Picture
Of Ginseng, a Plant of the first Rank in the Chinese Medicine; of its Nature, Qualities, and the different Receipts they make use of it in.


THE Book called Pie lo gives this Account of it: Ginseng grows in the Mountains of Chang tang, and in Leao tong; they gather the Root of it during the first ten Days of the second, fourth, and eighth Month, which they dry in the Sun without exposing it to the Wind: This Root has the Resemblance of a Man, and is of a spirituous Nature.

    Pou says: It grows also at Han chan; in the third Month it shoots forth Leaves, which are small and terminate in a Point; the Branches of it are black, and the Stalk is covered with a Nap; the Root of it is gathered in the third and ninth Month : This Root has the Hands, Feet, Visage and Eyes of a Man, and abounds very much in Spirits.

    Hong king says: Chang tang is to the South-East of Yi cheou; that which comes at present is long, and of a yellow Colour, it resembles the Herb called Fang song, and is full of a thick sweet Juice; that which is most in esteem now is what comes from Pe tsi, and is small, firm, and white, but has not so strong a Taste as that of Chang tang.

    They give the second Place in use to that of Corea and of Leao tong, the Root of which is large, but void of Juice and very soft; it is not to be compared with that of Pe tsi any more than with that of Chang tang: This Plant moots forth only one Stalk, which grows directly perpendicular, its Leaves are either four by four or five by five, and the Flower of it is of a purple Colour.

    The Inhabitants of Corea speaking in praise of Ginseng say: The Branches which grow from my Stalk are three in number, and my Leaves are five by five; I turn my Back on the South and look towards the North; whoever would find me must look for the Kia chu; the Kia chu and the Ginseng court one another: This Kia resembles Lou tong [footnote says ‘a kind of Sycamore’], growing very high and casting a large Shade: In these kind of Places the Ginseng is found in great plenty.

    There is a great deal of Art in gathering and preparing this Simple; there is some of it sound at present in the Mountains bordering upon the Province of Kiang nan, but it is hot made use of.

    Cong says: The Ginseng which is made use of comes almost all from Corea and Pe tsi; that which grows on the Mountains called Cai han, in the Territory of Lou ngan sou, and on the Mountains of Tsee touen, is called Tsee touen seng, or the Seng of Tsee touen.

    Sun says: The Ginseng which the Kingdom of Sin lo pays Tribute of has Feet and Hands, and resembles a Man, and is above a Foot high ; it is kept pressed between the Planks of the Wood of a Tree called Cha mou, which is a kind of a Fir, bound and wrapt Up with red-Silk: The Ginseng of Chao tcheou has a small short Root, and is not of any value for use.

    Song says : All the Territory of Chan si, which is to the East of the Yellow River, and the Mountain. Tai chan produces Ginseng; that which they bring under the Name of Ginseng of Sing lo, from the Countries of Chan si, and Honan, which are northward of the Yellow River, as well as that of Fo kien, is not nigh so valuable as that of Chang tang: It begins to shoot in the Spring; a great quantity of it is met with on-the Northern parts of the vast range of Mountains.

    When it is very young, and not above three or four Inches high, it shoots forth a Branch with five Leaves; and at the end of four or five Years it shoots forth a Second with the same number of Leaves, however it has neither Stalk nor Flowers as yet: At ten Years end it shoots forth a third Branch, and many Years after a fourth, each of them having five Leaves: It then begins to produce a Stalk from the middle, which they commonly call Pe tche chu, that is to say a Pestle of a hundred Foot.

     During the third and fourth Months it bears small Flowers, about the size of a Grain of Millet, the Filaments of which are like Silk ; they are of a violet Colour, and have Seed at the end of Autumn, to the number of six or seven Grains, of the largeness of Ta iecu, a kind’ of Pea Or Bean, which is at first green, but becomes red as it ripens; when it is quite ripe it falls off of it self, and the Plant produces fresh.

    The Root is in Figure like a Man, and is very spirituous; the Stalk and Leaves of the Ginsengs which grows on the Mountain Tai chan, are of a purple Colour, and the Root white: Besides there grows another Kind of this Plant in the Country which lies between the two Rivers of Hoai and Hiang, the Stalk of which when it begins to shoot is one or two Foot high; the Root resembles that of Ki hen, but is tenderer, and the Taste sweeter and more agreeable.

