Chinese: xi xin
English: asarum, Chinese wild ginger
Pharmaceutical: Asari Radix et Rhizoma
Properties: Acrid, warm, mildly toxic
Standard Species: Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Scmidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag., Asarum sieboldii Miq. var. seoulense Nakai, Asarum sieboldii Miq.
Note: Leaves and stem of asarum contain aristolochic acid (toxic). Since its 14th edition, the Japanese Pharmacopeia has specified to use only the rhizome.
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – Campbellville, Canada (Photo by TH Tanaka)
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) – Campbellville, Canada (Photo by TH Tanaka)
Asarum europaeum – – Hortus Haren, Haren, Netherlands (Photo by TH Tanaka)