American ginseng

　　American ginseng is the root of Panax quinquefolium L., a plant of the Araliaceae family. Mainly produced in the United States and Canada. It is also cultivated in Beijing, Jilin, Liaoning and other places in my country. Excavate roots that have grown for 3 to 6 years in autumn and slice them raw for use.

　　[Medical Properties] Sweet, slightly bitter, cool. Returns to lung, heart, kidney, spleen meridians.

　　[Efficacy] Nourish qi and nourish yin, clear away heat and promote fluid production.

　　【application】

　　1. Syndrome of Qi and Yin injury. This product can also replenish vitality, but its effect is weaker than that of ginseng; its medicinal properties are cooling, and it can clear fire, nourish yin and promote fluid production. It is suitable for symptoms such as fever, profuse sweating, diarrhea, massive blood loss, depletion of vitality and yin and body fluids, resulting in fatigue, shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating and sticky heat, upset and thirst, short, red and astringent urine, dry and sticky stools, dry tongue, thready and weak pulse, etc. It is often used together with products such as Ophiopogon japonicus and Schisandra chinensis that nourish yin, promote fluid production, and reduce sweating.

　　2. Lung qi deficiency and lung yin deficiency syndrome. This product can nourish lung qi, nourish lung yin, and clear lung fire. It is suitable for shortness of breath, cough with little phlegm, or blood in the phlegm caused by fire and heat depleting lung qi and yin. It can be used together with Polygonatum odoratum and Ophiopogon japonicus to nourish yin and moisturize the lungs, and Fritillaria fritillaris to clear away heat, resolve phlegm and relieve cough.

　　In addition, this product can replenish heart qi, benefit the spleen, and nourish heart yin and spleen yin. Treats palpitations, heartache, insomnia and dreaminess due to Qi and Yin deficiency. It can be used together with licorice to nourish heart qi, Ophiopogon japonicus and rehmannia root to nourish heart yin and clear away heart heat. Treats stagnation of appetite, stagnation of appetite, thirst and craving for drinking due to deficiency of both spleen and yin. It can be used together with Radix Pseudostellariae, Chinese yam, Shenqu, Guya and other products that strengthen the spleen and eliminate food. It can also be used in cases of kidney yin deficiency.

　　3. Fever, qi deficiency, wound thirst and quenching thirst. This product not only replenishes qi, nourishes yin and promotes body fluids, but also clears away heat. It is suitable for those who suffer from excessive body heat and sweating due to heat damage to qi and body fluids, thirst and upset, tiredness and lack of qi, and weak and rapid pulse. It is often used together with watermelon green clothes, bamboo leaves, Ophiopogon japonicus and other products, such as Qingshu Yiqi Decoction ("Wenre Jingwei"). In clinical practice, it is often used in combination with products that nourish yin and promote fluid production for the syndrome of diabetes due to damage to both qi and yin.

　　【Usage and Dosage】Decoct and drink separately, 3~6g.

　　[Usage Note] According to the "Pharmacopoeia", this product should not be used together with Veratrum.

　　[Identification of Medication] Both ginseng and American ginseng have the effect of replenishing vitality, and can be used for symptoms such as shortness of breath, weak pulse, and weak pulse caused by qi deficiency. However, ginseng has a strong ability to replenish qi and relieve qi, and can be effective when used alone; American ginseng is bitter and cold, and can also nourish yin, so it is more suitable for those with qi and yin depletion caused by fever. Both drugs can replenish the qi of the spleen and lungs, and can mainly treat the syndrome of spleen and lung qi deficiency. Among them, ginseng has a stronger effect; but American ginseng is mostly used for the syndrome of spleen, lung, qi and yin deficiency. These two medicines also have the effect of replenishing qi and promoting fluid production, and are often used for thirst and thirst syndrome caused by fluid wounds. In addition, ginseng can replenish the qi of the heart and kidneys, soothe the nerves and increase intelligence. It is also often used for insomnia, forgetfulness, palpitations, and shortness of breath due to kidney deficiency.

　　[Abstract from ancient books]

　　1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Nourishes the lungs and reduces fire, produces body fluids, and relieves irritability and fatigue. Those who are empty but have fire are suitable. ”

　　2. "Medicine Zhongshen Xilu": "It can replenish Qi and replenish blood. It is cool in nature and tonic. Anyone who wants to use ginseng but does not have the warming and tonic effect of ginseng can use it instead." ”

　　【Modern Research】

　　1. Chemical composition: This product contains a variety of ginsenosides, a variety of volatile components, resins, starches, sugars, amino acids, inorganic salts, etc.

　　2. Pharmacological effects: American ginseng has anti-shock effect and can significantly improve the survival rate of rats with hemorrhagic shock; it has a sedative effect on the brain and a moderate stimulating effect on the vital center; it also has anti-hypoxia, anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-myocardial oxidation, increased myocardial contractility, anti-arrhythmia, anti-fatigue, anti-stress, anti-convulsant, hypoglycemic, hemostatic and anti-diuretic effects.

　　3. Clinical research: It is reported that the combination of American ginseng and longan meat was used to treat 32 patients with Qi deficiency syndrome. The main symptoms disappeared, weight increased, hemoglobin and reduced white blood cells increased, with an effective rate of 84.4% (Fujian Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1986, 3: 63).

　　4. Adverse reactions: In recent years, there have been reports of allergic reactions, vesicular rashes and female endocrine disorders caused by oral administration of American ginseng, so attention should be paid.