INDIVIDUAL HERBS
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Panacis Quinquifolii |
| Common English: | American Ginseng Root |
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
Sweet Slightly Bitter |
Cold (Cool) |
Heart Kidney Lung (Stomach) (Spleen) |
2.4-10g cook separately in a double boiler Tincture: 1-4ml |
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Tonifies Qi, generates fluids, nurtures the Stomach and nourishes Yin |
Qi, Yin and Body Fluid Deficiencies with Heat signs and chronic un-abating fever Aftermath of a febrile disease with weakness, irritability and thirst |
Benefits Lung Yin and clears Fire from the Lungs |
Lung Qi and Yin Deficiencies with depleted Fluids and Blazing Deficiency Fire which impairs the the clearing and dispersing functions of the Lungs with long-term wheezing and coughing up of Blood-streaked sputum Cough, hemoptysis and loss of voice due to Lung Yin Deficiency |
Sedates Heat in the Intestines and stops bleeding |
Heat in the Intestines with hematochezia due to Yin Deficiency |
CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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INCOMPATIBILITIES |
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HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
Hb Dendrobii |
Rx. Ophiopogonis |
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High fever, thirst, diarrhea and dehydration associated with Warm-Heat pathogen disease in which both the Qi and Fluids have been injured. Yang Ming Stage with concurrent Qi and Yin Deficiency. |
High fever, thirst, diarrhea and dehydration associated with Warm-Heat pathogen disease in which both the Qi and Fluids have been injured. Yang Ming Stage with concurrent Qi and Yin Deficiency. |
Lethargy, a faint pulse and thirst from extreme Fluid loss during a febrile disease. |
Rx. Asparagi |
Arillus Longan |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
Parched mouth and throat due to Yin Deficiency and exhaustion of Fluids. |
Steamed for hemafecia and Intestinal Heat. |
Wheezing, and coughing up blood streaked sputum from Blazing Fire due to Lung Yin Deficiency. |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Tub. Ophiopogonis |
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Chronic cough where Qi and Yin have been depleted with Deficiency Fire marked by a a hacking cough, or a barely productive cough with Blood-streaked sputum. |
A dry throat and hemoptysis from Dryness and Heat injuring the Lung Yin. |
Qi and Yin Deficiencies due to chronic disorders. |
Rx. Astragali |
Rx. Rehmanniae |
Rz. Dioscoreae |
Yin and Qi Deficiency. |
Yin Deficiency with Heat signs. |
Diabetes. |
Rx. Astragali |
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Thirst. |
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- This herb is not as strong as Ginseng Ren Shen but is best for nourishing Yin especially of the Stomach and Lung.
- It disperses congealed mucus.
- It relieves Lung inflammation.
- It is the primary Western herb used in China.
- It is available wild or cultivated - wild is best for Qi, cultivated is fine for Heat.
- It is not usually used by Western herbalists and had limited use by the American Indians.
- Prepared with Ginger, it augments Qi and supports the normal Qi.
- It tonifies the Chong Mai and Du Mai as it brings Blood and Jing to the brain.
- It is a prime restorative to the adrenal cortex.
- Both Ren Shen and Rx. Panacis Quinquifolii 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 for Ren Shen whenever one wants to tonify Qi without warming.
- Xi Yang Shen, Rx. Pseudostellariae Tai Zi Shen, Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen, and Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen all tonify the primal Qi and generate Fluids. Tai Zi Shen is far weaker in effect, requiring a larger dose and its tonifying action is limited to the Lungs and Spleen. Dang Shen tonifies the Spleen Qi but not the primal Qi like Ren Shen, nor does it generate Fluids like Ren Shen and Tai Zi Shen. Xi Yang Shen is equal in strength to Ren Shen but is cooler and has a greater ability to generate Fluids. It is less appropriate when warm tonification is required. In mild cases of Qi and Yin Deficiencies, Tai Zi Shen can be substituted.