INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Ginseng |
| Common English: | Ginseng Root Asian Ginseng Root Panax |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet Slightly Bitter |
Slightly Warm |
Lung Spleen |
1-9g decocted separately Powder: 0.5-1g Tincture: 0.25-3ml Emergencies: up to 30g in multiple doses Tincture: 3-10ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi |
Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating, or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies) Collapse of Yang Collapse of Yin |
Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi |
Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum |
Tonifies Lung Qi |
Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath, and labored breathing on exertion |
Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst |
Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids |
Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit |
Heart Qi Deficiency Qi and Blood Deficiencies with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness, and restlessness |
Treats impotence |
With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence |
Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions |
Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Fr. Schisandrae |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
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Collapsed Qi and Devastated Yang with spontaneous sweat, ice cold extremities and shortness of breath |
Qi and Yin Deficiencies with shortness of breath and spontaneous sweat usually secondary to injury from Heat |
Severe Qi and Blood Deficiencies due to loss of Blood Qi and Yin Deficiencies |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae
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Qi and Yin Deficiencies (fever, thirst, irritability, shortness of breath and dry, red tongue) |
Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiencies with Dampness with anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal distention and fatigue |
Tonifies the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen |
Gecko |
Rx. Astragali |
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Qi Deficiency with various types of prolapse due to Sinking of the Clear Yang |
Wheezing due to Kidney unable to grasp Qi |
Lung Qi Deficiency Qi Deficiency with general debility, anorexia, and spontaneous sweat |
Flos Farfarae |
Rx. Trichosanthis or Rx. Trichosanthis |
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Chronic cough due to Lung Qi Deficiency |
Heat injuring the Qi and Yin fluids with fever, irritability, intense thirst and profuse sweating |
Wasting and thirsting disorder with intense unquenchable thirst |
Fol. Perillae |
Rx. Angelicae Sinensis |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Qi and Yin Deficiencies with fever, thirst, irritability, shortness of breath and a dry, red tongue External Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency |
Heart and Spleen Deficiencies with palpita-tions, shortness of breath, reduced appetite and insomnia |
Insomnia due to Heart and Kidney Insufficiency |
Cx. Ailanthi |
Gecko |
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In alcohol to treat impotence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency |
With Rice Congee to treat bleeding hemorrhoids, and chronic dysenteric disorder with bleeding and pus Chronic diarrhea or chronic watery vaginal discharge that incessantly leaks Mildly treats Damp-Heat |
Restores the mutually supportive and proper action the Lungs and kidneys to treat weak inhalation with wheezing that is worse on exertion |
Rx. Ephedrae |
Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
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Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency |
Qi Deficiency with Spleen and Stomach Deficiencies with loose stools or diarrhea |
Organ prolapse |
Gypsum Fibrosum |
Rx. Astragali |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Febrile disease with Heat damaging both Qi and Body Fluids |
Poor cognitive functions due to Spleen Qi and Heart Blood Deficiencies with fatigue, excessive worrying and insomnia |
Poor cognitive functions due to Kidney Yin Deficiency and Heart Blood Deficiency |
Rx. Acori Tatarinowii |
Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum |
Confusion and forgetfulness |
Qi and Blood Deficiencies |
Impotence |
Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii |
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Exterior invasion with Interior Deficiency |
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- Jilin root Ye Shan Shen or Shan Shen is the best quality.
- “White Ginseng ” Bai Shen or “sugar root” Tang Shen is cured in rock candy for treating Yin Deficiency.
- “Fresh-dried Ginseng” Sheng Shai Shen is also used for Yin Deficiency.
- Steaming turns roots red Hong Shen and makes them hotter - for Qi and Yang Deficiencies e.g. Korean Ginseng.
- Overuse may cause hyperactivity and bleeding (irritability, facial flush, epistaxis).
- Overdose can cause headache, insomnia, palpitations and high blood pressure.
- Some sources say that this herb tonifies Wei Qi.
- Because it strongly tonifies Yuan Qi, this herb is used in a wide variety of situations where a stronger Yuan Qi, will indirectly aid in their resolution.
- This herb can be used alone for collapse of Yuan Qi.
- Both Ren Shen and Rx. Astragali Huang Qi tonify primal Qi. Huang Qi also supports the Yang and is most appropriate for disorders that involve sinking of clear Qi. It also stops sweating, promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and facilitates urination, none of which Ren Shen can do. Ren Shen also generates fluids and its tonic effect is stronger and longer lasting than Huang Qi.
- Both Ren Shen and Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen have similar properties and functions. Ren Shen is much broader in its effects and must be used when the disorder is severe or requires immediate relief as in patterns of abandonment or profuse bleeding. Dang Shen tonifies Qi and indirectly augments Blood and Fluids, but does not tonify Yuan Qi or directly generate Fluids. Its effects are limited to the Spleen and Lungs and is less powerful than Ren Shen, although it is sufficient for everyday clinical use and is therefore a good substitute for Ren Shen when a Deficiency pattern is not severe. It is often used as an inexpensive substitute for Ren Shen.
- Both Ren Shen and Rx. Panacis Quinquifoliae Xi Yang Shen tonify Qi. Xi Yang Shen is sweet, slightly bitter and cooling. It also tonifies and augments the Blood aspect. It can be used to substitute fo Ren Shen whenever one wants to tonify Qi with the warming its quality.
- Ren Shen governs tonification of the five organs, quiets the consciousness, settles the etherial and corporeal souls, stops palpitations with anxiety, expels pathogenic Qi, brightens the eyes, opens the Heart and strengthens resolve.
- Ginseng Neck Ren Shen Lu is a mild emetic and is used to induce vomiting when there is an absence of Food Stagnation and Phlegm along with Deficiency.
- Ginseng Leaf Ren Shen Ye is bitter, slightly sweet and cold. it treats Summerheat with thirst, injury to fluids due to febrile disease, hoarseness associated with Lung Heat, insufficient Stomach Yin, toothache due to Deficiency and alcohol intoxication.
- Ginseng Rootlets Shen Xu, are generally used for depletion of Qi and damage to the Body Fluids.