I've hit dead ends trying to identify a root sold to us by a favorite
tea dealer, but if any source knows it would be this group!

It's a dried rhizome, cut in round slices. Brownish outside, near-
white inside. It resembles ginseng or ginger. We've been told that
when it is uncut it is one straight root about one foot long.

When brewed as a tea it has a light golden color and a pleasant mild
taste similar to mushroom broth.

The tea dealer (who speaks little English) indicated it was often
brewed as a tea to help regulate sugar for diabetics -- my wife and I
are sensitive to sugar and indeed we feel much better when drinking
this after desserts.

A friendly translator (who speaks English haltingly) told us that this
root's name was two characters. The first character is cow (she
pointed out the "horns" in the character), but she stumbled when
trying to explain the second. She said it was like an "organ" of the
cow, and seemed to get embarrased. When thinking about what possible
organs of a cow could be like a straight root one foot long, I could
understand her embarrassment. We've thus dubbed the tea "cao
schlong" (rhymes with bao zhong).

Does anyone have an idea of what this root might really be?

Are you talking about Niu Xi?

http://baike.baidu.com/view/41850.htm
http://www.herbasin.com/database/niuxi.htm

On Apr 14, 12:03*pm, Iggy wrote:
I've hit *dead ends trying to identify a root sold to us by a favorite
tea dealer, but if any source knows it would be this group!

It's a dried rhizome, cut in round slices. *Brownish outside, near-
white inside. *It resembles ginseng or ginger. *We've been told that
when it is uncut it is one straight root about one foot long.

When brewed as a tea it has a light golden color and a pleasant mild
taste similar to mushroom broth.

The tea dealer (who speaks little English) indicated it was often
brewed as a tea to help regulate sugar for diabetics -- my wife and I
are sensitive to sugar and indeed we feel much better when drinking
this after desserts.

A friendly translator (who speaks English haltingly) told us that this
root's name was two characters. *The first character is cow (she
pointed out the "horns" in the character), but she stumbled when
trying to explain the second. *She said it was like an "organ" of the
cow, and seemed to get embarrased. *When thinking about what possible
organs of a cow could be like a straight root one foot long, I could
understand her embarrassment. *We've thus dubbed the tea "cao
schlong" (rhymes with bao zhong).

Does anyone have an idea of what this root might really be?

Sounds like a bit of bull to me. Toi

On Apr 14, 10:19 am, niisonge wrote:
Are you talking about Niu Xi?

http://baike.baidu.com/view/41850.ht...base/niuxi.htm

This could very well be it. The first character is an exact match,
but the second character was written a bit sloppily and I can't make
out if it's a match or not.

These sites describe the root as being bitter, which the tea isn't at
all, but then again tea leaves are bitten when chewed too.

One thing I forgot to mention: the shop owner also said the root is
often used in soups, which doesn't seem likely from these pages.
Still, this is by far the likeliest match I've seen yet.

Thanks!!!

One thing I forgot to mention: the shop owner also said the root is
often used in soups, which doesn't seem likely from these pages.
Still, this is by far the likeliest match I've seen yet.

Thanks!!!

Following your lead I found a site that confirmed its use in soups and
its use to regulate blood sugar (http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/
new089.html).

Thanks again so much for your help -- I should have asked here months
ago!

-Charles

On Apr 14, 10:03*am, Iggy wrote:
I've hit *dead ends trying to identify a root sold to us by a favorite
tea dealer, but if any source knows it would be this group!

It's a dried rhizome, cut in round slices. *Brownish outside, near-
white inside. *It resembles ginseng or ginger. *We've been told that
when it is uncut it is one straight root about one foot long.

When brewed as a tea it has a light golden color and a pleasant mild
taste similar to mushroom broth.

The tea dealer (who speaks little English) indicated it was often
brewed as a tea to help regulate sugar for diabetics -- my wife and I
are sensitive to sugar and indeed we feel much better when drinking
this after desserts.

A friendly translator (who speaks English haltingly) told us that this
root's name was two characters. *The first character is cow (she
pointed out the "horns" in the character), but she stumbled when
trying to explain the second. *She said it was like an "organ" of the
cow, and seemed to get embarrased. *When thinking about what possible
organs of a cow could be like a straight root one foot long, I could
understand her embarrassment. *We've thus dubbed the tea "cao
schlong" (rhymes with bao zhong).

Does anyone have an idea of what this root might really be?

It sounds like codonopsis root which does regulate blood sugar.
However, solo herbs are rarely used in Chinese medicine. They are
usually more effective in formulas
Food is medicine in China and this rhizome is used in usually herb and
chicken based soups.
Herbs used as you are using them are medicine and it would be wise to
check with a TCM practitioner to see whether this herb is appropriate
for you since not all herbs work for all people.
Shen.

On Apr 15, 3:01*am, Iggy wrote:
One thing I forgot to mention: the shop owner also said the root is
often used in soups, which doesn't seem likely from these pages.
Still, this is by far the likeliest match I've seen yet.

Thanks!!!

Following your lead I found a site that confirmed its use in soups and
its use to regulate blood sugar (http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/
new089.html).

Thanks again so much for your help -- I should have asked here months
ago!

-Charles

Charles,

From your description of this herb & the lady apparent embarrassment,
it might not be Niu Xi, but Niu Bang, sometimes called Niu Bian [Zi]
(Bull penis) because of its length & shape. In English it is commonly
known as Burdock or Gobo in Japanese.

You should heed Shen advice, check with an established Chinese
medicine practitioner on this herb 1st bfore using it.

Kevo

Charles,

From your description of this herb & the lady apparent embarrassment,
it might not be Niu Xi, but Niu Bang, sometimes called Niu Bian [Zi]
(Bull penis) because of its length & shape. In English it is commonly
known as Burdock or Gobo in Japanese.

You should heed Shen advice, check with an established Chinese
medicine practitioner on this herb 1st bfore using it.

Kevo

Hmm... that does seem like a better match. Larger roots and better
match to the shop owner's description. The funny thing is I think
I've been yanking up burdock plants out back every year since the
brambles are tremendously tough to remove from clothing (my wife once
had to walk back to the house pantless in order to escape a patch).

I'll definitely heed the advice of this group and not imbibe any more
until I can get confirmation on the exact nature of this root from a
reputable Chinese apothecary.

Thanks all!
-Charles