    In order to know the true Ginseng of Chang tang they make the following Experiment: Two Persons walking together, one goes with Ginseng in his Mouth, and the other with his Mouth empty; at the end of half a League, he who has the Ginseng in his Mouth does not find himself at all out of Breath, when the other on the contrary is tired and breathless: This is an infallible Mark of the Goodness of the Plant.

    Tsong tchi says: The Ginseng of Chang tang has a Root long and thin, it sometimes reaches above a Foot deep in the Earth, and often divides itself into ten Branches; it is at present sold for near its weight in Gold.

    Che tchin says: The ancient Country of Chang tang is what they now call Lou tcheou ; the People look on the Ginseng as the Ruin of the Country where it grows, because whatever they gather of it belongs wholly to the Emperor, for which reason they have forbore to cultivate it.

    That which is made use of at present comes from Leao teng, Corea, Pe tsi, and Sin lo, which are dependent on Tchaosten, or King ki tao, Capital of Corea;. That which is gathered in Autumn and the Winter is firm and full of Juice, on the contrary that which is gathered in the Spring and Summer Seasons is soft and void of Juice, which difference does not proceed from the good or bad Quality of the Ground where it grows, but entirely from the Time wherein it is gathered.

    The Ginseng of Leao tong, when it has its Rind on, is of a smooth Yellow like the Fang song, but when the Rind is taken off it is white and firm ; those who Sell it mix it with the three following Roots, viz. Cha seng, Tse ni and Ki keng: The Root of Cha seng is a Substance entirely void of Juice, quite spiritless, and of an insipid. Taste; that of Tse ni has neither Juice nor Spirit; the Ki keng is firm but of a bitter Taste; as for the Ginseng it is of a juicy Substance, has a great Spirit, and as for its Taste it has a Spice of Bitter joined with its Sweetness, which makes it very agreeable to the Palate.

    That which is in the Shape of a Man is called Hat elb seng, or the Infant’s Ginseng; that which we fee the Figure of in the Herbal of Song sou song, made with Boards under the Dynasty of Song, and which is engraved with three Branches under the Name of the Ginseng of Lou ngan sou, the Leaves of which are five by five, is the true Ginseng.

    Tche yong, who was formerly an Officer in the College of the Physicians which is at Court, has left a Treatise of Ginseng in two Volumes, in which he describes at large all the particulars relating to this Simple, the most remarkable of which you’ll find in the following Paragraphs.
The manner of preserving the Ginseng.

    SONG king says: The Ginseng is very apt to breed Worms ; in order to preserve it a whole Year without losing its Virtue, you need only shut it up close in a quite new Vessel.

    Ping says : When the Ginseng is continually exposed to the Sun and Wind it is apt to breed Insects ; in order to preserve it you must shut it up in an earthen Vessel that has been made use of to keep the Oil of Gergelin in, after having first wash’d it thoroughly clean ; you must then dry it by the Fire, and mix with the Ginseng some Hoayn and Si fin, two other Plants, afterwards shutting up the Vessel very close, by which means you may preserve it a whole Year.

     Li yen says: The Ginseng grows in such a manner that the back part of its Leaves points towards the Sky, and it has no Affection either for the Sun or Wind : Whenever they take it crude they put it in their Mouth and chew it without any other Preparation ; when they would prepare it they dry it before the Fire on a Sheet of Paper, or else steep ‘it in a kind of Wine called Chan Tsiou ; then they bruise it, and after warming it make use of it: It must neither be kept in an Iron Vessel, nor prepared with any Instruments made of that Metal ; however I have often seen it cut without all these Precautions, and with a. .common Knife.
The Taste and Qualities of the Root of Ginseng.

    TUEN LOU says: It is of a mild Nature, has a Sweetness mix’d with something of a Bitter, its Taste and spirituous Parts are quick and subtle.

