Ginseng is often called “the King of Herbs,” for its ability to improve physical energy, making the mind sharper and increasing life span. Unlike popular stimulants, ginseng does not cause stress or adverse effect on our health.

Instead, it counters stress, enhances immunity, improves the actions of the heart and lungs, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar, protects the liver, helps prevent hardening of the arteries and is an antioxidant. It is a tonic that improves general health. It is traditionally and scientifically considered a cure-all or panacea, which is exactly its botanical name, Panax, means “all cure” in Greek, reflecting the ancient belief that it is a panacea. 

Ginseng grows wild in two parts of the world: Asia and North America. Chinese believe in ginseng as a sacred herb that may bring wealth, health, longevity, happiness, and success. When you need to boost your energy or to prepare yourself for stress, you better try ginseng. This unique root is one of the most treasured herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The benefits of ginseng have been passed down from one generation to the next for thousands of years. Ginseng boasts many well-documented benefits to our health and wellbeing, from giving the immune system a leg-up to fortifying cardiovascular health.

More than 4,000 scientific studies attest to Ginseng’s health-giving properties: – Counters stress. – Enhances immunity. – Tones the heart and lungs. – Regulates blood pressure and blood sugar. – Protects the liver. – Serves as a powerful antioxidant. 

Ginseng can help to make you look and feel better, and it might:

Boosts the immune system

By maintaining homeostasis of the immune system and enhance resistance to illness or microbial attacks through the regulation of the immune system. Ginseng stimulates cytokine secretion, antibody production, surface marker expression, and cellular functions such as phagocytosis and cytotoxicity. It improves cancer-related fatigue as well as overall quality of life, appetite, and sleep at night. 

Protects the heart

Frequent consumption of the ginseng may reduce the amount of bad cholesterol and, in turn, raise the good cholesterol in your body. Ginseng can treat conditions such as anorexia, diarrhoea and bloating. 

Regulates glucose levels in diabetics

Ginseng regulates blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Researches suggest that ginseng may even help to ease diabetes-related complications, such as retinal and cardiac functional changes.

Restores energy

After a long night or a particularly stressful day at work, taking some ginseng, especially in the form of soup or tea, can help restore your energy. This is because ginseng has a way of replenishing qi, supplementing body fluids, and suppressing internal heat.

Skin health

Ginseng works wonders for the body, both inside and out. It can brighten the skin, prevent ultraviolet damage, enhance collagen synthesis, and diminish signs of ageing.

Oxidative damage

Rich in antioxidants, Ginseng may inhibit inflammation and reduce oxidative damage to cells, which help to prevent chronic diseases. Ginseng can also improve brain functions like memory. According to studies, ginseng can even help to ease stress and offer relief for depression and anxiety.

Boost vitality

Some research suggests that ginseng may be useful in treating erectile dysfunction too. Studies have shown that ginseng may promote the production of nitric oxide, a compound that improves muscle relaxation in the penis and increases blood circulation. Systematic review provided positive research findings of ginseng for sexual function in menopausal women.

What is Ginseng?

Ginseng is one of the world’s oldest and famous herbs, and is a powerful adaptogenic herb. Panax ginseng, has been known clinically in China for thousands of years. The genus name ‘Panax’ was derived from Greek. ‘Pan’ means ‘all’ and ‘axos’ means ‘cure’. Literally ‘Panax’ can be translated as ‘cure-all’ or panacea. The herbal root is named ginseng because it is shaped like a man. 

Currently, twelve species have been identified in the genus Panax.

Among them, Panax ginseng, cultivated in China, Korea, Japan, Russia, and the US, (American ginseng), grown in southern Canada and the US and Panax notoginseng, cultivated in Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in China, represent the three most extensively investigated species. The pharmacological and therapeutic effects of ginseng have been demonstrated to affect the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, endocrine secretion, immune function, metabolism, biomodulating action, anti-stress, and anti-aging.

