Panax, American Ginseng, Xi Yang Shen 西洋参

Xi Yang Shen (TCM)
Panax quinquefolium
Medicinal Plants, Millspaugh, 1892

American Ginseng root
Notes on Pharmacognosy, Otto Augustus Wall, 1902
Botanical name:
Panax quinquefolium

Parts used:
Root

Temperature & Taste:
Cool, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter

Classification:
N. Tonics

Uses:
1. Benefits Qi, Nourishes Yin:
-Yin-deficient Heat;
-Chronic or low-grade Fever
-aftermath of a Heat disease or Epidemic disease with weakness, thirst, irritability
-'Wasting and Thirsting disorder'; thirst with wasting as seen in Diabetes

2. Nourishes Lung Yin, Clears Lung Heat:
-Cough, Wheezing, and Hemoptysis from chronic Heat damaging the Lungs
-Loss of Voice

3. Strengthens the Spleen and Stomach Qi:
-lethargy, poor appetite, abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea
-American Ginseng shares this function with Panax Ren Shen, but the latter is stronger


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)

CORRECTIVES:
1. Oxymel (Unani)
2. Lettuce seed (Unani)

SUBSTITUTE:
1. Codonopsis Dang Shen is an accepted substitute in TCM for Ginseng (Ren Shen), and may also be used for American Ginseng.
2. In Yin deficiency, it may be replaced with Marshmallow root or Asparagus root.
3. Date (Unani)

PREPARATION
It is steamed with wine to make it more warming to the Yang.

NOTE:
Two main varieties of Ginseng can be differentiated:
1. White or American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen), better to nourish Yin and strengthen Qi.
2. Red or Korean Ginseng (Hong Shen), warmer and better to strengthen Yang and Qi.

Main Combinations:
1. High Fever that has damaged Qi and Yin, with Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, Anemarrhena Zhi Mu
2. Lethargy, Wheezing with Heat and Yin deficiency, with Schisandra Wu Wei Zi, Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong
3. Yin deficient Heat with dryness of the Mouth and Throat, debility, with Asparagus (Tian Men Dong) and Solomans Seal (Yu Zhu)
4. Chronic Cough:
i. from Heat, with Figwort and Licorice
ii. from Lung weakness, with Coltsfoot flower (Kuan Dong Hua), Almond kernel and Licorice.

Major Formulas
Mai Men Dong Tang
Qing Shu Yi Qi 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:

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