    Tchi tai says: The Fou lin [Fu Ling–Poria] and the Ma Im, two Other Plants, are a kind of Officers belonging to Ginseng: This Root hath an Antipathy to Land that abounds with Vitriol, and to. Salts ; the Li lou, which is another Plant, is directly contrary to it.

    Tuen sou says : The Ginseng joined with the Fou lin [Fu Ling–Poria], which serves it for a Vehicle, and taken at the Mouth, repairs the Spirits of the Breast, and dissipates any foreign Heat of the Lungs.

    The Ginseng taken with the Fou lin [Fu Ling–Poria] repairs the radical Moisture of the Abdomen, and

 dissipates the Heat of the Reins; it cures the Heat of the  Reins [Kidneys], being taken with the Plant Scorzonera; it recovers a lost Pulse if join’d with dry Ginger, and likewise fortifies the Vital and Animal Spirits.

    Meou says: The Ginseng taken with the Hong ky [Huang Qi–Astragalus] and with Liquorish is a noble Remedy ; and as this Composition is mild it asswages feverish Heats, it causes both hot and humid Vapours to exhale, and restores the radical Moisture; ’tis likewise an excellent Remedy to be administer’d to those who hare any Imposthumes.

    Tchin ken says: The Li lou, a kind of Herb, bears a great Enmity to the Ginseng, and that by mixing the tenth part of an Ounce of the former with a whole Ounce of the latter you may deprive it of all its Virtue.

The Virtues, Properties and Effects of the Root of Ginseng.

    IT fortifies the noble Parts, fixes the Animal Spirits, cures the Palpitations occasion’d by sudden Frights, dispels malignant Vapours, makes the Sight clear, opens and dilates the Heart, and strengthens the Judgment : When it is taken a considerable time together it makes the Body light and active, and prolongs Life; this is taken from the Author himself, I mean Chi tchin.

    It warms the cold Stomachs and Intestines, cures Pains and Swellings in the Belly, remedies the Disorders of the Hearts the Obstructions of the Breast, and Evacuations either by Stool or Vomiting : It reestablishes the upper Orifice of the Stomach, prevents Dropsies, relieves Obstructions in the Vessels, resolves Callosities which are formed in the Intestines, penetrates into the

 Veins and Blood, and quenches Thirst: This is taken from different Authors.

    It is excellent for the Cure of all kinds of Diseases which weaken and emaciate the Body, as likewise for Debilities occasion’d by excessive Labour either of the Body or Mind; it remedies Vomitings, and the Disorders of the Heart; fortifies the noble Parts, and generally all the Intestines; it dissolves Phlegm in the Stomach, cures the Weakness of the Lungs, is good against malignant Fevers arising from cold Seasons, when they are attended with a Vomiting; against Faintings, Interruptions of Sleep by troublesome Dreams and Phantoms; it must be taken for a considerable time together :
This is extracted from the Author Tchin kiuen.
    It assists Digestion, whets the Appetite, renovates the Vital and Animal Spirits, and is a Counter-poison to the Venom which is drawn from Stones or Metals. This Account is from Ta ming.

    It fortifies weak Lungs, remedies a feeble and precipitated Respiration, as likewise the Asthma and a short Breath; it dissipates Heats in the Heart, Lungs, Liver and Stomach; it appeases Thirst, and produces Lymph in the Blood; in a word it is good against all Maladies in both=
 Sexes, which proceed from want of Spirits or from Weakness; it cures Fevers which are attended with Sweatings; is good against Vertigo’s, Dimness of Sight, Pains of the Head, Disorders of the Stomach and Vomitings; against intermitting Fevers, inveterate Diarrheas, and the Tenesmus; against Fainting and Lassitude, against Wind or Inflammations in the Intestines, against Spitting or Vomiting of Blood, against the Bloody-Flux, and all sorts of Maladies peculiar to Women both before and after Pregnancy


RECEIPTS.

There are nine Ancient ones, and sixty-eight Modern ones.

Electuary of Ginseng.

