Cao Shi Can (Stachys affinis) — Dried Bai Chong Cao Rhizome, 500g Food Herb

Cao Shi Can (Stachys affinis), also known as Bai Chong Cao (白虫草) or Chinese Artichoke, is the dried tuber of a traditional food herb long valued in Chinese folk wellness culture. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is known as Cǎo Shí Cán (草石蚕), and is also called Luo Si Cai (螺丝菜) for its distinctive spiral-shaped tubers. Its nature is sweet and neutral, making it a gentle, food-grade herb traditionally used to nourish the lungs, support the kidneys, and gently strengthen the body's vital energy.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional food herb (药食同源) tuber
• Dried Bai Chong Cao rhizome, 500g pack
• Stachys affinis, also called Chinese Artichoke
• Sun-dried to preserve natural quality
• Suitable for soups, congee, and daily tonics

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully sun-dried to preserve the tuber's pale ivory to light tan color, its firm yet slightly spongy texture, and its mild, earthy aroma. When simmered, the dried tubers soften and release a gentle, subtly sweet and slightly nutty flavor, adding quiet depth to broths and decoctions without overpowering companion ingredients.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Chinese-style soup and broth
• Congee and grain porridge
• Daily herbal decoction
• Seasonal slow-cooking tonic
• Medicinal food soup pack ingredient

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Cao Shi Can is decocted into soups, congee, and gentle daily tonics to support nourishment through changing seasons. It is a common ingredient in medicinal food soup packs, where it pairs with ingredients like goji berry, Chinese yam, and jujube. As a daily decoction, it is simmered alone or blended with other mild food herbs for a light, subtly sweet infusion traditionally taken to support lung and kidney nourishment.

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