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Panax, Ren Shen, Ginseng 人参Ren Shen (TCM)
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Panax ginseng (as Aralia ginseng)
Baillon, H.E., Histoire des plantes, vol. 7 (1877-1880)
Baillon, H.E., Histoire des plantes, vol. 7 (1877-1880)
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Red (left) and White (right) Ginseng (Adam, Chengdu Herb Market)
Ginseng often forms man-like roots, hence its name RenShen 'Man root'. This is similar to the way Mandrake got its name in the West. This example is doing his best Elvis impersonation! (Adam, 2017) |
Botanical name:
Panax ginseng (syn. Aralia ginseng)
Panax quinquefolium is the closely related American Ginseng
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Classification:
N. Tonics
Panax ginseng (syn. Aralia ginseng)
Panax quinquefolium is the closely related American Ginseng
Parts used:
Root
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Classification:
N. Tonics
Uses:
1. Strongly Tonifies Qi:
-powerfully increases Qi of the Heart, Lungs, Spleen, and Kidneys in particular
-'collapse of Qi': fatigue, short of breath, cold limbs, sweating, very low pulse (ie. after blood loss, excess sweating or shock)
-can be used in a variety of chronic diseases and disorders associated with deficiency
-supportive tonic to increase and preserve health and promote longevity.
-Red Ginseng especially tonifies Kidney Qi and Yang
2. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach Qi:
-lethargy, poor appetite, abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea
-beneficial in recuperation and as support in old age.
-prolapses associated with Qi deficiency
3. Strengthens the Lung, Increases Qi:
-chronic cough, wheezing, shortness of Breath, labored Breathing
4. Benefits Heart Qi, Calms the Mind and Spirit:
-palpitation with anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, restlessness
-beneficial to support Brain function in the elderly
5. Generates Fluid, Stops Thirst:
-'Wasting and Thirsting disorder'; thirst with wasting as seen in Diabetes
-White Ginseng or American Ginseng are used for this purpose
DOSE:
500mg–2 grams in powder; 3–9 grams in decoction (usually cooked separately in a double-boiler then added to other herbs once cooked) Up to 30 grams is used in emergency situations such as Shock.
PREPARATION:
It is steamed with wine to make it more warming to the Yang.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Oxymel (Unani)
2. Lettuce seed (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
1. Codonopsis Dang Shen is an accepted substitute in TCM. It is generally substituted except in cases of extreme Qi deficiency; dosage in generally increased 2–3 fold.
2. Unani regards American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen) as a substitute.
3. Date (Unani)
4. Withania is also used similarly, and is sometimes called 'Indian Ginseng'. While it is not as strong to tonify the Qi, it has a broader scope of action, being used for various conditions including Weakness and Fatigue, Fertility, chronic Joint disease, Mental illness etc,
NOTE:
Three main varieties of Ginseng can be differentiated:
1. White Ginseng (Ren Shen, Bai Ren Shen), dried, unprepared; strengthens Qi and nourishes Yin.
2. Red or Korean Ginseng (Hong Shen), has been steamed with alcohol, is warmer and better to strengthen Yang and Qi, especially of the Kidneys.
3. American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen); primarily a Yin tonic, it is weaker to strengthen Qi.
500mg–2 grams in powder; 3–9 grams in decoction (usually cooked separately in a double-boiler then added to other herbs once cooked) Up to 30 grams is used in emergency situations such as Shock.
PREPARATION:
It is steamed with wine to make it more warming to the Yang.
CORRECTIVES:
1. Oxymel (Unani)
2. Lettuce seed (Unani)
SUBSTITUTE:
1. Codonopsis Dang Shen is an accepted substitute in TCM. It is generally substituted except in cases of extreme Qi deficiency; dosage in generally increased 2–3 fold.
2. Unani regards American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen) as a substitute.
3. Date (Unani)
4. Withania is also used similarly, and is sometimes called 'Indian Ginseng'. While it is not as strong to tonify the Qi, it has a broader scope of action, being used for various conditions including Weakness and Fatigue, Fertility, chronic Joint disease, Mental illness etc,
NOTE:
Three main varieties of Ginseng can be differentiated:
1. White Ginseng (Ren Shen, Bai Ren Shen), dried, unprepared; strengthens Qi and nourishes Yin.
2. Red or Korean Ginseng (Hong Shen), has been steamed with alcohol, is warmer and better to strengthen Yang and Qi, especially of the Kidneys.
3. American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen); primarily a Yin tonic, it is weaker to strengthen Qi.