    TAKE ten Ounces of Ginseng, cut it into small Slices, put it to infuse in twenty small Porcelain Vessels of Spring or River Water till it is thoroughly soaked, and then pour the whole into a Stone or Silver Vessel, boiling it over a gentle Fire made of Deny- wood ’till half the Water is wasted ; then, having strain’d off the Juice, pour ten middling Porcelain Vessels of Water upon the gross Substance, and let them boil till they are reduced to five; take this Juice, and add five Cups of Water to the ten Vessels which you had before strained off; boil it over a gentle Fire till it comes to the consistence of an Electuary, which you may close up in a proper Vessel, and when you make use of it dilute it with a Liquor suitable to the Distemper you take it for.
    Tan ki says: A Man entirely debilitated by Debauchery fell into what was generally thought an incurable Distemper, when by the means of a Decoction made with green Ginger, and the Rind of the Root of the Fruit called Cou pi [Orange], with which I diluted the Electuary of Ginseng, I made a perfect Cure of him.
    Tching hiong was seized with a kind of tenesmus, which had been occasioned by a Debauch; he fell at once into fainting Fits, and lost all power of Thought; his Hands were extremely numb’d, his Eyes dim, and his whole Body in a violent Sweat; he could not retain his Urine, and had a very high and irregular Pulse ; all which Symptoms discover’d plainly an almost entire Loss of the Radical Moisture. I order’d some of this Electuary of Ginseng to be immediately prepared, and applied a Caustick of a kind of Mugwort to the Abdomen just below the Navel; upon this the left Hand immediately recovered Motion, and after having applied more of the Caustick the Lips and Mouth began to stir a little ; I likewise made him take a midling Cup of the Electuary of Gin Jeng and about a Minute after three more, upon which his Eyes began to move; he had not taken three Pound before his Speech returned, and after having taken about five Pound his Tenesmus was stopped ; and when he had taken about ten Pound in the whole he found himself perfectly cured; when if he had been treated as as we treat those in Apoplectic Fits he had been a dead Man.

    A Person had an Abscess in his Back, and after having taken the Medicine called Neui to che sum the Abscess increased, and a great quantity of Pus came from it, which was followed with excessive Vomiting, and a high Fever ; the six Pulses of his Hands were deep, stiff, and strong, which are all very bad Symptoms in these Cases: I made him presently take some of the Electuary of Ginseng, diluted with the Water distilled from Bamboo when it is fresh gather’d; he took in all about six Pound of the Ginseng, and a large quantity of the Bamboo, after which he found himself perfectly cured.
    Ten Days after there happen’d to be a furious high Wind, when the Abscess formed itself a second time, and filled with Matter ; there appeared in the middle of it a red Line, which passing below the Shoulder blade terminated on the right side; I instantly, order’d some of the Electuary of Ginseng to be made, and that he should take it in some of the Decoction of Cong couei and Orange-Peel, putting some Bamboo Water and Ginger-Juice in it: After having taken three Pound weight of this Medicine the Abscess broke, and the Patient, being afterwards treated in a right Method, was cured.
    If after the breaking of an Abscess the Patient finds his Blood and Spirits exhausted, if he vomits, and can take nothing, or has other unfavourable Symptoms, he must take of Ginseng, Hoang ki [Huang Qi], and Tan couei [Dang Gui], equal quantities, which when boiled to the consistence of an Electuary will prove an excellent Remedy for it.


A Decoction for the Stomach.

SONG says: To cure any Oppression in the Breast, Obstructions in the Stomach, or Pleurisies, they make use of the following Decoction : They take Ginseng, Pe tchu [Bai Zhu] (which is the Root of a Plant) dry’d Ginger, and Liquorice, three Ounce weight of each sort *, which they boil in eight large China-ware Vessels containing eight Measures of Water, until the whole be reduced to three Measures, when a Measure must be given at each Dose three times a Day, augmenting or diminishing the Dose as the Symptoms demand.
* THIS IS LI ZHONG WAN

From the Dynasties of Tsin and Song, down to that of Tang, there was no Physician of Reputation who did not constantly make use of this Remedy in all Disorders which affected the Belly or Heart, making sometimes Decoctions of these four Drugs, and sometimes a kind of Pill mix’d up with Honey, in each of which Shapes they produced wonderful effects.


A Decoction invented by the three Wise Men.