Roles of Ginseng

Ginseng is a herbal adaptogen. What is an adaptogen? Adaptogen improves general physical, mental, and emotional health.

An adaptogen does so by bringing numerous body functions into balance. It also helps you adapt to physical and emotional stress and to physical extremes, such as cold and hot or dark and light. 

The Russian scientist N. V. Lazarev coined the name “adaptogen” in 1947 to describe the action of several herbs he was studying. He decided that an adaptogen should meet three criteria. First, an adaptogen needs to normalize and balance various functions in the body. Second, its action should be nonspecific, meaning that it increases the entire body’s general resistance to disorders or infections. Finally, it is safe to use, even over a long period of time. 

Adaptogenic substances

Adaptogenic substances are stated to have the capacity to normalize body functions and strengthen systems compromised by stress. 

The term ‘adaptogen’ refer to a substance which was claimed to increase “non-specific” resistance to adverse influences to organism and stress. The term “stress” refers to a state of threatened homeostasis. Tonics are substances, which mitigate conditions of weakness or lack of tone within the entire organism, or in particular organs. The term tonic is typical for traditional Chinese medicine, where tonics are used in conditions of “asthenia”. 

Most studies claimed that the pharmacological effects of ginseng are attributed to its bioactive constituents such as ginsenosides, saponins, phytosterols, peptides, polysaccharides, fatty acids, polyacetylenes, vitamins and minerals. 

Ginsenosides of ginseng

The most prominent constituent of ginseng is a saponin glycoside known as ginsenosides. These ginsenosides have been termed an adaptogen for their ability to protect against stress and maintain homeostasis. Saponins are thought the be the main active components of ginseng that have antioxidative and anticancer effects. 

In general, the contents of ginsenosides vary widely ranging from 2 to 20% depending on the species, age and part of ginseng, and even vary with the preservation or extraction method. More than 30 ginsenosides have been isolated, and characterized from various Panax species. 

Ginsenosides enter the blood about half an hour after taking ginseng. It takes about another hour and a half for tissues of the body to absorb it. Only about one-fifth is absorbed. 

The root contains the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, and selenium, germanium and maltol and ferulic acid. It also has the minerals calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron and traces of B1, B2, B12, pantothenic acid, niacin, folic acid, copper, iodine and zinc. These nutrients have several functions, including to fortify the body, fight off infection, and strengthen the nervous system. In addition, ginseng contains simple sugars, peptides and beta-sitosterol, which lowers cholesterol levels and reduces tumors.

Adaptogen effects

Adaptogen improves general physical, mental and emotional health by bringing numerous body functions into balance. It also helps you adapt to physical and emotional stress and to physical extremes, such as cold and hot or dark and light. 

In the course of doing its amazing balancing act in the body, ginseng plays opposite roles. A good example is its dual action on the central nervous system. It can be either a sedative or a stimulant. This action varies not only according to amount, large quantities tend to be more sedative and small ones more stimulating but also from one person to the next. Likewise, ginseng lowers or raises blood sugar and cholesterol. It protects red blood cells, but can also break them down, and it promotes or inhibits cell division. At the same time, it increases the cells’ defense mechanisms. It inhibits or stimulates the heart and breathing rate, and regulates production of histamine.

Ginseng helps us deal with stress better by strengthening the adrenal glands. It also controls when they fire up and how quickly they shut down. One way it does this is by regulating a hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which stimulates adrenal activity.

Ginseng improves physical energy in several other ways. One is by increasing the adrenal glands’ production and secretion of corticosterone. This hormone in turn encourages the liver, muscles and other tissues to make and store glycogen from the carbohydrates we eat, then helps the body use it efficiently. When you need energy, glycogen breaks down into sugar and corticosterone controls its absorption into the cells. The hormone also regulates the cells’ use of potassium and sodium, two minerals that work together to help cell metabolism by regulating fluids in the cells and maintaining a proper pH. Potassium balance is also essential for proper nerve impulses and muscle responses, especially in the heart.

There are other ways that ginseng helps physical strength and stamina.

