- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- Korea, northeastern China, and far-eastern Siberia; Panax ginseng
Asia · Herb · № 36
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Herb · Asia
Asian ginseng
Panax ginseng (ook P. quinquefolius)
Research consists mostly of small, short studies; there is little evidence of health effects.
Safety notes
It may cause side effects and interact with medicines, for example diabetes medication. Ask for advice during pregnancy or when taking medicines.
Cautions by tradition (4)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: No stimulants such as coffee alongside. Not with high blood pressure or (notoginseng) in pregnancy.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with diabetes or when using warfarin or antidepressants.
- Chinese food therapy: Not with high blood pressure, insomnia or an acute infection. Can affect the action of blood thinners and diabetes medication.
- Chinese materia medica: Not with yin deficiency with heat, excess, acute infections or high blood pressure. Shock is a medical emergency.
Preparation
The root is used fresh, dried, or steamed in tea, soup, or as an extract.
Use in traditions
Used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming agent and as an 'adaptogen'. The names rénshēn (Chinese) and insam (Korean) refer to the forked, human-shaped root.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Tonic, stimulating, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol, stimulates the immune system.
Preparation and amount
Powder 1–4 g a day as a general tonic (e.g. for a month at the change of seasons, regularly pausing 2–3 weeks); tincture for diarrhoea from weak digestion and (with walnut and ginger) for asthma; decoction 3–10 g in 500 ml; American ginseng 1–2 g for yin deficiency.
Caution: No stimulants such as coffee alongside. Not with high blood pressure or (notoginseng) in pregnancy.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Adaptogen (ginsenosides), increases resistance to stress and vitality, supports immunity; especially against flu; further for stress, fatigue, lack of energy.
Preparation and amount
Capsule or tablet; 2 g a day, no longer than 3 months in a row.
Caution: Not with diabetes or when using warfarin or antidepressants.
Chinese food therapy
Attributed effects
Adaptogen: balances blood pressure and blood sugar, supports immunity and nourishes the body fluids; for centuries a beloved remedy for long life.
Caution: Not with high blood pressure, insomnia or an acute infection. Can affect the action of blood thinners and diabetes medication.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- sweet, slightly bitter, warm
- Meridians
- spleen, lung, heart
Attributed effects
Ren shen is the strongest qi tonic: for collapse of qi (very weak pulse, heavy sweating, shallow breathing, shock), lung and spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, poor appetite, diarrhoea, fatigue and prolapse, thirst from loss of body fluids and palpitations, insomnia and forgetfulness from qi or blood deficiency.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 3–9 g a day, usually in a decoction. Chinese white ginseng is cooler than steamed red; Korean red is the warmest; American ginseng is cool and nourishes yin. Roots at least 4, preferably 7 years old are the most powerful. Wild ginseng is endangered: choose forest-grown or organic.
Combinations
- With bai zhu, fu ling and licorice in si jun zi tang
Caution: Not with yin deficiency with heat, excess, acute infections or high blood pressure. Shock is a medical emergency.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)DecoctionTincturePowder and kitchen
- Formulas
- Ba zhen tangBan xia xie xin tangBu zhong yi qi tangChai hu gui zhi tangChai hu jia long gu mu li tangDing xiang shi di tangDu huo ji sheng tangGui pi tangLi zhong wanLiu jun zi tangMai men dong tangMai men dong yin ziQing zao jiu fei tangSang piao xiao sanShen ling bai zhu sanSheng mai sanShi di tangShi quan da bu tangSi jun zi tangTai shan pan shi sanTian wang bu xin danWen jing tangWen pi tangWu mei wanWu zhu yu tangXiao chai hu tangXuan fu dai zhe tangZhi gan cao tang