Cang Zhu

Rhizoma Atractylodis (Cangzhu) Atractylodes Rhizome Atractylodes Rhizome is the dried rhizome of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. or Atractylodes chinensis (DC.) Koidz. (Fam. Compositae). The drug is collected in spring and autumn, removed from soil, dried, and dashed to discard the fibrous roots. Description: Rhizome of Atractylodes lancea Irregularly moniliform or nodular-cylindrical, somewhat curved, occasionally branched, 3-10 cm long, 1-2 cm diameter. Externally greyish-brown, wrinkled, transversly twisted-lined, with remains of rootles, and stem scars or remains of stems attached at apex. Texture compact, fracture yellowish-white or greyish-white, scattered with many orange-yellow or brownish-red oil cavities and crystallized out as white fine needle crystals after exposing for a long time. Odour, characteristic; taste, sweetish, pungent and bitter. Rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis: Knotty-lumpy or nodular-cylindrical, 4-9 cm long, 1-4 cm in diameter. Externally blackish-brow