It encourages the production and storage of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the enzyme that muscles store for fuel. Out of 150 herbs tested, ginseng stimulated ATP production the most. It may even contain a usable form of ATP.

Ginseng prevents overtaxed muscles from cramping and getting stiff and helps them recover quickly by reducing the amount of lactic acid in the blood. When muscles burn glycogen to get energy, they form lactic acid. Oxygen must be present to convert extra lactic acid back into glycogen to store for future use. If not converted, the lactic acid stays in the muscles and makes them cramp. In fact, one way that researchers gauge physical fatigue is to measure how much lactate, a salt derived from lactic acid, is in the blood. The less lactate there is, the better your endurance. 

Ginseng root is not the only part of the plant used medicinally. Flowers and leaves, which are much less expensive, are made into tea and added to baths in China. The tea is considered a good restorative, but it is seldom prescribed. 

Heart and circulation

It has been found that ginseng keep the heart at a healthy, low rate, while increasing the flow of blood to it. The more forceful each contraction of the heart, the more blood it pumps, and the slower the heart needs to work. Athletes who took ginseng for nine weeks had a much lower heart rate during their maximum exercise than athletes given placebo pills. Ginseng’s benefits even continue long after its use stops, with heart rates remaining low and improved lung action continuing for months. Good heart performance and circulation are vital for physical, mental and emotional fitness. It takes a healthy, strong heart to circulate oxygen-rich blood through the body.

Ginseng is thought to work by regulating the heartbeat, selectively dilating arteries in the heart, and helping the heart muscle recover when it is injured due to lack of oxygen. It slows the heart rate, but at the same time, it increases blood flow. It also reduces the possibility of blood clots forming.

Immunity

Numerous studies shows that ginseng improves our natural immunity by increases the number of infection-fighting natural killer cells and white blood cells. While improving immunity and helping the body resist infection, ginseng also reduces pain, fatigue and fever.

Ginseng improves immunity by increasing the number of beta and alpha globulins in the blood. It also reduces excessive numbers of leukocytes in the blood. These scavenger cells move through blood and tissue fighting infection and high levels of them indicate that an infection is present.

Menopause

Ginseng does relieve many menopausal complaints, such as symptomshot flashes, night sweats, nervous tension, headaches and heart palpitations which is concluded in several researches. The women experienced less depression and insomnia and fewer sexual problems. Ginseng is especially effective for hot flashes, and often completely eliminates them within six weeks. 

Blood sugar control

Ginseng’s ability to help diabetics was probably recognized as early as the first century A.D. when the Mingyi Bielu (Chin. 名醫別錄) was written by Hongjing Tao, explains the function of ginseng, and described how it reduces excessive thirst, fatigue and excessive urination are common symptoms of the disease. In diabetes, blood sugar levels are elevated due to an insufficient amount of insulin. Several of the compounds in ginseng increase insulin in the blood. Before insulin was available in the 1920s, Japanese hospitals treated diabetic patients with ginseng, to successfully reduce their blood sugar levels and symptoms. In dozens of clinical studies, ginseng also eliminated symptoms of diabetes, especially the excessive thirst and also impotence. Most diabetics also feel less tired when they take it. Several studies from China show that ginseng lowers blood sugar levels of diabetics from 40 to 50 percent, and even returns some levels to normal. And these levels remain low for a week or two after the ginseng is discontinued. Diabetics who are resistant to insulin have been able to reduce the amount they take with ginseng. Several researches proves that diabetic patients body weight increases and moods and motivation improves as well during ginseng intake without side effects. Ginseng has been compared to allopurinol, a drug that strongly inhibits the uric acid that commonly forms kidney stones and occurs in excessive amounts in people who have gout.

