Cang Zhu Tincture & Alcohol-Free Extract

Cang Zhu (Atractylodes lancea), the swordlike atractylodes, is a perennial of the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to hillside scrub and open woods in eastern China, Korea, and Japan, with the most prized supply from the Maoshan hills of Jiangsu. It grows 30 to 80 centimeters with stiff stems, leathery, lance-shaped, spiny-toothed leaves, and small white to pale pink thistle-like flower heads ringed by comb-like bracts in late summer. The rhizome is knobbly and beaded, dark grey-brown outside, and when sliced shows a yellowish interior scattered with orange-red oil dots that sometimes crystallize into white needles; it smells strongly aromatic. We extract the dried root.