Ginseng

Ginseng is one of the most famous chinese herbs. It comes in a variety of types. Ginseng found in America is also very good. It has been marketed in the past as an herb to enhance sexual performance. This isn't the number one herb Chinese Herbalists would choose for that situation. Please look at the following information obtained from Yin Yang House:


Chinese Name:

Ren Shen

English Name:

Ginseng Root

Functions and Usage:

• Strongly tonify yuan qi - extreme collapse of qi, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating, weak pulse (often used alone for this condition after severe blood loss).
• Tonify lung qi - wheezing, shortness of breath, w/kidneys failing to grasp the qi.
• Strengthen the middle warmer - lethargy, no appetite, chronic diarrhea, prolapse of organs, distended chest/abdomen.
• Generates fluids, stops thirst - xiao ke, damaged fluid due to high dever and profuse sweating.
• Benefits heart qi, calms the spirit - palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, restlessness due to qi and/or blood deficiency.

Functional Groupings (Click for Summary/Study Notes):

• Herbs That Tonify Qi
  

Dosage and Preparation Notes:

• Dosage: 1-9g

Channels Influenced:

• Lung
  
• Spleen
  

Temperature and Taste Properties:

• Bitter (Ku)
  
• Sweet (Gan)
  
• Warm (Wen)
  

Contraindications:

• Avoid tea and turnips while taking ginseng.
• Antagonist with Wu Ling Zhi, Incompatible with Li Lu.
• Avoid with high blood pressure and/or liver yang rising.