bubble_chart Content

Epimedium Herb is the dried aerial part of Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim., Epimedium pubescens Maxim., Epimedium wushanense T.S.Ying, or Epimedium koreanum Nakai, which belong to the Berberidaceae family. Epimedium Herb is mainly produced in the northwest and provinces such as Shanxi and Henan; Epimedium sagittatum is mainly produced in Sichuan, Hubei, and Zhejiang, with some production in Hunan and Anhui; Epimedium pubescens is mainly produced in Sichuan, with some production in Shaanxi and Hubei; Epimedium wushanense is mainly produced in Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Guizhou; Epimedium koreanum is mainly produced in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang.

Materia medica research suggests that the medicinal use of Epimedium Herb, starting from the Shennong Bencao Jing, primarily involves plants of the Epimedium genus in the Berberidaceae family, but the specific species vary by region. The earliest ancient records of Epimedium Herb's origin point to Shangjun, now the Yulin area of Shaanxi, where the species might have been Epimedium brevicornum Maxim. Additionally, ancient texts from Sichuan and Henan provinces also clearly document the production of the authentic Epimedium Herb used today.

bubble_chart Species Identification

Epimedium Herb is primarily named for its efficacy. The Bencao Jing states that it "primarily treats impotence, also known as Gangqian." Tao Hongjing explained the origin of its name: "Consuming this makes one inclined towards yin-yang activities. In the northern part of Xichuan, there are lustful sheep that mate a hundred times a day, likely due to eating this herb, hence the name Epimedium Herb." In the Tang Dynasty, it was also known as "Epimedium Herb" or "Xianlingpi." Liu Zongyuan wrote a poem about planting Xianlingpi:

In poverty and poor health, plagued by pestilent qi and extreme irritability. In the depths of winter, lacking frost and snow, with warm southern winds day and night. Leaning on a walking stick, I descend to the courtyard, dragging my feet to the deficient gate. At the gate, a field officer consoles my wandering soul. He speaks of a miraculous herb, nearby in the western plains of Xiang. Consuming it for less than ten days, even the lame can leap and soar. Laughing and clapping, I approach the officer, who digs up its roots for me. Lush and full, it fills the courtyard, its beauty suddenly abundant. Rising at dawn to pick and sun-dry it, the mortar and pestle clamor through the night. Its spiritual harmony nourishes the inner self, attacking illness at its source. Covered and hidden from accumulated fog, stretching and relaxing in the remaining warmth. If such miraculous effects can be proven, why rely on orchids and fragrant herbs? I have heard of the techniques of extraordinary people, preserving a single breath through the night. It can deepen one's breath, returning it to the root. Though such profound effects are hard to achieve, let us discuss it in terms of medicine. The paralyzed do not forget to rise, the poor need not speak again. Divine aid supports my feet, fortunate to run with my children.

According to Volume 230 of the "Sanchao Beimeng Huibian" from the Song Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong of Song had no heirs, and the royal physician Wang Jixian "once advised the emperor to take Epimedium Herb, also known as Epimedium Herb. Although it strengthens yang, prolonged use may hinder conception." This proves that the efficacy of Epimedium Herb recorded throughout history primarily revolves around tonifying yang. Modern research also confirms that plants of the Epimedium genus contain icariin, which indeed promotes gonadal function. Moreover, plants of this genus often have trifoliate leaves resembling bean leaves, hence the name Epimedium Herb. Thus, it is clear that the plants used in ancient and modern times are mainly from this genus.

However, the genus Epimedium comprises numerous species, and the ones used vary across different periods or regions. The Mingyi Bielu states: "Epimedium Herb grows in the Yangshan valleys of Shangjun." Shangjun corresponds to the present-day Yulin area in Shaanxi. Considering its geographical distribution, the Epimedium Herb mentioned in the book is likely Epimedium brevicornum of the Berberidaceae family. The Xinxiu records: "Its leaves resemble small beans but are round and thin, and its stems are slender yet firm. It is commonly known as Epimedium Herb." The Tang Dynasty Taoist text, Chunyang Zhenren Yaoshi Zhi, also mentions Epimedium Herb as having round leaves: "Round, delicate leaves grow on the green mountains, and in summer, they are suitable for drying and storing." This most likely refers to Epimedium elongatum Komar. from western Sichuan, which has bluntly rounded leaves. This species might have been the standard Epimedium Herb in the Tang Dynasty, but it is rarely used medicinally today.

