The difference between Thuja and Oriental arborvitae

Thuja sutchuenensis refers to the cypress that grows on cliffs. Because it grows on cliffs and the environment is particularly harsh, it is also called the king of trees. The health benefits of Thuja sutchuenensis are very good, and it has a refreshing fragrance. However, according to experts, Thuja sutchuenensis is almost extinct now. Currently, most of them are still found in the wild. After all, Thuja sutchuenensis is very rare, and most of the medicines used are Thuja sutchuenensis.

How to identify the real "Thuja"

1. First look at the color.

The skin color of old and aged Thuja sutchuenensis is golden yellow or dark yellow-brown (red in the sun). If you see a handle with pale yellow, flesh-colored, or even white skin, please give up decisively. No matter how full of tumors this handle is, don't buy it because it is a live material and has no collection value. The golden yellow flesh of Thuja is still very good. Of course, don't trust too much in the promotional pictures of some online sales merchants. It is best to view it under normal light.

2. Second, look at the annual rings.

After determining whether the material is old or aged, annual rings are a very important part. There's nothing much to say about the annual rings; the denser the better. Some merchants say that there will be sparse areas in the annual rings, which is true, but there must be more dense areas than sparse areas! It can be said that the annual rings are the identity card of Thuja sutchuenensis. The real good material allows you to see the distribution of the annual rings more clearly and meticulously. The very subtle and fine annual rings are extremely beautiful.

3. Thirdly, look at the tumors, tiger stripes and black lines.

Some novices who take medicine only look at the tumor flowers and lines, and ignore the first two. As soon as I saw the dense nodules, I lost my judgment. Little did I know that some merchants’ products have full nodules, but the skin color is pale yellow or even flesh-colored. In my opinion, they have no value and are just to deceive novices. So the tumor is just the third element. Tiger stripes and black lines are also the distinctive features of old materials, but it is not an easy task to gather these three elements: tiger stripes, black lines and nodules.

4. Finally, identify the Thuja striata by its fragrance.

The texture of Thuja itself is delicate and rosy, rich in oil, with fine annual rings and gorgeous patterns. The fragrance is mainly sweet, with a slight medicinal and cool taste. You can't go wrong by choosing Thuja sutchuenensis based on the above basic characteristics. If the so-called "Thuja sutchuenensis" you see does not meet any of the above standards, you should be cautious.