By Samantha Bellman

The monotonous grays of winter begin to break as February approaches. Just like the groundhog reminds us that winter is coming to an end, so does the blooming of some of our more unique plants within the National Herb Garden. I love a winter-blooming plant, a reminder of the sunny burst of spring soon to wake up my senses. One plant that is an amazing reminder of the brightness I yearn for is Edgeworthia chrysantha, more commonly known as the paperbush plant or mitsumata. Characterized by its large pompom-like clusters of fragrant golden flowers, this late-winter bloom is a marvel to see. 

Paperbush is a deciduous shrub native to China and the Himalayas and naturalized to Japan. (Another very fragrant close relative of paperbush is the popular garden shrub, daphne (Daphne odora)). This winter bloomer is better known for its use as a fiber in the creation of washi and other textiles, as well as its use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Japanese Papermaking

There are three main renewable fibrous plants that make up the uniquely thin paper known as washi that has been made in Japan since 610 AD. Washi is made using kozo (paper mulberry, Morus papyrifera), mitsumata (paperbush, Edgeworthia chrysantha), and gampi (Wikstroemia sikokiana). For each plant, inner bark fibers are extracted and processed by hand via steaming, stripping, drying, boiling, bleaching, and then beating. The pulp is then laid out to dry and cure into the final product, which is a thin, durable, glossy paper similar to tissue paper (Japanese Washi Paper, n.d.).

The practice of making washi was once a booming industry in Japan, with over 80,000 families hand-making paper in the year 1800. But, due to the industrialization of production, now only three cities in the country continue the tradition of making washi by hand (The Japanese Paper Place, n.d.).

Since 1879, Japan has used washi as their paper of choice for their bank notes due to its durability. Washi has a unique texture and composition, which works as a deterrent to creating counterfeit money, since it is hard to imitate. While the paper used in currency is not handmade, it does continue to exemplify the prominence of washi within the history and tradition of Japan (National Printing Bureau, n.d.). 

In 2014, washi was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. For those not familiar, this is a list of outstanding feats of human invention that showcase culture and tradition in our world. Washi was added because of its robust tradition as a handcrafted product that is a large symbol of cultural identity for Japanese communities (UNESCO, 2014). 

Washi in Other Uses 

In 2006, the company Kamoi Kakoshi developed a new form of Japanese masking tape using washi, known as washi tape (Washi Mill, 2020). This tape rose in popularity because of the bright patterns and light stickiness of the material. Washi tape has become a fan favorite for crafting and journaling because of its versatility and semi transparency and thin, yet durable, structure.

Washi can also be used in textile production. Historically, durable textiles and furniture made from washi were popular in Japan. Since washi was locally sourced, the products were also cheaper (Mojajer va Pesaran, 2020). Washi can be processed in two different ways to create textiles. One way is through cutting the paper into thin strips, spinning them, then weaving them together to create fabric. The other, more traditional, processing comes through kneading the paper and then applying vegetative liquids, pastes, and starch to help create a more malleable and water-resistant material (Mojajer va Pesaran, 2020). Clothes made from washi are called kamiko. Kamiko are handcrafted through folding or stitching together sheets of washi. Historically, kamiko were worn by people of all walks, from farmers who used them as everyday clothes to Buddhist monks for ceremonial uses. Today, kamiko are mainly used as the traditional white robes monks wear during the O-mizutori festival, which is a celebration of water drawing that has been ongoing since 752 AD in Nara, Japan.

Unfortunately, the physical, financial, and time-consuming toll of kamiko production has led to the danger of this craft being lost. Today, only a handful of elders still practice the traditional way of making kamiko. To maintain this artisan skill, they have been working on passing their knowledge to a younger generation (Mojajer va Pesaran, 2020).

