Ginseng is bitter and sweet, red and warm, white and clear, greatly tonifying the original qi.
It alleviates thirst, benefits qi and generates fluids, and strengthens the heart.
(1) Traditional Uses
Ginseng is slightly warm in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and enters the spleen and heart-lung meridians. Its effects include greatly tonifying original qi, strengthening the spleen, benefiting qi and generating fluids, and calming the spirit.
This herb is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly warm, capable of tonifying the qi of the spleen and lungs. The spleen is the source of transformation and generation, while the lungs govern the qi of the entire body. When the qi of the spleen and lungs is sufficient, the qi of the whole body is vigorous, hence ginseng is a prime tonic for original qi. When original qi is abundant, fluids can be generated, thus it also benefits qi and generates fluids.
1. For qi deficiency leading to collapse, with a weak pulse and impending loss of consciousness (such as from severe blood loss or vomiting and diarrhea), it is often used alone in decoction, known as Du Shen Tang (Ginseng Decoction), or combined with Fu Zi (Aconite) to form Shen Fu Tang (Ginseng and Aconite Decoction).
2. For spleen and stomach weakness, lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, etc., it is commonly combined with Huang Qi (Astragalus), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), and Bai Bian Dou (Lima Bean). When combined with Shu Di Huang (Rehmannia) and Dang Gui (Angelica), it can treat deficiency of both qi and blood.
3. For lung deficiency and wheezing, it is often combined with Bei Sha Shen (North American Ginseng) and Hu Tao Ren (Walnut).
4. For diabetes (thirst) and heat injuring fluids, it is often combined with Tian Hua Fen (Trichosanthes Root), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon), and Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia).
5. For palpitations, insomnia, and spontaneous sweating, it is often combined with Fu Ling (Poria), Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed), and Yuan Zhi (Polygala).
6. For conditions where the evil is not cleared but the righteous qi is already deficient, it is often used with herbs that dispel evil (generally, Dang Shen (Codonopsis) and Bei Sha Shen can replace ginseng).
(2) Dosage Standards
Decoction: 5-10 grams.
(3) Usage Precautions
Ginseng is a key herb for treating deficiency and internal injury. It should be avoided in cases of yin deficiency with yang excess and all conditions of internal heat and excess; it is incompatible with Li Lu (Veratrum) and should not be used with Wu Ling Zhi (Flying Squirrel Feces), Zao Jiao (Soapberry), or Lai Fu Zi (Radish Seed); it is also not advisable to consume radishes or drink tea simultaneously, as this may affect its tonifying effects.
(4) Expert Techniques
Wang Yunming (Chief Physician, Zibo Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)
Ginseng is sweet and neutral, entering the spleen and liver meridians, functioning to tonify the five organs, calm the spirit, tonify qi and nourish blood, and is a key herb for deficiency syndromes and emergency treatment. For emergencies, 30-60 grams of ginseng can be decocted and taken in concentrated form to tonify qi and stabilize collapse. It is used in emergencies for severe blood loss, traumatic shock, and heart failure.
For diabetes (thirst), use 20 grams of ginseng combined with 30 grams each of Mai Men Dong, Sheng Di Huang, Huang Qi, and Sheng Shi Gao (Gypsum), and 9 grams each of Wu Wei Zi and Zhi Mu, and 20 grams each of Xuan Shen (Scrophularia) and Wu Mei (Mume).
For women in the premenstrual period, with symptoms of heavy flow, pale color, palpitations, shortness of breath, and a thin yellow tongue coating, use 15 grams of ginseng combined with 30 grams of Huang Qi, 24 grams of Shu Di Huang, and 9 grams each of Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Bai Shao.
For deficiency of both qi and blood, palpitations, shortness of breath, and a weak pulse, use 30 grams of ginseng combined with 60 grams of Mai Men Dong and 9 grams of Wu Wei Zi.
Liu Yixuan (Professor, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine)
Specializes in using ginseng to treat coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
Clinical indications for ginseng include qi deficiency (low voice, shortness of breath), pale (pale tongue), weakness (weak limbs), fatigue (mental fatigue, drowsiness); collapse—sweating (profuse sweating), pale (pale complexion), collapse (cold limbs), weak (weak breathing), and impending loss of consciousness (weak pulse). However, it should not be used in cases of liver yang rising and liver qi stagnation, as it may lead to stroke. For qi deficiency syndrome and yang collapse, use 10-15 grams of Jilin Red Ginseng in decoction.
