Ren Shen - 人參 - Radix Ginseng
| Pharmaceutical Latin: | Radix Ginseng |
| Common English: | Asian Ginseng Root Ginseng Root Panax |
Category
Herbs that tonify QiProperties
| Taste | Temperature | Entering Meridians | Dosage |
| Sweet Slightly Bitter | Slightly Warm | Lung Spleen | 1-9g decocted separately Powder: 0.5-1g Tincture: 0.25-3ml Emergencies: up to 30g in multiple doses Tincture: 3-10ml Regular 3-9g; powder 0.5-1g; emergency 30g; cook separately (Secondary source) |
Actions And Indications
| Actions | Indications/Syndromes |
Powerfully tonifies Yuan Qi | Extreme collapse of Qi or abandoned conditions that manifest in shallow breathing, shortness of breath, cold limbs, profuse sweating and an almost imperceptible pulse (after blood loss, overly profuse sweating or other problems related to severe fluid loss - it can be used alone in these emergencies) Collapse of Yang Collapse of Yin |
Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi | Lethargy, anorexia, chest and abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea and, in severe cases, prolapse of the Stomach, uterus or rectum |
Tonifies Lung Qi | Lung Qi Deficiency with wheezing, shortness of breath and labored breathing on exertion |
Generates Body Fluids and stops thirst | Wasting and thirsting disorder (Xiao Ke) and high fevers with profuse sweating which injures Qi and fluids |
Tonifies Heart Qi and calms the Spirit | Heart Qi Deficiency Qi and Blood Deficiency with palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, forgetfulness and restlessness |
Treats impotence | With Kidney Yang tonics for impotence |
Tonifies Qi in Deficiency patients with Exterior conditions | Exterior disorder with Interior Deficiency |
Contraindications, Incompatibilities And Herb/Drug Interactions
| CONTRAINDICATIONS |
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| INCOMPATIBILITIES |
| HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS |
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Major Combinations
| Rx. Aconiti Lateralis Preparata | Fr. Schisandrae | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata |
Collapsed Qi and Devastated Yang with spontaneous sweat, ice cold extremities and shortness of breath. | Qi and Yin Deficiency with shortness of breath and spontaneous sweat usually secondary to injury from Heat. | Severe Qi and Blood Deficiency due to loss of Blood. Qi and Yin Deficiency. |
| Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
Qi and Yin Deficiency (fever, thirst, irritability, shortness of breath and dry, red tongue.) | Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency with Dampness with anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal distention and fatigue. | Tonifies the transformation and transportation functions of the Spleen. |
| Rx. Astragali | Gecko | Rx. Astragali |
Qi Deficiency with various types of prolapse due to Sinking of the Clear Yang. | Wheezing due to Kidney unable to grasp Qi. | Lung Qi Deficiency. Qi Deficiency with general debility, anorexia and spontaneous sweat. |
Flos Farfarae | Gypsum Fibrosum | Rx. Trichosanthis Or Rx. Trichosanthis |
Chronic cough due to Lung Qi Deficiency. | Heat injuring the Qi and Yin fluids with fever, irritability, intense thirst and profuse sweating. | Wasting and thirsting disorder with intense unquenchable thirst. |
Fol. Perillae | Rx. Angelicae Sinensis | Rx. Rehmanniae |
Qi and Yin Deficiency with fever, thirst, irritability, shortness of breath and a dry, red tongue. External Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency. | Heart and Spleen Deficiency with palpitations, shortness of breath, reduced appetite and insomnia. | Insomnia due to Heart and Kidney Insufficiency. |
Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum | Cx. Ailanthi | Gecko |
In alcohol to treat impotence due to Kidney Yang Deficiency. | With Rice Congee to treat bleeding hemorrhoids, and chronic dysenteric disorder with bleeding and pus. Chronic diarrhea or chronic watery vaginal discharge that incessantly leaks. Mildly treats Damp-Heat. | Restores the mutually supportive and proper action of the Lungs and Kidneys to treat weak inhalation with wheezing that is worse on exertion. |
Rx. Ephedrae | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae | Rz. Atractylodis Macrocephalae |
Wind-Cold with underlying Qi Deficiency. | Qi Deficiency with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency with loose stools or diarrhea. | Organ prolapse. |
Gypsum Fibrosum | Rx. Astragali | Rx. Rehmanniae |
Febrile disease with Heat damaging both Qi and Body Fluids. | Poor cognitive functions due to Spleen Qi and Heart Blood Deficiency with fatigue, excessive worrying and insomnia. | Poor cognitive functions due to Kidney Yin Deficiency and Heart Blood Deficiency. |
Rx. Acori Tatarinowii | Rx. Rehmanniae Preparata | Cornu Cervi Pantotrichum |
Confusion and forgetfulness. | Qi and Blood Deficiency. | Impotence. |
Rz. et Rx. Notopterygii | ||
Exterior invasion with Interior Deficiency. |
Notes
- Excessive use may lead to hyperactivity and bleeding (irritability, facial flushing, epistaxis).
