1. Smell: Gastrodia elata smoked with sulfur will have a pungent smell, while ordinary Gastrodia elata will have a hemp smell (commonly known as horse urine smell).

2, taste: put a small amount of sulfur-smoked gastrodia elata tablets in the mouth, it will have a sour taste.

3. Look at the color: the epidermis of the common gastrodia elata is yellowish white or reddish, slightly transparent or opaque, and the horizontal ring pattern formed by a little protrusion is hard and not easy to break.

4, fake gastrodia elata: fake gastrodia elata can be used as mirabilis jalapa root, dried potato, Dali chrysanthemum root and so on. Generally, it has no special smell, the cut surface is powdery, and it feels sticky or not brittle when chewing. Careful observation, it is not difficult to distinguish between true and false.

Extended data:

Precautions:

1. All users should use Gastrodia elata with caution when they see fluid deficiency, blood deficiency and yin deficiency.

2. Pay attention to compatibility and application, rarely use gastrodia elata alone, but use drugs according to different diseases and syndromes. Such as Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction, Tianma Gouteng Drink, Tianma Pill, etc. Gastrodia elata is not effective or the effect is uncertain in clinic.

3. Even in the case of hyperactivity of liver yang and obstruction of collaterals by phlegm, we should carefully examine Gastrodia elata and grasp the pathogenesis in order to achieve good therapeutic effect.

4. Gastrodia elata should not be fried for a long time. Gastrodia elata is the main component of gastrodin, which is easily volatilized when heated. Gastrodia elata and other drugs will lose their effective components of sedation and analgesia due to heating. Therefore, it is best to wet Gastrodia elata with a small amount of water, soften it, cut it into thin slices, dry it in the sun or grind it into powder, and take it with the decoction, or grind it into pills and powder.

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