For qi and yin deficiency syndrome and yin collapse, use 10-15 grams of Xi Yang Shen (American Ginseng) in decoction.
For acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock, use 10-15 grams of wild mountain ginseng in decoction, combined with anti-myocardial infarction formula (30 grams each of Huang Qi, Dang Shen, and Dan Shen, and 15 grams each of Yu Jin (Curcuma) and Chi Shao (Red Peony), and 15 grams of Huang Jing (Polygonatum)).
For upper gastrointestinal bleeding, use 10-15 grams of Korean ginseng, combined with Zhi Di Decoction (Lithospermum and Euphorbia).
For qi deficiency and blood stasis type coronary heart disease angina and myocardial infarction, use 3 grams of Jilin Red Ginseng powder combined with 3 grams of San Qi powder, taken three times daily with hot water.
Professor Liu Yixuan believes that for cold deficiency syndrome with qi deficiency and yang collapse, one should choose Korean ginseng, Jilin Red Ginseng, or wild mountain ginseng; for heat deficiency syndrome with qi deficiency and yin collapse, one should choose Xi Yang Shen, Zhi Yang Shen, or Sheng Shai Shen.
Ginseng can be used as an adjunctive treatment for cancer patients and has certain anti-aging effects. It is also effective for elderly cognitive decline and impotence.
For ginseng poisoning, 30 grams of Lai Fu Zi can be decocted to detoxify.
Zhong Mingyuan (Chief Physician, People’s Hospital of Pingyuan County, Guangdong)
Clinical indications for ginseng include fatigue of body and spirit, pale complexion, drowsiness, cold sweating, cold limbs, pale tongue with white coating, and weak pulse. It is used to treat collapse syndrome, functional uterine bleeding in children. However, it should be avoided in cases of excess heat and when the righteous qi is not deficient.
The dosage of ginseng is 1-30 grams. For infants and young children, 1 gram is appropriate; for severe bleeding, it can be used up to 30 grams.
For children with diarrhea due to injury to yang, with thin stools and a foul egg odor, fatigue of spirit and limbs, cold sweating, and clear long urination, use 9 grams of Shizhu Ginseng combined with 12 grains of polished rice.
For functional uterine bleeding, with symptoms of poor appetite, thin stools, fatigue, and pale tongue with white coating, use 20 grams of newly fried Kaihe Ginseng combined with 30 grams of Huang Qi, 15 grams each of Dang Gui and Bai Zhu, 10 grams of charred Rubia root, and 6 grams of fried Ai Ye (Mugwort).
For summer heat injuring the body, with qi and fluids both deficient, mental confusion, excessive sweating, heat thirst, and weak pulse, use 15 grams of ginseng (or 10 grams of Xi Yang Shen) combined with 30 grams of watermelon rind, 15 grams of Sheng Shi Gao, 12 grams of Mai Men Dong, 10 grams of lotus leaf, and 6 grams of Wu Wei Zi.
· Shao Mengyang (Chief Physician, Henan Cancer Hospital)
Ginseng is indicated for various late-stage cancers (with sun-dried ginseng being the best), especially for leukopenia caused by cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as all deficiency-related diseases.
For late-stage cancer with body deficiency, or after radiotherapy and chemotherapy, use 10-30 grams of ginseng combined with Gou Qi Zi (Goji Berries), Chi Ling Zhi (Red Reishi), Mai Men Dong, and Bai Zhu.
For leukopenia and anemia, use 10-30 grams of ginseng combined with Dang Gui, Xian Ling Pi, He Shou Wu, and Gou Qi Zi.
For spleen and stomach deficiency, poor appetite, pale complexion, and fatigue, use 10-20 grams of ginseng combined with fried Bai Zhu, Chun Sha Ren, and Guang Mu Xiang.
For lung deficiency with wheezing and chronic cough, use 10-20 grams of ginseng combined with Kuan Dong Hua (Tussilago), Wu Wei Zi, and Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel).
For mental dullness, anxiety, insomnia, and nocturnal emissions, use 10-15 grams of ginseng combined with Longan meat, Huang Qi, and Suan Zao Ren.
Li Shiping (Chief Physician, Yulin Health School)
Specializes in using red ginseng as the main herb, combined to treat spleen and stomach qi deficiency, lung and kidney deficiency, heart and lung qi deficiency, and various deficiency syndromes after blood loss (such as menorrhagia, postpartum hemorrhage, hematemesis, and hematochezia).
