NCCAOM Herbal Board Practice Exam

Gou Teng is judged by a combination of its distinctive hooks and overall appearance. The best quality shows solid, anchor-shaped twin hooks, which are the defining feature that confirms the material is Gou Teng rather than a similar plant. These hooks should be sturdy and intact, not broken or fragile, signaling proper harvesting and processing. In good quality Gou Teng, there are a small number of thin stems, rather than a dense bundle of stems with many hooks. This reflects proper selection and reduces adulteration risk, while keeping the material recognizable by its hooked ends. The surface color should be purplish-brown or reddish-brown and glossy, indicating appropriate drying and storage. A dull surface or other color typically points to aging, improper processing, or inferior material. So, the combination of solid, anchor-shaped twin hooks, a limited number of thin stems without hooks on most of the stems, and a purplish-brown to reddish-brown glossy surface best describes Gou Teng of good quality.