THIS Decoction is good for those who have weak Stomachs, and want an Appetite ; it is excellent for all Disorders which proceed from Inanition, and from the Spirits being exhausted : They take a Drachm of Ginseng, two Drachms of Pe tchu [Bai Zhu] (which is the Root of a Plant) one Drachm of white Fou lin [Fu Ling], five Drachms of Liquorice dry’d before the Fire*, three Slices of green Ginger, one Jujube, and two Cups of Water, which they boil till it comes to half the quantity: This Remedy must be taken lukewarm and fasting, augmenting or diminishing the Dose according to the Strength of the Disease.
* THIS IS SI JUN ZI TANG

To procure an Appetite, and dissolve Phlegm.

    WHEN the Appetite is lost (this is equally for Children and Persons advanced in-Years) take two Ounces of Ginseng dry’d before the Fire, infuse it in the Juice of Ginger and Pen hia [Ban Xia?], which is a kind of Plant; then let it dry, and take the quantity of half an Ounce of it, which you must reduce to a Powder; then taking the Flower of Meal, mix it up with it into Pills of the size of a small Pea, which should be administered to the Patient three times a Day in a Decoction of Ginger, thirty-five at a time, after eating.


A Receipt for Weakness, and want of Appetite.

WHEN you perceive in yourself a want of Appetite, take half a Pound of crude Ginger, and express the Juice of it; take likewise ten Ounces of Honey, and four Ounces of the Powder of Ginseng ; boil the whole to the consistence of an Electuary, and then take about the size of a Hazel-nut of it dissolved in warm Water.


A Receipt for weak Stomachs, and for the Disorders of the Heart.

WHEN amongst the Matter, which is thrown off the Stomach by vomiting, you find a good deal of Phlegm mix’d, take one Ounce of Ginseng, and two Cups of Water ; put both together on the Fire, and let them stay till one half is wasted ; then mix with them a small Cup of Bamboo-Water, and three Spoonfulls of the Juice of green Ginger ; make the Patient drink this some considerable time after a Meal, and let him continue it till the Distemper leaves him; this Medicine has more effect upon old People than others.


A Receipt for cold Stomachs which retain no Nourishment.

WHEN a Patient can’t digest his Food he must take Ginseng, Cloves, the Wood called Co hiang, two Drachms and a half of each ; five Drachms or more of the outward Coat of Orange-peel, and three Slices of green Ginger ; boil the whole in three Cups of Water till only one remains, and let the Patient drink it quite warm.


A Receipt for Vomitings occasioned by, a Decay of the Stomach

WHEN Persons throw up their Nourishment as soon as they have taken it down, and find themselves extremely weakened, and in a manner half dead, let them take three Ounces of the best Ginseng, bruise it in a Mortar, put it into a large Vessel of Water, and let it boil till it is reduced to two small Cups, then drink of it very warm twice a Day ; after this take of the Juice of Ginger, put it to some Rice, adding thereto the white of an Egg with the white of Couei, and make a Rice Liquor of it, which the Patient may drink of: A Person named Li, a Mandarin of the Tribunal of Arms, is the Author of this Receipt; being sent by the Court to Ho nan he was attacked by this Distemper for above two Months together, without receiving any Benefit from all the Medicines which were given him ; this was the occasion of his finding out this Remedy by which he was so soon cured, and which he communicated to the most celebrated Physicians as soon as he returned to Court.


Against Reachings, and an Inclination to Vomiting.

TAKE half an Ounce of Ginseng, and the same quantity of the Heart of a Cinnamon-tree, boil them in two midling China-ware Vessels of Water, and give it to the Patient to drink.


For a Looseness and Vomiting.

WHEN the Disorder is obstinate take two Ounces of Ginseng, three Ounces of the outward Coat of Orange-peel, one Ounce of green Ginger; boil the whole in six Measures of Water, and divide it into three Doses.


For Loss of Strength and short Breath.

WHEN the Patient sweats, and the Sweat reenters the Pores, when the Respirations are short, and Dimness and Giddiness of the Head attend, you must take half an Ounce of Ginseng, one Ounce of Fou tse [Fu Zi] prepared, which divide into four parts, adding to each part ten Slices of green Ginger with two Cups of Water, and boil them till the one half only remains, which you may give the Patient at some considerable time after he has taken any Food.
 For the Asthma of Childbed Women.

