chest/flank distension.
Herbal Identification Method: When immersed in water, the stigma expands into a long trumpet shape. It simultaneously releases deep yellow pigment, staining the water yellow.
Gecko——Proportional Method
Gecko possesses the efficacy of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, calming asthma, and stopping cough. It is primarily used to treat consumptive lung atrophy, asthma with cough, hemoptysis, diabetes, impotence, and other conditions.
Herbal Identification Method: Genuine gecko specimens exhibit a body where the head and tail are approximately equal in length.Counterfeits have a tail shorter than the head and body. Genuine Gekko has large, sunken eyes resembling pits, a mouth with fine teeth but no large teeth, and toes with suction cups.It is used to treat toxic conditions, painful swellings, sore throat, heatstroke-induced diarrhea, and heart failure. Pharmacological studies indicate it possesses potent cardiotonic and antitumor effects.
Identification method: When broken, genuine toad venom can be re-adhered when moistened with water and dries to its original hardness. Counterfeits mixed with flour cannot be re-adhered.If counterfeit with gelatinous substances, it may stick after breaking but exhibits excessive stickiness, easily adhering to hands—a distinguishing feature. Cordyceps—Visual Inspection Method Cordyceps sinensis possesses kidney-tonifying and yang-nourishing properties. It is indicated for chronic cough due to lung deficiency, wheezing with bloody sputum, and kidney deficiency manifesting as impotence, nocturnal emission, and lower back soreness.
Herbal Identification: Cordyceps sinensis consists of an insect body fused with a fungal stalk. The insect body resembles a silkworm, with eight pairs of legs on the ventral side. The four pairs in the middle are clearly visible. The cross-section is solid and white, showing pitted surfaces under a magnifying glass. The fungal stalk emerges from the insect's head, appearing club-shaped, curved, and slightly swollen at the top.
The above methods for authenticating traditional Chinese medicine can be applied during routine purchases. Given the vast complexity of TCM culture and the sheer number of medicinal substances, ensuring quality requires obtaining herbs from licensed medical institutions or qualified healthcare providers to guarantee therapeutic efficacy.