- An overdose may produce headache, insomnia, palpitations and high blood pressure.
- According to some sources, it tonifies Wei Qi.
- Since it strongly tonifies Yuan Qi, it is applied in many different situations where strengthening Yuan Qi, indirectly helps resolve the problem.
- For collapse of Yuan Qi. it may be used on its own.
- Research has shown that it inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- Ren Shen antagonizes Faeces Trogopterori Wu Ling Zhi, yet combining the two may benefit cancer treatment.
- It is said to relieve thirst and upset, activate the channels and pulse, clear Phlegm Stagnation, and stop vomiting, cough and diseases arising from Qi and Blood Deficiency.
- Combining it with Rx. Astragali Huang Qi and Ganoderma Ling Zhi. strengthens its anti-cancer effect.
- For chaotic bleeding from the nose and mouth, burn Ren Shen, Cacumen Biotae Ce Bai Ye and Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie to ash and sprinkle it on the patient's face.
- Ren Shen and Rx. Astragali Huang Qi both tonify primal Qi. Huang Qi additionally supports the Yang and is most suitable for disorders involving sinking of clear Qi. It also stops sweating, promotes the discharge of pus, generates flesh and promotes urination, none of which Ren Shen is able to do. Ren Shen for its part generates fluids, and its tonic effect is stronger and more lasting than that of Huang Qi.
- Ren Shen and Rx. Codonopsis Dang Shen share similar properties and functions. Ren Shen has far broader effects and is required when the disorder is severe or calls for immediate relief, as in patterns of abandonment or profuse bleeding. Dang Shen tonifies Qi and indirectly augments Blood and Fluids, but it neither tonifies Yuan Qi nor directly generates Fluids. Its effects are confined to the Spleen and Lungs and it is less potent than Ren Shen, yet it is adequate for everyday clinical use, so it makes a good replacement for Ren Shen when the Deficiency pattern is not severe. It is commonly used as a low-cost substitute for Ren Shen.
- Ren Shen and Rx. Panacis Quinquifolii Xi Yang Shen both tonify Qi. Xi Yang Shen is sweet, slightly bitter and cooling, and it also tonifies and augments the Blood aspect. It can replace Ren Shen whenever the goal is to tonify Qi without warming.
- Ren Shen governs tonification of the five organs; it quiets the consciousness, settles the ethereal and corporeal souls, stops palpitations with anxiety, expels pathogenic Qi, brightens the eyes, opens the Heart and strengthens resolve.
- Ginseng Neck Ren Shen Lu is a mild emetic, used to induce vomiting in cases of Deficiency without Food Stagnation and Phlegm.
- Ginseng Leaf Ren Shen Ye is bitter, slightly sweet and cold. Its indications are Summerheat with thirst, fluid injury from febrile disease, hoarseness linked to Lung Heat, insufficient Stomach Yin, toothache from Deficiency, and alcohol intoxication.
- Ginseng Rootlets Shen Xu, are usually given for depleted Qi and damaged Body Fluids.
- The highest quality is Jilin root Ye Shan Shen or Shan Shen.
- “White Ginseng ” Bai Shen or “sugar root” Tang Shen is cured in rock candy and used to treat Yin Deficiency.
- “Fresh-dried Ginseng” Sheng Shai Shen is likewise used for Yin Deficiency.
- Steamed roots turn red Hong Shen and become hotter, making them suited to Qi and Yang Deficiency, as with Korean Ginseng.
From Class
- Immune herbs: Huang Qi, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu: Fu zheng therapy (used mostly in cancer) builds the immune system with herbs like astragalus, ginseng and white atractylodes. (Yuen)
- Rou Gui & Gui Zhi (Kidney → Heart), Ren Shen & Dang Gui: Agitation can harass the child's heart in pregnancy; strengthen the Kidneys supporting the Heart with small amounts of Rou Gui/Gui Zhi; Ren Shen/Dang Gui tonify qi and blood. (Lewis)
- Ren Shen Dang Gui Tang (Ginseng-Angelica Decoction): Ren Shen, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Shu Di, Mai Men Dong and a small 'spark' of Rou Gui promote qi/blood generation; reduce Rou Gui for yin deficiency. (Maciocia)