American ginseng is the root of the plant Panax quinquefolius, belonging to the Araliaceae family. It was originally produced in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada, hence its name "American ginseng," also known as "flower flag ginseng." The variety produced in Japan is called "Japanese ginseng." Due to its relatively late application, with its earliest use dating back to the early Qing Dynasty, many traditional Chinese medicine herbals do not record it. Nowadays, American ginseng is mostly cultivated and harvested in autumn after 3 to 6 years. It may be peeled or dried with the skin intact. After moistening, it is sliced and dried for medicinal use.
I. Efficacy and Application
American ginseng tastes bitter and slightly sweet, and is cold in nature. It acts on the heart, lung, and kidney meridians.
Efficacy can tonify qi and nourish yin, clear fire and promote fluid production. Its characteristic efficacy is similar to ginseng, but its nature is slightly bitter and cold. While tonifying qi and nourishing yin, it is also adept at clearing heat.
It is commonly used for the treatment of conditions such as chronic cough due to lung deficiency, blood loss, dry throat and thirst, and deficiency heat with fatigue and restlessness.
Summary of Masterpieces by Renowned Authors
Ben Cao Cong Xin: "Tonifies the lung, reduces fire, promotes fluid production, and alleviates restlessness and fatigue. Suitable for those with deficiency accompanied by fire."
Investigation of Medicinal Properties: Nourishes yin and reduces fever. Processed with ginger, it boosts qi and supports healthy qi.
Ben Cao Zai Xin: "Treats excessive lung fire, cough with copious phlegm, shortness of breath and wheezing due to qi deficiency, blood loss and overexertion, stabilizes essence and calms the spirit, addresses various deficiencies after childbirth."
"Ben Cao Qiu Yuan": "Clears the lungs and kidneys, cools the heart and spleen to reduce fire, relieves summer heat, and alleviates the effects of alcohol."
"Medical Zhongzhong Canxi Lu": "It can supplement the qi aspect and also benefit the blood aspect."
II. Compatibility and Application
1. For yin deficiency with effulgent fire, panting, cough, and bloody phlegm. American ginseng can tonify qi and nourish yin, and clear lung fire. It is used to treat panting, cough, and bloody phlegm caused by yin deficiency with effulgent fire and impaired lung purification and descent. It is often combined with lung-nourishing, lung-clearing, and phlegm-resolving herbs such as Ophiopogonis Radix, Asini Corii Colla, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, and Fritillariae Bulbus.
2. For febrile diseases with both qi and yin deficiency, manifesting as feverishness and thirst. American ginseng is effective in tonifying qi, nourishing yin, and promoting fluid production. To treat the aforementioned conditions, it is often combined with fresh rehmannia root, dendrobium, and ophiopogon root, which are herbs that nourish yin, clear heat, and promote fluid production.
3. For conditions such as insufficient body fluids, dry mouth and tongue, etc. American ginseng can nourish yin and promote fluid production. It can be decocted alone in water for oral administration or used as a tea substitute, yielding good results.
4. For health preservation. American ginseng can nourish yin, promote fluid production, and clear heat, making it particularly suitable for individuals with diabetes, restlessness and heat, or elderly people with excessive heat and fluid deficiency. It can be consumed alone as a tea or combined with other herbs for application.
When combined with Panax notoginseng and Pueraria lobata, grinding them into powder for consumption can effectively improve blood supply to the heart and brain, enhance physical fitness, making it particularly suitable for the elderly population, and is indeed an excellent method.
III. Usage and Dosage
American ginseng is often used in decoctions, as well as in pills and powders, and is also suitable for brewing as tea. Due to its relatively high price, it is often decocted separately and then mixed with other decoctions when used in herbal formulas. The usual dosage ranges from a few grams to over ten grams; when taken as a powder, the dosage is about one gram per serving.
Zhang Xichun said, "American ginseng is cool in nature and tonifying. It can be used as a substitute for ginseng by those who cannot tolerate the warmth of ginseng."
IV. Application Notes
American ginseng is slightly sweet and cold in nature, which can damage yang and promote dampness. Therefore, it is contraindicated for those with weakened middle yang and cold dampness in the stomach.
Ben Cao Cong Xin: "If taken by those with cold in the viscera, it will cause abdominal pain; if taken by those with depressed fire, the fire will not be fully released, leading instead to alternating chills and fever."
Practical Notes on Traditional Chinese Medicine 20.11.7 Evening