THIS comes on when the Blood returns upon the Breast and enters the Lungs, which is a very dangerous Disorder: Take one Ounce of Ginseng pulveris’d, two Ounces of Sou meou [Su Mu], which is a Brazil Wood, pour upon them two large Cups of Water, and boil the whole till it is diminished one half, to which add some more Powder of Ginseng, and let the Patient take it: This Medicine operates immediately. 


For a Woman after Delivery, when she finds her Blood in great Agitation.

TAKE one Ounce of Ginseng, half an Ounce of Tsesou [Zi Cao?], which is a Plant, three small Cups of the Urine of a Child, of Wine, and of Water; then boil the whole together, and give it the Patient to drink.


For all kinds of Weakness which happen after Delivery.

WHEN Women newly delivered have a Fever, and sweat very much, take an equal quantity of Ginseng and Dang couei [Dang Gui], and reduce them to Powder, then cut the Kidney of a Hog in small Slices, having first taken off the Membrane that covers it, and boil it in three Basons of Water, with a large Spoonful of the Rice called No mi, and two Heads of Chibbols; when the Rice is boiled you’ll take from if a midling Vessel of Liquor, which you must mix with the abovementioned Drugs, and boil it till the Liquor be reduced to an eighth part; this must be taken warm, and fasting.


For Women who have great Loss of Blood after Delivery.

WHEN Women have lost great Quantities of Blood take Ginseng, Hempseed stript of its Husk, the Bark of Use, and some Bran; reduce the whole to a Powder, then make it into Pills of the size of a small Pea with clarified Honey ; take fifty of them at a time, and make use of a Decoction of Rice to wash them down.


For Women when the Child is turn’d the wrong way, the Feet coming foremost.

TAKE a Drachm of Ginseng, and as much Incense pulveris’d, half an Ounce of the Mineral called Tan che [Hematite?]; pound the whole together, then dilute it with the white of an Egg, and about half a Spoonful of the Juice of green Ginger, and give it to the Patient to drink cold, upon which both the Mother and Child will be immediately relieved, for the Medicine operates in an instant.


Against Melancholy and Oppression at Heart.

BOIL an Ounce of pulveris’d Ginseng, and ten Ounces of the Fat of a Hog, mix it thoroughly with good Wine, and give it the Patient twice a-day, a small Cup at a time; after he has taken it a hundred Days successively he’ll find his Eyes grow bright and lively, and his other Senses revive : This Medicine has moreover the Virtue to cure other Disorders which arise from Wind, excess of Heat, or from Phlegm.


For the Palpitation of the Heart, attended with Sweating.

WHEN the Heart is deficient of Spirits prepare five Drachms of Ginseng, and as much more of Tang couei [Dang Gui]; then take two Kidneys of a Hog and boil them in two Cups of Water till it is reduced to one Cup and a half ; then taking out the Kidneys, cut them in small Slices, and boil them together with the Ginseng and Tang couei [Dang Gui] which you had prepared, till the whole be reduced to eight parts in ten ; eat these Kidneys with the Decoction fasting, after which take the gross part of this Composition, dry it before the Fire, and pulverise it ; then make Pills of it with the Powder of the Root Chan yo [Shan Yao], about the size of a large Pea, of which the Patient may take fifty at a time, with a little of the Ptisane of Jujubes, and “which must be a considerable time after having taken any Food; two Doses of this. Medicine generally prove a Cure: Some have inserted two Drachms of Incense [Aloeswood] in this Receipt.


For Fevers which are caused by Inanition.

TAKE Ginseng of Chang tang, of Tchai hoit, of Tn tcheou, each three Drachms, one Jujube, and three Ounces of green Ginger; boil the whole in a Cup and an half of Water till there remains but seven parts in ten ; this Medicine must be given lukewarm to the Patient, and a good while after having taken Food ; he must take it twice a-day, and continue to do so till the Distemper has left him.


For the Lungs when exhausted by Shortness of Breaths and other inveterate Disorders of Respiration.