Rheumatoid arthritis

The Chinese use ginseng to treat rheumatoid arthritis, because it stimulates production of adrenal hormones like hydrocortisone that reduce inflammation. Instead of the adverse side effects caused by prescription drugs like prednisone, ginseng has an opposite action. While the drugs eventually shrink the size of adrenal glands and impair their function, ginseng reverses adrenal shrinkage. Ginseng offers another benefit to arthritics by enhancing their immune systems. Other antiarthritic TCM herbs often used with ginseng to reduce inflammation are the roots of bupleurum, licorice and turmeric.

Ginseng (Chin. ren shen, 人参) is a renowned herb known for its adaptogenic properties. It is considered one of the oldest and most well-known herbs in the world. According to Chinese beliefs, ginseng possesses exceptional abilities to absorb strength from the earth, making it highly valued as an herb for nourishing qi, the vital energy.

The earliest written reference to ginseng can be found in the Classic of the Materia Medica (Chin. 神农本草经 Shennong Bencao Jing), which was written between 206 BC and 220 AD. Shennong (Chin. 神農), commonly known as the “Divine Farmer,” was a legendary figure in Chinese mythology. He is credited with introducing essential agricultural practices, such as the use of the plow, and teaching humans about medicinal plants. It is in this context that ginseng is mentioned for the first time in traditional texts, indicating its early significance in Chinese culture.

Ginseng has been clinically known in China for thousands of years. The herbal root is named ginseng because of its resemblance to the shape of a man. In fact, the term ‘ginseng’ represents two Chinese ideograms: “ren” (人) which means “man,” and “shen” (参) which signifies ‘essence’. It is believed to encompass the three aspects of man: body, mind, and spirit. Consequently, it is also referred to as the “king of herbs.” Ginseng can be classified into three categories based on its growing environment:

1. Ginseng cultivated on a ginseng plantation is typically harvested four to six years after being planted.
2. Ginseng cultivated in the wild, in a natural environment.
3. Wild ginseng is naturally found in the deep mountains. It is the wild-growing form and is considered to be the most potent. However, it has become so scarce that harvesting it has become prohibitively expensive. As a result, it is only used in the most severe cases of Qi deficiency or collapse, if used at all. These roots may have been grown for 10+ years before being harvested.

Different processing types of ginseng

1. Fresh ginseng: This is ginseng in its original form after four to six years of cultivation.
2. White ginseng: This type of ginseng is obtained by peeling and sun-drying 4- to 6-year-old ginseng roots until the moisture content is reduced to below 14%. It can be stored for extended periods and is commonly used in herbal medicine and tea. White ginseng can have various shapes, such as straight, curved, half-curved, or tail ginseng. It is considered the best type of ginseng for simultaneously tonifying Qi and nourishing Yin fluids. After harvest, it undergoes a cleaning process where rootlets are removed, followed by sun-drying or drying on indoor drying racks. Indoor drying is preferred to preserve the therapeutic actions of the ginseng, as sun drying may bleach the root to an attractive pale yellow color but could potentially diminish its therapeutic properties.
3. Red ginseng: This type of ginseng is produced by steaming and drying fresh ginseng.

Different varieties of ginseng

Different varieties of ginseng belong to the Panax genus, which is a part of the Araliaceae family, commonly known as the ginseng family. While there are several species within the Panax genus, all of them share the common name “ginseng.” 

