Ren Shen
| Ren Shen in TCM:Explore the properties of Ren Shen according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Factoids:
English Name: ginseng, ginseng root
Pharmacuetical Name: Radix Ginseng
Properties: sweet, slightly bitter, slightly warm
Temperature: warm
Channels: LU, SP, HT
Flavors: sweet, bitter
Tonifies: qi
Alternate Forms:
- Ren Shen Hong (aka Hong Shen): (red, warmer)
- better for qi and yang deficiency.
- Ren Shen (aka Sheng Shai Shen/Gan Shai Shen):
(fresh, dried) - better for qi deficiency.
- Ren Shen Bai: (white) in boiling water short
time soak in sugar (similar function to Shen Shai but weaker)
- Ye Shan Shen (wild mountain ginseng)
- Yi Shan Shen (transplanted mountain ginseng)
- Yuan Shen (cultivated ginseng)
- Shen Xu (root whiskers) - weaker
- Ren Shen Ye (ginseng leaf) - bitter, slightly
sweet, cold ; clears summer heat, generates fluids, clears deficiency
fire (5-10g)
Actions / Indications:
- Tonifies Lung Qi (chronic cough due to LU deficiency, wheezing; SOB; labored breathing with exertion; spontaneous sweating due to LU qi deficiency)
- Tonifies SP and Stomach (chronic diarrhea; lethargy; lack of appetite,
chest/abdominal distension; in combination for prolapse of ST, uterus,
or rectum)
- Greatly tonifies yuan qi; treats qi collapse (collapse of yuan qi, shallow respiration / SOB; cold limbs; profuse sweating; weak pulse; also after severe loss of blood)
- Benefits Heart Qi; Calms Spirit(insomnia, palpitations or anxiety, forgetfulness, restlessness due to qi, blood, or yin deficiency)
- Generates fluid; relieves thirst (xiao ke - wasting and thirsting disorder, fluids damaged by high fever, heavy sweating, sequela of febrile disease)
- Supports the anti-pathogenic qi to expel pathogens (boost wei qi to help fight exterior syndromes or constipation with significant qi deficiency)
- CC: heat excess; steaming bone disorder
- CC: absence of significant qi deficiency
- CC: hypertension with LV yang rising
- CC: overdose may cause headache, insomnia, palpitations, or hypertension
- CC: antagonistic with Wu Ling Zhi
- CC: incompatible with Li Lu
- CC: abstain from drinking tea (caffeine or other stimulants), eating radish or using with lai fu zi
Special Notes:
- Do not use with Li Lu, Wu Ling Zhi, Lai
Fu Zi
- Cooking: often decocted separately with low heat or in a double boiler
- In difficult labor cases Ren Shen can be used to strongly tonify Yuan Qi, to replenish fluids, and it also helps to dilate the cervix.
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