Japanese Atractylodes

Atractylodes japonica

Physical Characteristics

Atractylodes japonica is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Edible Uses: Buds and young leaves[177]. No more details are given[K]. Root - cooked. A famine food used when all else fails[177].

Medicinal Uses

Antiemetic Appetizer Digestive Diuretic Expectorant Hepatic Hypoglycaemic Stomachic Tonic The rhizome is commonly used in Chinese and Korean herbal medicine[279]. It is antiemetic, appetizer, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, stomachic and tonic[174, 176, 178, 279]. The rhizome contains several medically active constituents including an essential oil and sesquiterpenes[279]. It has been shown to help lower blood sugar levels and to exert a protective influence on the liver[279]. It is used in the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders such as diarrhoea, water retention, mastitis, fistula, rheumatoid arthritis and night blindness[174, 176, 178, 279].

Known Hazards

None known