The difference between Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum odoratum

In daily life, there are many things that are similar, and many things are easily confused, such as Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum sibiricum. Both are relatively common Chinese medicinal materials, and their appearances are very similar. Therefore, many people usually tend to confuse the two. In fact, there is a difference between Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum sibiricum, but most people don’t know what the difference is. The following introduces the difference between Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum sibiricum.

The difference between Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum odoratum

1. Different shapes.

Polygonatum odoratum is mostly cylindrical, slightly flat and curved, and has no branches. The length is between 5 and 20 cm, the thickness is about 0.5 to 1.2 cm, the surface is light yellow or light yellowish brown, translucent, with ring patterns and wavy ridges. The texture is hard, becomes soft when damp and is easy to break. The inside and outside are similar in color and have a certain degree of stickiness.

The main types of Polygonatum sibiricum include Polygonatum acanthopanax and Polygonatum sibiricum in the shape of ginger. The Polygonatum acutiloba is irregularly conical or cylindrical in shape, with one end bulging with one or more short and thick protrusions or small plates, shaped like a chicken's head, which is also the origin of its name. There are one to three dot-shaped stem base scars, 3 to 10 cm long, 1 to 2.5 cm thick at the thick end, and 0.5 to 0.8 cm thick at the thin end. The outside is yellowish white or yellowish brown, and the inside is light brown. It is hard and relatively flexible if not completely dried. The ginger-shaped Polygonatum is shaped as its name suggests, an irregular nodule, flat like ginger, 3 to 10 cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide, and 1 to 2 cm thick. The surface is earthy yellow, rough, and has irregular wrinkles.

2. The taste is different.

Polygonatum odoratum is slightly cold in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the lung and stomach meridians.

Polygonatum sibiricum is slightly warm in nature, sweet in taste, and enters the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians.

3. Different functions.

Polygonatum odoratum has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. It is mainly used for symptoms such as lung heat, dry cough, dry throat and thirst.

Polygonatum sibiricum mainly has nourishing and strengthening and antibacterial effects. It is used to treat spleen and stomach weakness, lung deficiency cough, hypertension, diabetes and other symptoms.

Polygonatum odoratum consumption taboo

Polygonatum odoratum itself has no side effects, but because it is slightly cold in nature, people with weak spleen and heavy moisture in the body should not eat it to avoid causing harm to the body. This is especially a taboo for patients with yin disease and internal cold. When consuming Polygonatum odoratum, avoid eating it with pickled or marinated foods, as this will affect the effectiveness of Polygonatum odoratum.

Effects and functions of Polygonatum odoratum

The plant morphology of Polygonatum sibiricum and Polygonatum odoratum is very similar, but the Polygonatum sibiricum plant is taller than that of Polygonatum odoratum. Both of them use their rhizomes as medicine. The rhizomes of Polygonatum sibiricum are block-shaped, conical chicken-head-shaped, bead-shaped, or flat ginger-shaped, while the rhizomes of Polygonatum odoratum are cylindrical with segments, and only as thick as a little finger.

Polygonatum odoratum is sweet and mild in nature. It can replenish qi and nourish yin, strengthen the spleen, moisten the lungs and benefit the kidneys. Research has shown that the active ingredients contained in Polygonatum, such as polysaccharides, amino acids and saponins, can effectively enhance the body's immunity, lower blood lipids and blood sugar, prevent atherosclerosis, enhance memory, improve brain function and delay aging if taken regularly as a health tonic.

Polygonatum odoratum tastes sweet and is cold in nature. Its main effects are moistening the lungs and nourishing the stomach, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. It has a certain therapeutic effect on yin deficiency colds, yin damage caused by fever, and diabetes.

Eating Polygonatum odoratum and Polygonatum odoratum together can complement each other's effects. It has a significant effect on nourishing yin, moistening dryness and relieving cough. It can also lower blood pressure and enhance cardiovascular function.