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Basics
The Basics
about Ginseng
By Brian Carter
Published March 2001
Ginseng is the best known and most popular
Chinese herb. It is known as the "King"
of Chinese herbs. With Ginseng, you get
what you pay for. Some roots cost thousands
of dollars. Most consumers will not be seeking
out the highest quality Ginseng. The more
affordable Codonopsis Root (Dang Shen) may
be substituted in most situations.
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All
ginseng is not created equal. There
are three major types of ginseng, compared
in the table below. |
| American
Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen) |
Panax
Ginseng (Ren Shen) |
Korean
Ginseng (Gao Li Shen) |
| Least
effect on qi of the three. |
Stronger
effect on qi than American Ginseng. |
Strongest
effect on qi of the three. |
| COLD |
WARM |
HOT
(red in color) |
| Nourishes
the yin (its best use) |
Generates
fluids, stops thirst |
Very
bad to use when yin deficient. |
| Good
for fever/coughing up blood |
Calming
action |
May
cause headache/anger/etc. |
The average consumer who walks down the
herb aisle in the drug store may be unaware
of the consequences of their choices. The
popular conception is that ginseng equals
energy, much like coffee equals energy.
This is not necessarily so.
If you are looking for energy, first of
all, you need to be sure that you really
need it. Many people would never
feel that they have enough energy. Some
people may actually be Yin Deficient with
Heat signs. In this case, the appearance
of energy (which may be scattered and manic)
is really heat and, underneath, the person
is deficient. This is analogous to spending
money on a credit card when you're already
in debt. You appear to be rich, but your
finances are actually in very bad shape.
You can spend what you do not have but you
will pay the price. The price may be your
sanity, or other health problems down the
road. These people would do better to nurture
their yin, which is deficient, and spend
less energy. Look at American Ginseng; it
nourishes the yin and benefits
the qi. The heat of yin deficiency sometimes
manifests as excess energy in the head:
headaches, and tempers flaring. Anyone with
heat signs like this would actually be harmed
by Panax or Korean Ginseng. It is liable
to make your headaches and temper worse.
American Ginseng is considered an endangered
species due to excess harvesting. If you
plan on using it, the ethical thing would
be to grow it yourself, or at least be knowledgeable
of the source of your Ginseng.
If you really need energy, you might not
even take Panax Ginseng (Ren Shen). Traditionally,
it is used for the elderly, or in extreme
health situations. The more common, and
more affordable, choice is Codonopsis Root
(Dang Shen).
The following table shows that moderate
situations call for codonopsis root, while
serious situations, or extreme age call
for panax ginseng.
| Codonopsis
Root(Dang Shen) |
Panax
Ginseng (Ren Shen) |
|
neutral
|
warming
|
|
"supports the
normal"
|
"fosters wisdom"
|
|
Used For:
|
Used for:
|
| Spleen
qi deficiency |
Lung
Qi deficiency |
Abandoned
Syndrome |
Collapse
of Qi |
| Lack
of appetite, fatigue, weak limbs,
diarrhea, prolapse |
Cough,
shortness of breath, reluctance to
speak |
Heavy
sweating, cold hands and feet, sagging
jaw, closed eyes, incontinence |
Shock,
loss of consciousness |
When NOT to take Ginseng: If you have headaches,
palpitations, insomnia, pregnant, hysteric,
manic or schizophrenic do not take ginseng.
If you have very high blood pressure (systolic
>180mmHg), and/or are hypertensive, do
not take panax ginseng.
| Panax
and Korean Ginseng |
Codonopsis
Root |
American
Ginseng |
| headaches,
anger, palpitations, insomnia, pregnant,
hysteric, manic or schizophrenic,
very high blood pressure (systolic
>180mmHg), hypertension, yin
deficiency |
No
contraindications |
Stomach
problems (damp-cold of Stomach) |
It is important to know what the things
you are putting in your body are going to
do for you, and to you. After all, if you
just want to dig a hole in your garden,
it is better to use a shovel than a stick
of dynamite!
Brian Benjamin
Carter is a founder of the Internet personalized
herb company Healthprints,
editor of the PULSE of Oriental Medicine,
and a musician. Brian lives in San Diego,
CA. Brian's music can be found here
and here.
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