Panax, Ren Shen, Ginseng

Panax ginseng (as Aralia ginseng)
Baillon, H.E., Histoire des plantes, vol. 7 (1877-1880)

Red (left) and White (right) Ginseng (Adam, Chengdu Herb Market)

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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
-‘consumptive and deficient diseases of all kinds in both men and women’. (Li Shi Zhen)
-‘antepartum and postpartum diseases.’ (Li Shi Zhen)
-‘Long-term taking of the drug maks the patient happy and able to enjoy a long life’. (Shen Nong Ben Cao)
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
-‘strengthens the powers of Memory’. (Ming Yi Bie Lu)
–‘relieves restlessness and irritation’. (Li Xun)
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
-Heat Stroke
6. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-‘purges Fire from the Heart, Lung, Spleen and Stomach’ (Zhang Yuan Su)
–‘neutralizes the toxin in metal and stone drugs.’ (Da Ming)

Dose:

Powder: 500mg–2 grams;
Decoction: 3–9 grams

Preparation:

… available in PRO version

Correctives:

… available in PRO version

Substitutes:

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.

Main Combinations:

1. Marked Qi and Yang deficiency with sweating, ice-cold extremities, short of breath, very low pulse:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
2. Qi and Yin deficiency with sweating, shortness of Breath and a low pulse, Ginseng with … available in PRO version
3. Spleen Qi deficiency with fatigue, poor appetite, loose stool, Ginseng with … available in PRO version
4. Marked weakness and sinking of the Yang Qi, including Prolapses, Ginseng with … available in PRO version
5. Yin deficient Heat, Hectic Fever, Cough, Ginseng with … available in PRO version
6. Asthma, Wheezing, shortness of Breath from Kidney and Lung deficiency:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
iii. severe cases, Ginseng, … available in PRO version
7. Chronic Cough from Lung weakness:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
8. Insomnia, palpitation, shortness of breath, poor appetite from Heart and Spleen deficiency,
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
9. Insomnia, palpitations, anxiety, irritability from Heart deficiency :
i. Ginseng, … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
10. Palpitations with spontaneous sweating:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
iii. decoct Ginseng, … available in PRO version
11. Impotence from Kidney deficiency:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
iii. severe deficiency, Ginseng with … available in PRO version
12. Exhaustion after sex:
i. decoct Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng, … available in PRO version
13. Kidney weakness from excess Sex:
i. Ginseng with … available in PRO version
ii. Ginseng, … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:

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