1. Ren Shen (Panax ginseng): Also known as Chinese or Korean ginseng, it is the most well-known variety. It primarily grows in northern China and Korea, along a mountain range shared by both countries. The roots of Ren Shen are typically cultivated for a minimum of 5 years before being harvested.
2. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): American ginseng is found in the wild from Quebec and Manitoba in Canada south to states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida (although it is scarce in the wild). Indigenous communities in these areas traditionally used it for various medicinal purposes, such as indigestion, sore eyes, earaches, menstrual cramps, fever, and bronchitis. Most American ginseng is now cultivated in Wisconsin and Canada, with a significant portion being exported to Asia. Wild American ginseng is native to the Appalachian Mountain region of the United States. The roots of wild plants are harvested after 8–10 years of growth. Wood-grown American ginseng refers to the cultivation of ginseng within the forest environment, where the soil is mounded to enhance production while maintaining the plant’s natural habitat. These ginseng plants are typically harvested after 6–8 years of growth. On the other hand, cultivated American ginseng is grown in fields under tarps, primarily in Canada and Wisconsin. This method allows for faster crop development, with ginseng ready for harvest within 3–4 years.
3. Dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius) is a subspecies of American ginseng that predominantly grows in the southern Appalachians, although its range extends from Nova Scotia to Georgia. Native American tribes utilized the root of this plant to treat headaches and nervous conditions, while the whole plant was used for various ailments such as colic, cough, indigestion, rheumatism, and skin problems.
4. Tian qi ginseng (Panax notoginseng) is a plant with seven leaflets, distinguishing it from Panax ginseng, which typically has five leaflets. It is found in the wild and cultivated in China’s Yunnan province. Also known as pseudoginseng or noto-ginseng, it is sometimes used as a substitute for Panax ginseng as a tonic, although it is not considered an adaptogen. In Chinese hospitals, it is employed in emergencies to stop bleeding, reduce pain, alleviate swelling, and redirect blood flow away from injuries. It is also commonly prescribed for excessive blood loss, blood in the urine, or blood in the lungs, with a typical dose ranging from 5 to 10 grams in decoction form. It can also be consumed in powdered form mixed with water, typically in doses of 1-3 grams.
5. Himalayan ginseng (Panax pseudoginseng subsp. himalaicus) is a subspecies native to Tibet and western Bhutan. Its ginsenoside content and medicinal properties lie between those of Korean and Japanese ginseng. Some botanists classify this subspecies as Japanica.
6. Japanese ginseng (Panax japonicus) has been cultivated in Japan since 1607. It grows in mountain forest areas and reaches a height of around 50-80 cm. It has four to seven leaflets, pale green flowers, and red fruits. Japanese ginseng is commonly used for treating heart palpitations, fluid around the heart, lung congestion, and digestive problems such as nausea and poor appetite. It is also known to help lower fevers, alleviate coughs, and manage asthma.
7. Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is native to Russia, particularly Siberia. While it has a history of medicinal use in China, it is not as popular as Panax ginseng. Siberian ginseng is renowned for its effectiveness in treating rheumatism, weak or debilitated conditions, and improving overall health by increasing endurance and mental performance.

How to consume ginseng?

When consuming ginseng, it is available in various forms, such as tea, tincture, or capsule (generally 300 to 500 mg). Tinctures tend to act faster due to the partial breakdown of components during the tincture-making process. However, fast action is not necessarily required for a tonic. A typical dosage is one to three pills, a few cups of tea, or one to three dropperfuls of tincture daily. Since ginseng is a popular herb, it is often included as part of a formula, blended with other herbs and sometimes nutritional supplements. In such cases, the recommended amount of the formula is usually the same as that for ginseng alone. The optimal time to consume ginseng is between meals, although exceptions can exist depending on the individual and their condition.

To prepare ginseng tea, bring a teaspoon of sliced or powdered ginseng root per cup to a boil in a pan of water. Let it simmer very gently for 20 to 30 minutes, then remove from heat and let it steep for at least another 20 minutes. After steeping, strain out the ginseng, and the tea is ready to drink. If you want to make a larger quantity of tea to last for a few days, you can store it in the refrigerator. It’s worth noting that the second batch of tea made from the same roots will not be as strong as the first. If you have whole roots, you can soak a piece overnight to soften it before cutting.

Contraindications

When it comes to contraindications, ginseng is generally considered safe with few side effects. However, individuals with hypertension or diabetes should use ginseng in very small amounts and monitor their response. Ginseng can be too stimulating for people who are manic, schizophrenic, or highly nervous, so caution should be exercised. If you take antipsychotic drugs, it’s important to be extra cautious about using ginseng. Additionally, ginseng may interfere with the absorption of certain pharmaceutical drugs and can alter hormonal treatments. It’s advisable to avoid combining ginseng with stimulants like coffee, as it can result in overstimulation of the body.