TAKE three Ounces of Ginseng pulveris’d, with the Jelly of Hartshorn [Deer Horn Glue] dried and reduced to a Powder, then take a Cup of the Decoction of Po hi and Teou chi, with a little Onion ; boil the whole once or twice, then pour it into the Vessel with the Ginseng, and whenever you find yourself inclined to cough take a midling Draught of it; this is an excellent Remedy in these Cases.


For a Consumption attended with Spitting of Blood.

WHEN the Disorder is inveterate you must first stop the Spitting of Blood with the Che yo san, which is a Powder of ten Ingredients ; when the Patient is extremely fatigued crude Ginseng is the most effectual Remedy, take one Ounce of the best therefore, likewise five large Jujubes, with two Cups of Water boiled till only one Cupful remains, which is the quantity of a Dose;- after taking this Sleep will come on, and the Disease will be dispell’d ; however it must be continued for five or six times more, the patient in the mean time observing a proper Regimen.


For Hemorrhages, or Loss of Blood.

    WHEN there happens to be a Rupture of some Vessel in Diseases caused by violent Passions or excessive Debauchery, a large quantity of Blood issues either from the Mouth or Nose ; if this be not remedied immediately the Disease will become too powerful for any Medicine : The following is an excellent one. .
    Take of Ginseng and dry it before the Fire, of Cypress, which must first be boiled and then dried before the Fire, likewise King kiai roasted, and Tsin sing, of each half an Ounce, which you must reduce to a Powder, and mixing them with three Drachms of the Flower of Corn dilute them with fresh Water ; thus it becomes a kind of clear Paste, which the Patient must take frequently in small quantities ; the first time it is taken the Bleeding will instantly cease.


For a Dropsy.

    TCHIN, in the Medicines for a Dropsy which had been delivered down to him by Tradition from Father to Son, prescribes one Ounce of Ginseng and two Ounces of the Herb Fen tsao, likewise half a Drachm of the Brains of a Hog infused in the Gall [Bile] of the same Animal, and pulveris’d after being thoroughly dried by the Fire ; make up all this into Pills with Honey of the size of a Nut, which may be given one at a time in cold Water.


For malignant Fevers.

    The following Remedy is excellent for all sorts of People, Men or Women, young or old, Women with child or not ; although the Distemper is very inveterate, and threatens immediate Death, though the Pulse be in a manner gone, and the Patient delirious, after the seventh Day of the Disease there is no danger of failing in the Cure by this Medicine ; for which reason they have given it the Name of to ming sang, that is to say The Medicine which restores loft Lise.
    Take an Ounce of Ginseng, and boil it in two Cups of Water over a fierce Fire till one half be wasted, cool it in Well-Water, and then give it the Patient to drink ; soon after a Sweat will proceed from the Nose, the Pulse will return, and he’ll find himself instantly cured.
    Sou tao cong, President of one of the six Sovereign Courts says : I made use of this Remedy to relieve nigh a hundred several Persons ; and when I was Governor of a City of the third Order the Wife and Children of one of my Assistants were seized with a malignant Purple Fever, when I made them take this Medicine, and cured them by that means.


For Blindness occasion’d by drinking too much Wine.

    THERE was a strong vigorous Man who loved to drink Wine extremely hot, this Man was suddenly seized with a Distemper that made him blind, and had a slow unequal Pulse, which was the effect of his drinking excessively of hot Wine; his Stomach was destroy’d, his Blood stagnated in it and corrupted, which was the Cause of his Disorder ; they made him a Decoction of the Brazil Wood, into which they put a Drachm of the Powder of Ginseng; the second Day that they gave it him his Nose and the Palms of his Hands became livid, which proceeded from the Blood’s beginning to circulate which had stagnated in she Stomach; then they took the Decoction in which they put Brasil-Wood, Peach-Kernels, Hong hoa, and the outside Rind of dried Orange-Peel, to season the Powder of Ginseng, and after the Patient had taken it four Days he was perfectly cured.
Picture You may also Like:
Observations on Ginseng (1680)
Chinese Medicine in European Texts
Introduction to the Shang Han Lun
Chinese Medicines used in the West before TCM