Paperbush in Medicine

In addition to paperbush’s use in industry, it also has a long history of use within indigenous and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) systems. Each part of the paperbush plant is used for different treatments within TCM. The Tujia, an indigenous Chinese ethnic group in western Hunan Province, are known to use paperbush flowers as a tea that has a calming effect and helps with digestion. The Tujia also use the tea for its anti-diabetic effects (Lau, 2020). A study conducted at Minzu University in China compared the use of two different species of paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha and Edgeworthia gardneri) for their effectiveness in helping with diabetes treatment, and both were found to have mild antihyperglycemic effects (Lau, 2020).

The Yao people, an indigenous Chinese ethnic group in the Guangxi region, have historically used all parts of the plant for treating colds, infertility, and postpartum lochia (Lu, 2022). 

Paperbush bark and roots have been used for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in TCM, as well as to aid in bone healing and to treat rheumatism (Lau, 2020). It is also known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties (Hu, 2008). Research conducted at Shanghai Jiatong University has confirmed the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of paperbush (Hu, 2008). 

Medicinal Disclaimer: It is the policy of The Herb Society of America, Inc. not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.

Photo Credits: 1) Edgeworthia chrysantha at the United States National Arboretum (US National Arboretum); 2) Bolts of washi (Alex Watson via Flickr); 3) Japanese Yen (bfishadow via Flickr); (4) Rolls of washi tape used for crafts and journaling (Carol via Flickr); 5) Ceremonial Buddhist kamiko made of washi (Daphne Mohajer va Pesaran via EMKP); 6) Edgeworthia chrysantha flowers (John Winder)

References

Hu, X., H. Jin, W. Xu, M. Chen, X. Liu, et al. 2008. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Edgeworthia chrysantha and its effective chemical constituents. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 31(9) 1761-1765. Accessed December 9, 2024. Available from: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/31/9/31_9_1761/_pdf 

Japanese Washi Paper. Roberts C. Williams Museum of Papermaking. Georgia Tech. Accessed on December 9, 2024. Available from: https://paper.gatech.edu/washi/washi-history-japanese-papermaking

Lau, K., C. Wong, C. Long, and C. B. Lau. 2020. Anti-diabetic effects of Edgeworthia chrysantha and Edgeworthia gardneri flower buds – an ethnic herbal tea in China. Biomedical Journal of Scientific and Technical Research. 28 (5). Accessed December 9, 2024. Available from: DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.28.004717

Lu, Z., H. Chen, C. Lin, G. Ou, J. Li, et. al. 2022. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by the Yao people in Gongcheng County, Guanxi, China. 49. Accessed December 13, 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00544-6

Mohajer va Pesaran, D. 2020. Kamiko, washi and takuhon-shi: Making paper clothing in Japan. The British Museum. Accessed December 9, 2024. Available from: https://www.emkp.org/kamiko-washi-and-takuhon-shi-making-paper-clothing-in-japan/

National Printing Bureau (Internet). Characteristics of banknotes. Tokyo, Japan. National Printing Bureau. Accessed on December 9, 2024. Available from: https://www.npb.go.jp/en/products/intro/tokutyou.html 

The Japanese Paper Place (Internet). Papermaking in Japan. Toronto, Canada. The Japanese Paper Place. Accessed on December 9, 2024. Available from: https://www.japanesepaperplace.com/papermaking-in-japan/

UNESCO. 2014. Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paper. UNESCO. Accessed on December 9, 2024. Available from: https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/washi-craftsmanship-of-traditional-japanese-hand-made-paper-01001.

Washi Mill (Internet). 2020. Washi Tape: A Brief History. Gaobu Town, China.  Washi Mill. Gaobu Town, China. Accessed December 9, 2024. Available from: https://www.craftwashitape.com/washi-tape-a-brief-history/

Samantha Bellman is the 2024-2025 intern for the National Herb Garden in Washington, DC. She received her degree in Environmental Science Terrestrial Resource Management from the University of Washington-Seattle. While not out in the garden, she enjoys reading, baking, crafting, and cooking.