Excessive consumption of ginseng, particularly at extremely high doses like 50 grams per day or more, has been associated with adverse effects such as depression and nervous system problems. Most scientific studies typically use moderate amounts, ranging from three to nine grams per day. Taking more than the recommended dose is not advisable. It’s important to note that even large amounts, such as 10 grams, are not absorbed by the body as effectively as smaller doses. When ginseng is taken in excessive quantities or over an extended period, potential side effects can include heart pain and palpitations, vomiting, earaches, nosebleeds, decreased sexual potency, headaches, itchy skin eruptions, diarrhea, and a low white blood cell count.

The Chinese view of ginseng

In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs like ginseng are evaluated based on their energetic properties, which include heating, cooling, expanding, or contracting effects. It also examines the herbs’ capacity to direct or regulate qi, the fundamental energy or life force within the body.

As a tonic herb, ginseng is commonly included in formulas that aim to strengthen weak conditions such as general fatigue, weakness, anemia, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, nervous agitation, forgetfulness, thirst, and impotence. It is rarely used as a standalone herb in Chinese medicine but is often combined with other herbs to enhance various types of treatments. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is believed to be incompatible with certain conditions or individuals. For example, due to its warming nature, it is generally not given to individuals with a fever or infection. Similarly, individuals who exhibit excessive heat in their bodies, such as those who are hot-tempered, physically strong, and have a strong sexual drive, may experience a “burnout” effect from taking ginseng. It’s worth noting that a healthy and energetic individual under 40 years of age typically does not require ginseng unless they show specific physical deficiencies.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginseng is classified as a “qi deficiency tonic herb.” It is known for its ability to replenish the “Four Treasures” of the body, namely qi, blood, yin, and yang. With its warm nature, ginseng is beneficial for individuals who have excessive “cold” in their body, such as those with yin excess or yang deficiency, helping to restore a harmonious balance between yin and yang. With its bitter and sweet taste, ginseng has cleansing properties, aiding in heat clearing, dampness drying, and facilitating elimination through urination and bowel movements. It can also alleviate acute reactions, support detoxification, and tonify the body. Ginseng is particularly targeted at nourishing the heart, lungs, and spleen.

The uses of ginseng in traditional Chinese medicine

Ginseng has long been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, and its significance is evident in the Treatise on Cold Injury (Shanghan Lun), written in 220 AD. This book outlines 107 formulas compiled by the physician Zhang, with ginseng being a key ingredient in 21 of them, underscoring its importance in herbal medicine. Ginseng is primarily employed to address symptoms associated with qi deficiency. It proves beneficial in cases of spleen-qi deficiency, characterized by weakness, poor appetite, loose stools, emaciation, edema, and prolapse of the anus. It is also effective in treating lung-qi deficiency, which manifests as a lack of desire to talk, a low voice, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, or dyspnea during physical exertion. Vigorous qi can benefit blood production, as qi governs the blood. Therefore, ginseng and other qi tonics are also used for conditions such as blood-deficiency and bleeding syndrome caused by qi deficiency. When taking qi tonics, individuals may experience feelings of chest fullness and poor appetite. These symptoms arise due to blocked qi in the body. As a result, qi tonics are usually prescribed together with a small amount of Chinese medicinal herbs that stimulate qi circulation and strengthen the stomach.

In China, ginseng is primarily produced in the provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang. Among these provinces, the ginseng from Fusong County in Jilin Province is considered the highest quality. There are two types of ginseng: wild ginseng, also known as “mountainous ginseng,” and cultivated ginseng, known as “garden ginseng.” Cultivated ginseng is usually harvested in the autumn and undergoes various processing methods, such as drying in sunlight, steaming, or stir-baking with sugar. Depending on the specific processing method, the ginseng is classified as sunlight-dried ginseng, red ginseng, or sugar ginseng. On the other hand, wild ginseng is dried naturally in the sunlight without any additional processing, and it is referred to as “dried wild ginseng.” The head of the ginseng is typically removed, and it is sliced for use.