Main Combinations:
Deficiency in General:
1. Marked Qi and Yang deficiency with sweating, ice-cold extremities, short of breath, very low pulse:
i. Ginseng with Cinnamon and Astragalus Huang Qi
ii. Ginseng with prepared Aconitum Fu Zi (as in Shen Fu Tang). This effect is both better and safer if Licorice and Ginger are added (this makes Si Ni Jia Ren Shen Tang)
2. Qi and Yin deficiency with sweating, shortness of Breath and a low pulse, Ginseng with Schisandra Wu Wei Zi and Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong (as in Sheng Mai San, 'Generate the Pulse Powder')
3. Yin deficient Heat, Hectic Fever, Cough:
i. Ginseng with Paeonia Bai Shao, Dang Gui, Phellodendron Huang Bai, Anemarrhena Zhi Mu
ii. Ginseng with Turtle shell, Phellodendron Huang Bai
Spleen Qi Deficiency:
4. Spleen Qi deficiency with fatigue, poor appetite, loose stool:
i. Ginseng with Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Poria Fu Ling and Licorice (as in Si Jun Zi Tang, 'Four Gentlemen Decoction')
ii. Ginseng, Astragalus Huang Qi, Poria Fu Ling, Chinese Red Date (Da Zao)
5. Marked Spleen Qi deficiency and sinking of the Yang Qi, including Prolapses, Ginseng with Astragalus Huang Qi, Dang Gui, Bupleurum Chai Hu (as in Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang)
Lung Tonic:
6. Lung tonic, Ginseng with Chinese Red Date (Da Zao), form pills. (Zao Shen Wan from Chinese Materia Medica, Stuauoft)
7. Asthma, Wheezing, shortness of Breath from Kidney and Lung deficiency:
i. Ginseng with Walnut and Licorice
ii. Ginseng with Walnut and Gecko Ge Jie.
iii. severe cases, Ginseng, Cordyceps
8. Chronic Cough from Lung weakness:
i. Ginseng with Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua), Almond kernel and Licorice.
ii. Ginseng with Asparagus root (Tian Men Dong), Lillium Bai He,
Heart Deficiency:
9. Insomnia, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite from Heart and Spleen deficiency,
i. Ginseng with Ganoderma Ling Zhi
ii. Ginseng with Polygala Yuan Zhi and Zizyphus semen Suan Zao Ren
ii. Ginseng with Dang Gui, Astragalus Huang Qi, Longan Long Yan Rou, Polygala Yuan Zhi (as in Gui Pi Tang)
10. Insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, irritability from Heart deficiency :
i. Ginseng, Salvia Dan Shen
ii. Ginseng with Rehmannia Sheng Di, Asparagus Tian Men Dong, Polygala Yuan Zhi, Zizyphus Suan Zao Ren (as in Tian Wan Bu Xin Wan)
11. Palpitations with spontaneous sweating:
i. Ginseng with Astragalus Huang Qi, Salvia Dan Shen
ii. Ginseng with Amber and Pearl
iii. decoct Ginseng, Dang Gui and Pork Kidney (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
Kidney deficiency:
12. Impotence from Kidney deficiency:
i. Ginseng with Cinnamon, Eucommia Du Zhong
ii. Ginseng with Velvet Deer Horn (Lu Rong)
iii. severe deficiency, Ginseng with Cordyceps
13. Exhaustion after sex:
i. decoct Ginseng with citrus Chen Pi. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
ii. Ginseng, Deer Horn
iii. Ginseng, Shilajit
14. Kidney weakness from excess Sex:
i. Ginseng with Rehmannia Sheng Di, Poria Fu Ling and Honey (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
ii. Ginseng, Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Dioscorea Shan Yao, Astragalus Huang Qi, Asparagus root Tian Men Dong
Major Formulas:
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Ba Zhen Tang
Ban Xie Xie Xin Tang Bu Fei Tang Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang Dang Gui Nian Tong Tang Di Tan Tang Ding Zhi Wan Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan Fu Zi Tang Gan Cao Xie Xin Tang Gui Pi Tang Gui Zhi Ren Shen Tang Huang Lian Tang Jian Pi Wan Jiu Xian San Li Zhong Wan Liu Jun Zi Tang Mu Xiang Liu Qi Yin |
Ren Shen Bai Du San
Ren Shen Bu Fei Tang Ren Shen Ge Jie San Ren Shen Hu Tao Tang Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang Sang Piao Xiao San Shen Fu Tang Shen Ling Bai Zhu San Shen Qi Si Wu Tang Sheng Mai San Shi Quan Da Bu Tang Si Jun Zi Tang Tian Wan Bu Xian Dan Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang Xiao Chai Hu Tang Zai Zao San Zhen Ren Yang Zang Tang Zhi Gan Cao Tang Zhi Shi Xiao Pi Wan Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang |
Cautions:
1. Not generally used in heat conditions (unless corrected in formula). Especially not used in Heat-type bleeding or external pathogenic heat.
2. Not used in rising Liver Yang.
3. Best to avoid use with coffee.
Main Preparations used:
Red Ginseng (steamed with wine)
1. Not generally used in heat conditions (unless corrected in formula). Especially not used in Heat-type bleeding or external pathogenic heat.
2. Not used in rising Liver Yang.
3. Best to avoid use with coffee.
Main Preparations used:
Red Ginseng (steamed with wine)
A Complete History of Drugs:
The following excerpt is taken from A Complete History of Drugs (Pomet, London, 1748). It clearly demonstrates the link between 'Vital Spirit' of the West with 'Qi' in TCM:
The following excerpt is taken from A Complete History of Drugs (Pomet, London, 1748). It clearly demonstrates the link between 'Vital Spirit' of the West with 'Qi' in TCM:
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