嵩县盛产柴胡历史悠久，又因嵩县各地均产柴胡，属当地的一大特产，故又称为“嵩胡”。嵩县产柴胡根粗气浓，有效成分“总皂甙”含量高于其他产地同类产品。

    从元、明至今，全国各地药商纷至沓来，收购嵩县柴胡，有些向外出口，使其在国内外享有一定盛誉。嵩县柴胡耐寒耐旱，适宜在６００－８００米海拔高度浅山区较干燥的山坡、林缘、林中隙地、草丛及沟旁生长，比较理想的土壤为壤土、沙质壤土或腐殖土。

    嵩县地处丘陵山区，气候暖和，适宜多种药材生长。据有关部门在嵩县进行药材资源普查表明，该地药材种类达１１６２种，已进入市场的就有３６４种。

    为开发利用当地药材资源，１９８０年嵩县野生柴胡列入科研项目，对其特性、育苗、播种、管理、采收、加工进行了一系列研究。至１９８３年试种成功起，先后获河南省科技成果三等奖，洛阳市科技成果一等奖。目前，嵩县柴胡面积已发展到３９００多亩，年产量达１０００吨以上。

 

Songxian Radix Bupleuri

    Songxian radix bupleuri has a long history, which is named after its major producing area Songxian County. Songxian is located in hill areas where moderate climate is appropriate for medical materials' growing. After Yuan and Ming Dynasty, there are many medical merchants come here to buy them, some are even exported to foreign countries so that it earns a good reputation in the world.
      
    Radix bupleuri produced in Songxian has thick roots and fragrant smell whose content of saponin is higher than similar products in other producing areas. Songxian radix bupleuri are cold-resisted and drought-endured which always grows on dry slopes or alongside forest, grasslands or ditches on 600 to 800m mountains where has ideal sandy soil or humus.