Can Chuan Beimu be eaten after being stored for a long time

It is not recommended to continue consuming Sichuan fritillaria if it has been stored for too long. The shelf life of traditional Chinese medicinal materials is greatly affected by storage conditions. Improper storage may result in mold growth, insect infestation, or loss of medicinal efficacy.

As a precious traditional Chinese medicine, the active ingredients of Fritillaria thunbergii, such as berberine and berberine, are easily affected by environmental factors. Under dry, cool and sealed conditions, it can usually be stored for 2-3 years. If white mold spots, brown spots, or damp lumps are found on the surface of the medicinal herbs, it indicates that they have deteriorated. Worm infested Fritillaria will present holes accompanied by insect powder, and the medicinal effect will be basically lost. Even if there are no abnormalities in appearance, the cough stopping and phlegm resolving effects of aged Sichuan Fritillaria will significantly decrease after more than 5 years. In special circumstances, professional Chinese pharmacists may determine that well preserved aged Fritillaria thunbergii still has medicinal value through morphological identification and physicochemical testing. Traditional Chinese medicine theory holds that some aged medicines can produce special therapeutic effects through appropriate processing, but ordinary families find it difficult to grasp the judgment criteria. If Sichuan Fritillaria comes into contact with oily substances and produces a halal taste, or if it is mixed with sulfur smoked medicinal materials and results in excessive sulfur dioxide residue, there is a food safety risk.

It is recommended to choose vacuum small packaging products when purchasing, and use them as soon as possible after opening. It can be stored in ceramic jars for moisture absorption and regularly dried to prevent insects. If you need to use Sichuan Fritillaria that has been stored for a long time, you can first take a small amount and boil it, then observe whether the medicine is cloudy and whether there is any odor. When making Tonic Diet such as Sichuan shellfish stewed with snow pear, the deteriorated medicinal materials may affect the safety of the whole dish. For special populations such as children and pregnant women, it is even more important to ensure the freshness of medicinal herbs, and if necessary, Sichuan Fritillaria extract can be used as a substitute.