The Bencao Tujing states: "The leaves are green like apricot leaves, with thorns on them. The stem resembles foxtail millet stalks, and the root is purple with fibrous roots. It blooms with white flowers in April, and also has small, fragmented purple single-headed seeds. The leaves are harvested in May and dried in the sun. Those produced in the Huxiang region have leaves like small beans, with tightly packed branches and leaves that do not wither in winter. The root resembles Coptis Rhizome, and it is commonly known as the 'three-branched nine-leaf grass' in the Guanzhong region, with the plant reaching about one to two feet in height. Both the root and leaves are usable." The "Zhenglei" depicts two types of Epimedium Herb illustrations, one from Yongkang Army, which is indeed a plant of the Epimedium genus, though the specific species is hard to determine. The other from Yizhou shows alternate leaves, odd-pinnate compound leaves with five leaflets, completely unlike the Berberidaceae Epimedium genus. Mr. Xie Zongwan believes this is a case of "different items sharing the same name in ancient times, and no similar species have been found in Shandong recently, indicating it could not withstand the test of time and has been phased out." His reasoning is sound.

The Jiuhuang Bencao entry on Epimedium Herb states: "It is also found in the mountains and fields of Mi County today. The plant grows about two feet tall, with stems resembling those of small beans, very fine and tightly packed. The leaves are somewhat long like apricot leaves, with a notch near the base, also resembling mung bean leaves, long and smooth. It blooms with white or purple flowers, producing small, fragmented single-headed seeds. The root is purple with fibrous roots, resembling Coptis Rhizome." The description specifically mentions a notch near the base of the leaflets, and combined with the illustrated medicinal diagram (Figure 1), this likely refers to the current authentic species, Sagittate Epimedium (Epimedium sagittatum).

As for the slightly later works like "Pin Hui Jing Yao" and "Bencao Gangmu," their descriptions of Epimedium Herb plants mostly follow previous accounts, only generally confirming them as Epimedium genus plants, which does not aid in species research. For example, Li Shizhen states: "It grows in large mountains, with one root and several stems, the stems as thick as threads, about one to two feet tall. One stem has three branches, each with three leaves, the leaves two to three inches long, like apricot leaves and bean sprouts, smooth on the surface and pale on the back, very thin with fine serrations and tiny thorns." His description is almost a compilation of those from "Tujing" and "Jiuhuang," leading us to suspect that Li may not have actually observed this plant.

Apart from the above literature, "Diannan Bencao" states: "Epimedium Herb, also known as Xingyang Grass, grows in mountains, with white-green leaves covered in powdery frost, thorns on the edges, and roots resembling male genitalia." "Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao" Volume 8 also mentions: "It is also produced in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan." According to the illustrations in "Tukao," this should be Baoxing Epimedium (Epimedium davidii Franch.). The Epimedium Herb illustration in Wu Jizhi's "Questioning Materia Medica" from Ryukyu is considered by Mr. Xie Zongwan to be the large-flowered Epimedium Herb mainly produced in Japan and Ryukyu, neither of which are the legal species in the current pharmacopoeia.

bubble_chart Historical Evolution of Authentic Production Areas

Ancient literature records that the medicinal Epimedium Herb was produced almost nationwide, with the earliest records from Shangjun, now the Yulin region of Shaanxi. The mainstream species used in the Tang Dynasty might have been the round-leaved Western Sichuan Epimedium (Epimedium elongatum). However, the poem "Planting Xianlingpi" by Liu Zongyuan in the fourth year of Yuanhe (809) can be seen as the earliest record of Epimedium Herb cultivation, with the cultivation site in Yongzhou, now Yongzhou City, Hunan Province.

The Song Dynasty Bencao Tujing mentions the origin of Epimedium Herb: "It is found in Jiangdong, Shaanxi, Mount Tai, Hanzhong, and the regions between Hunan and Xiang." The medicinal illustrations specifically depict Epimedium Herb from Yongkang Army (now Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province) and Yizhou (now Linyi City, Shandong Province) as representative examples. Since the attached illustrations prove that the Epimedium Herb from Yizhou does not belong to the Epimidium genus, Sichuan may have been an important production area for Epimedium Herb at that time.

The Ming Dynasty's "Pin Hui Jing Yao" and "Bencao Gangmu" did not provide any information on the origin of Epimedium Herb, while "Jiu Huang" indicated that arrow-leaved Epimedium Herb was distributed in the area of Mi County, Henan at that time, which can serve as a basis for GAP base construction. As for the Baoxing Epimedium Herb mentioned in "Dian Nan" and "Tu Kao" from Yunnan, as well as other non-official varieties from other regions, unless used as raw materials for extracting Epimedium Herb glycosides, large-scale cultivation is generally not recommended.