Herb: Huang Jing | Siberian Solomon’s Seal

Herb Name: Huang Jing, or Siberian Solomon’s Seal

(also called Polygonatum Sibiricum, Rhizoma Polygonati)

Herb Name in Chinese: 黃精 (Huáng Jīng)

Description:

• Siberian Solomon’s Seal is the dried rhizome of the flowering Polygonatum Sibiricum plant native to Eastern Asia.
• The rhizome grows in thick fleshy branches in ginger-like shapes. When prepared as an herb, the dried rhizome is a little soft and sticky like the texture of dried play-doh. Hence, this herb is usually sold in flat irregular shaped pieces.
• Siberian Solomon’s Seal has a bland sweet taste. When cooked in a soup or tea, its brown color will darken the liquid to a deep brown like the color of soy sauce.
• In western herbalism, the plant species typically used is polygonatum bifiorum. In Asian medicine, the preferred species are polygonatum sibiricum (huang jing) and polygonatum odoratum. In fact, the rhizome of polygonatum odoratum is another common Chinese herb called Yu Zu (玉竹) (see photo to the right).

 
 
Siberian Solomon’s Seal Benefits and Uses:

• Siberian Solomon’s Seal (Huang Jing) is usually used in soups, teas, or traditional Chinese herbal remedies and medicinal formulas.
• Siberian Solomon’s Seal is neutral in nature, and it is known to be an important qi building yin tonic. It brings vital energy (qi) to the spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
• This herb is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for dry coughs from yin deficiency in the lungs; frailty, dizziness, and early grey hair due to kidney weakness; or poor appetite, weak pulse, and fatigue due to spleen qi and yin deficiency.
• In Chinese medicine, those with dampness because of spleen deficiency (e.g. wet cough or loose stool due to coldness in the middle jiao – spleen, stomach, gall bladder, and liver) are typically advised not to use this herb.

Preparation:

• Rinse the herb in cool water before use.
• Do not soak in water since its medicinal properties can be lessened.

Where to Buy:

• Siberian Solomon’s Seal can be purchased in Chinese herbal stores.
• Store this herb in a clean dry container at a cool dry place.

How do you use your Siberian Solomon’s Seal (Huang Jing)? Leave a comment below to share your ideas.

 
Disclaimer: Content on this site is for informational purposes only, not medical advice. Do not use site content in place of a medical doctor.

Further reading: Draco
 

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