Reviving precious ginseng in Western Nghe An
Seven-leaf one-flower ginseng, Puxailaileng ginseng and many other precious medicinal herbs are being preserved, propagated and developed by residents, businesses and scientists in the border district of Ky Son.
Seven-leaf one-flower ginseng belongs to the herbaceous family, perennial, 0.5-0.7cm high. The rhizome is thick, divided into many segments, has horizontal ridges and large scars. The stem is upright, up to 1m high, unbranched, green or slightly purple, in the middle of the stem there is a layer of leaves growing in whorls of 6-8, usually 7, the leaves are ovate-oval or lanceolate, 15-20cm long, 8-10cm wide, the base is round or heart-shaped, the tip is pointed, the leaves have no grooves, the underside is light green or slightly purple-red, has 3 veins, the petiole is long.
The outstanding feature of the plant is that it has 7 leaves arranged in a circle on the stem and 1 flower growing alone at the top of the branch, the flower stem is 15-30cm long. Therefore, this plant is also called "seven-leaf, one-flower" ginseng (7-leaf, one-flower ginseng).
At Muong Long Medicinal Plants Station, Ky Son District (a station belonging to TH Group), a nursery garden of seven-leaf one-flower ginseng is being developed with more than 1,000 plants. The ginseng is currently nearly 3 years old. Engineers here said that cultivating and caring for seven-leaf one-flower ginseng is like "taking care of a baby". The plant likes humidity and lots of shade but cannot tolerate waterlogging. The soil must be rich in humus. Every day, technical staff must check and monitor the growth of the plant, record changes, pest and disease situations, and nutrient absorption.
Ginseng flowers in October and each flower produces very few seeds. Seven leaves one flower is a special shade-loving plant, so it should be grown under other trees or in a covered garden.
Currently, the ginseng is growing well, producing large roots. The ginseng root is the most valuable part of the ginseng plant. The value of the ginseng root is calculated by the number of eyes, which corresponds to the age of the ginseng.
Seven-leaf-one-flower is often used as a medicine to treat many diseases. In addition to improving health and resistance, ginseng also has antibacterial effects on many pathogenic bacteria, mainly used as a medicine to treat fever, detoxify and cure coughs. In the Guangxi region (China), there is a saying among the people: "If there is a seven-leaf-one-flower plant in the house, poisonous snakes cannot enter". In addition to treating fever and poisonous snakes, seven-leaf-one-flower ginseng is also used to treat boils, mastitis, malaria, tuberculosis, chronic cough, asthma, etc.
In addition to seven-leaf ginseng, Ky Son also has many precious medicinal herbs such as lingzhi mushroom, purple orchid, Puxailaileng ginseng, yellow flower tea, Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Codonopsis pilosula...
With the desire to develop, maintain and preserve rare herbal and ginseng genetic resources in the province, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has coordinated with scientific organizations and enterprises to implement a series of research topics and pilot planting projects of some medicinal plants in the Western districts, especially Puxailaileng ginseng, and achieved initial positive results. Currently, the Department of Science and Technology of Nghe An is also coordinating with enterprises to implement research topics and pilot planting projects of some medicinal plants in Ky Son district.
According to the Vietnamese ginseng development program, by 2030, Vietnam strives to have a ginseng growing area of about 21,000 hectares, 100% of the Vietnamese ginseng growing area is granted a growing area code and geographical indication. The output of Vietnamese ginseng from 2030 will reach about 300 tons/year (exploitation area of about 1,000 hectares/year), ensuring origin, meeting GACP - WHO standards (good practice in cultivation and harvesting) or equivalent. The orientation by 2045 is to develop Vietnamese ginseng into an internationally branded product with high export value, creating an important source of income for localities, striving to make Vietnam a major ginseng producer in the world.
The scope of the program is localities with potential and strengths in natural conditions suitable for cultivating and developing Vietnamese ginseng, including the provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Thua Thien Hue, Nghe An, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien. In particular, developing Vietnamese ginseng material areas on a commodity scale in the provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum and Lai Chau.
In particular, according to the program, in addition to developing and processing Ngoc Linh ginseng and Lai Chau ginseng on a commercial scale, Puxailaileng ginseng in the Ky Son mountain area of Nghe An is one of the species that is preserved, cultivated, and developed on a trial scale in areas with suitable natural conditions. This is truly a good opportunity for this rare ginseng species to be propagated, developed, and gradually become a commodity, contributing to creating a sustainable livelihood for local people.
Box: In 2017, the Government issued Decree No. 65/CP on specific policies on breeds, capital, and technology in the development of cultivation and exploitation of medicinal herbs. Accordingly, one-time support of 50% of the total investment in infrastructure construction (field improvement, irrigation, intra-field traffic, net houses, greenhouses, barns, warehouses, etc.) for concentrated breeding facilities with a scale of 2 hectares or more for medicinal plants, 0.5 hectares or more for medicinal livestock applying high technology according to the criteria issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the maximum support level does not exceed 5 billion VND/1 facility.
One-time support of 60% of the cost of producing original seeds, 30% of the cost of producing commercial seeds according to technical standards issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. In case of applying high technology in production, the corresponding support levels are 80% and 50%... With this program, a number of medicinal projects have been established and have given good results.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Canh, Deputy General Director of Muong Long Medicinal Herbs Company, said: In addition to ginseng, a precious medicinal herb is currently being grown quite a lot in Ky Son. That is the orchid stone hoc. This type is harvested from the whole plant, and the whole plant can be used.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shi Hu is considered to help the stomach, increase secretion, nourish yin, eliminate heat, be a tonic and increase overall body strength, treat impotence, thirst due to yin deficiency or decreased body fluids, loss of appetite, nausea, physical weakness after serious illness, and decreased vision.
