How to identify Chinese medicinal materials mixed with alum

Among the methods for counterfeiting adulterated Chinese herbal medicines, there is one method that is more commonly used and is not easily detected and recognized, namely, “snoring”, that is, soaking the medicinal materials with a higher concentration of alum solution, and then drying them so that the alum will naturally remain in the medicinal materials. Internal, so that it gains weight, but the surface properties of herbs have changed little. The Chinese herbal medicines that are often seen in the market after being processed by Alum are white bean pods, Amomum villosum, hawthorn meat, Chinese wolfberry fruit, whole oysters, and turmeric beads. Now, we will introduce to you the identification of traditional Chinese medicines. Whether it is mixed with alum. Although the medicinal materials that have passed through Alum's blisters are generally not very different from genuine ones, if they are carefully observed, they will still find many flaws. 1. Look. Look closely at the surface of the medicinal material, where there are white creams (such as scorpions, hawthorn, etc.) in wrinkles or bumps, or if the surface of the seeds is white (such as Amomum villosum, white pods, etc.) after peeling the shell of the fruit. Are very suspicious. 2. Hand touch. Turn the medicine by hand and gently squeeze it to feel the tentacles of medicine. All the medicinal materials that have been beaten, such as hawthorn meat and razor clams, are slightly dry and feel stiff. There are even slight noises when they are flipped. 3. I taste. With a tongue or mouth to taste herbs, there are sour, salty, and astringent flavors of alum. 4. Light. If the surface of the medicinal material is irradiated with light, if there is a flashing bright spot, it is the fine crystals left after the alum solution is dried. If you check through these steps, you can initially determine whether there is alum in Chinese herbal medicines. China Agricultural Network Editor