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)
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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! |
Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSIONBotanical name:
Panax ginseng (syn. Aralia ginseng)
Panax quinquefolium is the closely related American Ginseng
Parts used:
Root; Dried (‘White’) or Prepared (‘Red’)
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, moist. Sweet, slightly Bitter
Classification:
N. Qi 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
-‘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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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.
Main Preparations used:
Red Ginseng (steamed with wine)
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Extra Info
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History
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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