New York Grown Chinese Medicinal
Herbs Project
In 2003, NOFA-NY began
co-sponsoring a medicinal plant project. The "New York
Grown Chinese Medicinal Herbs" project includes production
trials of four Asian medicinal plant species, a product development
exercise, and a marketing study.
Introduction
Initiated by NOFA associate member High Falls Gardens in Columbia County, the project is supported in part by a grant from the NY Department of Agriculture and Markets. Five NOFA-NY-certified organic farmers will participate in the project.
New York Grown Chinese Medicinal Herbs Project Team:
|
Scott Chaskey Quail Hills Farm Box 1268 / Old Stone Highway Amagansett, NY 11930-1268 (Suffolk County)
|
Cathy Popp-McKenna & Dennis McKenna Churchill Mountain Farm 1542 Foote Hollow Road Stamford, NY 12167 (Delaware County)
|
|
James & Patricia Fleig Sunshine Hill Farm 1075 Middle Road Middlesex, NY 14507 (Yates County)
|
Matthias & Andrea Reisen Healing Spirits Herb Farm & Educational Center 9198 State Route 415 Avoca, NY 14809 (Steuben County)
|
|
Linda & Michael Hoffmann Honey Hollow Farm P.O. Box 858 Middleburgh, NY 12122-0858 (Schoharie County)
|
|
|
Consultants:
Anna Dawson Hudson Valley Hometown Foods 362 Eichybush Road Kinderhook, NY 12106
|
Kevin Hodne, Executive Director CADE, Inc. 250 Main Street Oneonta, NY 13820 |
|
Helene R. Dillard, Ph.D. Professor, Plant Pathology Cornell University A105 Barton Laboratory Geneva, NY 14456-0462
|
Wayne Mellor, M.B.A. Market Research Consultant P.O. Box 221 Fly Creek, NY 13337
|
|
Questions about the project may be addressed to the Project Coordinator:
Jean Giblette High Falls Gardens Box 125 Philmont, NY 12565 518-672-7365
|
|
About the Plants
Three perennial species of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine will be established in test plots on the five NOFA-certified organic farms. These species are:
1. CHINESE WOLFBERRY, Lycium chinense
Also known as matrimony vine, this member of the family Solanaceae forms a raspberry-like perennial bush that bears fruit on new wood. The red berries are one medicinal portion, known as gou qi zi, that is considered by traditional Chinese medicine to Nourish the Blood and has a wide range of applications in formulas. The berries are also dried like raisins and sold in packages in Chinese supermarkets. A second medicinal portion is the root bark, di gu pi, which is used in treatment to Cool the Blood.
The bush, pruned to a 3-4 foot spherical shape, is vigorous and hardy. The berries are frost-resistant and bear heavily in October. Skillful pruning enhances fruit production.
2. MAGNOLIA VINE FRUIT, Schisandra chinensis
Wu wei zi, "five-flavor fruit," is a much-desired medicinal that looks like a small cluster of bright red Concord grapes. This perennial vine is dioecious and bears on old wood. A member of the family Schisandraceae, the plant is hardy and easily root-propagated in spring. Although it sends up new shoots from the base, the vine does not travel and is easily trained to a tripod or trellis.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the fruit is considered Sour and Warm and is used to Stabilize and Bind, with very useful affinities for the Heart, Kidney and Lung channels. Very popular and used in a wide variety of formulas, this medicinal has already found its way into commercial nutraceutical products.
3. CHINESE CUCUMBER, Trichosanthes kirilowii
This vigorous perennial curcurbit with broad, deep green leaves yields four medicinal portions: fruit pulp, fruit skins, seeds and root. Herbaceous, the plant sends forth several vines from the crown in June and the foliage dies back at first frost. The softball-sized fruits then ripen, changing from green to yellow by the end of October.
All four portions are used in different ways in traditional Chinese medicine to Cool and Transform Phlegm-Heat. The root is processed into a powder, tian hua fen ("heavenly flower powder"), which is often a component of formulas used in AIDS treatment and has been investigated by Western science as a source for Compound Q, also used for AIDS.
In addition, a fourth species will be grown as an annual this year and used as a test example for marketing a "New York Certified Organic" product.
4. BITTER MELON, Momordica charantia
A vegetable crop, this curcurbit is grown as an annual in the north. Its immature fruits resemble warty cucumbers and are used in Asian cooking. Cultivation has been established in the U.S. and information is available through the Internet, the universities and extension service, although the extent of certified organic cultivation is unknown. Bitter melon is produced commercially (not organically) on Long Island for the New York City Asian markets.
Known
as fu gua, bitter melon also has medicinal properties
recognized by traditional Chinese medicine. Its treatment
categories are Clears Summer Heat and Relieves Toxicity. It has
gained a reputation as helpful in controlling blood sugar in diabetes.
At least two other species of Momordica are also used in Oriental
medicine and should not be confused with bitter melon.
About High Falls Gardens
High Falls Gardens (HFG) is a farm-based educational and research organization devoted to advancing the practice of traditional Oriental medicine in North America, especially the disciplines of herbalism and dietary therapy. Through its established plantings of Asian medicinal botanicals, field workshops, lectures and publications, HFG supports plant studies based at the colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine as well as continuing education for licensed practitioners.
Supported by a nine-member advisory board of health professionals, educators and scientists, HFG is at the forefront of efforts to restore an old understanding of human health as literally rooted in nutrients obtained from healthy soil. This knowledge of healing with medicinal plants and food is one of the true frontiers of 21st century science, and toward this purpose HFG is exploring the potential for domestic production of the Asian botanicals.
HFG, located in rural Columbia County, also participates in the development of ecological, community-based agriculture, traditional nutrition education, local production and processing, and direct marketing initiatives.
Inquiries are welcome; limited farm tours are available by appointment.. A free sample of the HFG newsletter, The View, will be forwarded upon request. Wholly tax-deductible contributions made payable to the High Falls Gardens Fund helps support this work and are gratefully acknowledged.
"The physician of tomorrow will study mankind in relation to his environment, will prevent disease at the source, and will cease to confine himself to the temporary alleviation of the miseries resulting from malnutrition." Sir Albert Howard, THE SOIL AND HEALTH, 1947.