TCM medical properties of ginseng

Sweet and slightly bitter in flavor, warm in nature, and attributed to the spleen, lung, and heart meridians, ginseng invigorates renal qi, strengthens the qi of the spleen and lungs, promotes the production of body fluids to quench thirst, and calms the mind to promote intelligence. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng is used for various purposes.

1. Collapse syndrome due to qi deficiency manifests as shortness of breath, fatigue, a feeble pulse, and extreme weakness following severe disease, prolonged illness, heavy blood loss, or severe vomiting. It is recommended to prepare a thick decoction of single ginseng in large quantities, known as Dushen Tang (Decoction). In cases of yang depletion, such as qi collapse accompanied by sweating and cold extremities, it is used in combination with Fuzi.
2. Deficiency of the spleen is characterized by fatigue, poor appetite, fullness in the upper abdomen, or diarrhea, along with qi deficiency and weakness resulting from various factors.
3. Deficiency of lung qi presents as shortness of breath, weakness, a feeble pulse, and spontaneous perspiration.
4. Diabetes causes thirst due to the consumption of body fluids. For febrile diseases involving both qi and body fluid depletion, characterized by excessive sweating, shortness of breath, or a weak and thin pulse.
5. Deficiency of both qi and blood can lead to inadequate nourishment of the heart, resulting in symptoms such as palpitations, amnesia, insomnia, or weakness. Ginseng is commonly combined with Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Suanzaoren (Semen Ziziphi), and Guiyuanrou (Arillus Longan) to replenish heart-qi and calm the mind. An example of such combination is Guipi Tang (Decoction).
6. Deficiency of both qi and blood or blood deficiency syndrome may require specific treatment approaches. In cases of combined qi and blood deficiency, it is common to use ginseng together with Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata), such as in the form of Liangyi Gao (Soft extract). When addressing blood deficiency alone, ginseng can be combined with blood tonics like Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) to enhance its effectiveness.

In addition, ginseng is recommended for treating impotence caused by kidney deficiency. It can be used in combination with yang-invigorating tonics to address this condition. Furthermore, when there is susceptibility to pathogenic factors due to weakness, ginseng is used in conjunction with other herbs to strengthen the body’s resistance to disease, promote healthy qi, and eliminate the pathogenic factors.

Usage and dosage

The recommended dosage for ginseng is 5–10 grams in decoction form. It should be individually decocted over low heat and mixed with decoctions of other herbs before consumption. Alternatively, the powdered form of 1-2 grams can be swallowed. In the case of collapse syndrome, a larger dosage of 15–30 grams can be used in decoction, divided into multiple administrations. Ginseng is contraindicated for individuals with sthenia and heat syndrome without a deficiency of healthy qi.

Famous TCM prescriptions containing ginseng

1. Si Jun Zi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) is a well-known Chinese medicine formula that contains ginseng as one of its principal ingredients. It was invented in 1107 AD and belongs to the category of formulas that tonify Qi. Its main actions are to tonify Qi and strengthen the spleen and stomach. However, long-term use of this formula may result in a dry mouth and thirst. From a modern medicine perspective, these patterns can contribute to various conditions such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, or irritable bowel syndrome.
2. Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) is a Chinese medicine formula that was created in 1107 AD. It is known for its ability to tonify Qi and is used for conditions such as anorexia, acid reflux, and peptic ulcers. The mother formula of Liu Jun Zi Tang is Si Jun Zi Tang. In addition to tonifying Qi, it also strengthens the spleen and stomach, clears phlegm and mucus, and promotes appetite.
3. Gui Pi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) is another Chinese medicine formula that was invented in 1529 AD. It is primarily used for conditions such as anemia, colitis, and anxiety. Gui Pi Tang tonifies and nourishes the Qi and blood of the heart and spleen. In modern medicine, this prescription is also used to treat abnormal uterine bleeding, heavy menstruation, or late menstruation, among other conditions.