External heat diseases, heavy dampness in the spleen and stomach, and hypertension of the yin deficiency and yang excess type are not suitable for ginseng. The dosage of ginseng is 2-30 grams in pills or powders. For deficiency, 2 grams daily; for emergency decoction, 30 grams daily.
For qi deficiency with fullness below the heart, use 5-10 grams of ginseng combined with 20 grams of Huang Qi, and 10 grams each of Bai Zhu, Chen Pi, and Zi Su, and 5 grams of Ding Xiang (Clove).
For lack of appetite and food accumulation, use 1 part of ginseng combined with 2 parts of chicken inner gold, ground into powder, taken daily at 5-10 grams.
For qi deficiency with significant bleeding, use 30 grams of ginseng, decocted and taken frequently, or 30 grams of ginseng combined with 30 grams of Zao Xin Tu (Earth from the stove), 10 grams each of charred ginger and Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), and 5 grams of Dang Gui.
To nourish blood, use 5 grams of ginseng combined with 1 gram of cinnamon and 5 grams of Ejiao, as a daily dose, and combine with other herbal pills or powders.
For chest pain relief after angina, use 2 parts of ginseng and 1 part of San Qi, ground into powder, taken daily at 3-6 grams.
Yao Shujin (Chief Physician, Xi’an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)
Ginseng is indicated for deficiency of the body with external pathogens and internal injury deficiency diseases, such as gastric ptosis, leukopenia, and long-term proteinuria.
For ordinary patients, use Dang Shen to tonify qi; for qi and yin deficiency, use Tai Zi Shen to benefit qi and nourish yin; for critically ill patients, use ginseng to tonify qi and stabilize collapse; for yin deficiency patients, use Xi Yang Shen to benefit qi and nourish yin. However, ginseng should be avoided in cases of excess.
The dosage of ginseng is 3-30 grams.
For heart qi and yin deficiency syndrome, use 10 grams of ginseng combined with 10 grams each of Wu Wei Zi and Mai Men Dong.
For lung qi and yin deficiency syndrome, use 10 grams of ginseng combined with 10 grams of He Shou Wu (Fo-Ti) (head and feet removed, dry-fried and ground into powder).
Zhao Guanying (Professor, PLA General Hospital)
Ginseng is used whenever there is deficiency of original qi and heart-lung dysfunction. However, it should not be used in cases of excess heat and in infants.
To tonify deficiency and strengthen, use sun-dried ginseng; for qi and yin deficiency, use Xi Yang Shen; for critical conditions, use red ginseng, all at 10-30 grams.
For yang qi collapse, such as shock or acute left heart failure, use 15 grams of ginseng combined with 10 grams of Fu Zi.
For severe blood loss, wheezing, and organ prolapse, use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 15 grams of Huang Qi to greatly tonify original qi.
For hypovolemic shock, qi and yin deficiency coronary heart disease, myocarditis, and neurasthenia, use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 10 grams of Mai Men Dong.
For coronary heart disease angina, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction (chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, excessive sweating), use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 2 grams of Tian San Qi (Notoginseng).
For chronic bronchitis and emphysema in the elderly, use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 1 pair of He Shou Wu. For weakness primarily due to kidney yang deficiency and yang leakage, use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 1 gram of deer antler powder (or 10 grams of deer horn powder).
For asthma, palpitations, nephritis, tumors, and various weakness and low immunity conditions, use 6 grams of ginseng combined with 6 grams of Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps) to tonify qi, nourish the kidneys, and enhance immunity.
(5) Clinical Miracles
Emergency Treatment for Shock
Teacher Cao Shunming used 30 grams of red ginseng, decocted and frequently administered via enema, combined with acupuncture at Baihui point (using a dual-needle approach, one needle directed towards the forehead and the other towards the neck), successfully treating over ten cases of hemorrhagic shock in a rural health clinic without a blood bank, achieving blood pressure elevation and anti-shock effects, thus buying time for blood transfusion (“Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine”, April 1987, Issue 4).
Coronary Heart Disease with Painless Myocardial Ischemia
Teacher Chen Ying, in addition to routinely administering Xintongding tablets, also added red ginseng powder, 3 grams each time, taken twice daily, achieving a total effective rate of 96.7% in treating coronary heart disease with painless myocardial ischemia (“Practical Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine”, March 1993, Issue 3).