Sacred Lotus Chinese & Integrative Medicine

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Ren Shen (Ginseng Root)

Herbs that Tonify Qi
Ren Shen 人参

Radix Ginseng Ginseng Root

Channels LUSP
Nature Slightly Warm SweetSlightly Bitter
✓ CALE Exam ✓ National Exam
Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng)
Specimen Radix Ginseng

Materia Medica Data

Category
Herbs that Tonify Qi
Temperature
Slightly Warm
Nature & Flavour
Sweet, Slightly Bitter, Slightly Warm
Channels Entered
LU, SP
Latin (pharmaceutical)
Radix Ginseng
Chinese
人参
Tone Marks
rén shēn
Translation
Man root

Relationships

Appears in Formulas 44

Tonify (12)

Ren Shen Ge Jie San60gDa Zao Wan30gHe Ren Yin9-15gSheng Mai San9-15gBu Zhong Yi Qi Tang9-12gShen Ling Bai Zhu San10gBa Zhen Tang9gBu Fei Tang9gShi Quan Da Bu Tang6-9gSi Jun Zi Tang3-9gGui Pi Tang3-6gZhi Gan Cao Tang6g

Regulate the Qi (4)

Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang3-6gXuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang6gJu Pi Zhu Ru Tang3gSi Mo Tang3g

Stabilize and Bind (4)

Sang Piao Xiao San9-12gWan Dai Tang6gZhen Ren Yang Zang Tang3-6gJiu Xian San3-4.5g

Warm Interior Cold (4)

Shen Fu Tang12gLi Zhong Wan9gWu Zhu Yu Tang9gDa Jian Zhong Tang6g

Calm the Spirit (3)

Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan15gDing Zhi Wan9gChai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang4.5g

Expel Dampness (2)

Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang6gZhong Man Fen Xiao Wan3g

Expel Parasites (2)

Bu Dai Wan15gWu Mei Wan6-9g

Harmonize (2)

Ban Xia Xie Xin Tang9gXiao Chai Hu Tang9g

Reduce Food Stagnation (2)

Jian Pi Wan45gZhi Shi Xiao Pi Wan9g

Release the Exterior (2)

Ren Shen Bai Du San6-9gZai Zao San3g

Treat Dryness (2)

Mai Men Dong Tang6gQing Zao Jiu Fei Tang2.1g

Clear Heat (1)

Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang6g

Drain Downward (1)

Huang Long Tang6g

Expel Wind (1)

Xiao Xu Ming Tang3-6g

Invigorate the Blood (1)

Wen Jing Tang6g

Open the Orifices (1)

Di Tan Tang3g

Cautionary Pairings2

Li LuWu Ling Zhi
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Chinese Herb Actions

  • Strongly Tonifies Yuan (primal) Qi For collapse of Qi and abandonment situations with symptoms such as shortness of breath, shallow breathing, cold limbs, profuse sweating, and a minute or imperceptible deficient pulse. Ren Shen can be used alone for these symptoms, which can occur after blood loss or other conditions that involve fierce fluid loss, such as severe diarrhea and vomiting, or chronic illness.
  • Strengthens and tonifies the Spleen and Stomach Used for Spleen Qi Deficiency with lassitude, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, generalized weakness, low or soft voice, abdominal distention, and in severe cases stomach or rectal prolapse.
  • Tonifies the Lungs For Lung Qi Deficiency with symptoms such as asthma, wheezing, dyspnea, shortness of breath, and weak and labored breathing
  • Generates body fluids and alleviates thirst For Wasting and Thirsting (Xiao Ke) syndrome. Also for injury of Qi and Yin from symptoms such as profuse sweating and high fever causing thirst and other associated symptoms of 'Xiao Ke'.
  • Calms the Spirit and Clears the Mind For Heart Qi and Blood Deficiency due to insufficient Yuan Qi with symptoms such as insomnia, forgetfulness, mental restlessness or mental confusion, palpitations, and dream-disturbed sleep.
  • Tonifies Qi and Yang and benefits the Kidneys For Qi and Yang Deficiency causing impotence.

Chinese Herb Dosage

  • 5-10 grams in decoction, 0.5-1.0 grams in powdered form 12
  • 3-9 grams in decoction, 0.5-1.0 grams in powder 13

Chinese Herb Contraindications & Cautions

  • Do not use in Excess conditions
  • Do not use in cases of Liver Yang Rising with symptoms such as high blood pressure, red eyes, or dizziness
  • Do not use with bleeding due to Heat in the Blood
  • Do not use with cough or wheezing due to Lung Heat, or with Phlegm Accumulation
  • Do not use with constipation, parasites, internal accumulation, or in Heat or Fire conditions.
  • Do not take this herb with stimulants such as caffeine (especially coffee)

Chinese Herb Toxicity & Overdose

  • This herb has low toxicity.
  • Overdose of Ren Shen may lead to symptoms such as dry mouth, jitters, irritability, palpitations, hypertension, insomnia, headache, morning diarrhea, itching, eczema, and other skin problems. In severe cases of overdose, there may be nausea, vomiting, and bleeding.

Herb-Drug Interactions

  • It is suggested, but not documented that Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) may induce mania in depressed patients that mix this herb with phenelzine antidepressants. 12
  • An in vitro study suggests that an herbal preparation of Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng), Yuan Zhi (Radix Polygalae), Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori), and Fu Ling (poria) ameliorates the impairment effect of ethanol on learning and memory processes. 12
  • Because Ren Shen may reduce fasting blood glucose levels, hypoglycemia may occur when this herb is combined with drugs for diabetes mellitus. 12

Chinese Herb Notes

  • For maximum extraction, decoct separately from other ingredients (or in a double boiler) at low heat.

This herb antagonizes or is antagonized by:

This herb is incompatible with:

Sources & References

Compiled and edited by Thomas Dehli, Founder & Editor, Sacred Lotus

The information here is referenced from numerous sources — teachers, practitioners, class notes from Five Branches University, the books below, and the published research literature, with citations given as resolvable PubMed identifiers. Where sources disagree, I have flagged the discrepancies directly. If facts couldn't be verified, I have left them out. How we source our content.

Reference information for students and practitioners — not medical advice. Consult a qualified practitioner. Terms of use.

Chinese Herbs Books & References

  • https://amzn.to/3WfB3DK

    Dan Bensky

  • https://amzn.to/3DR1VUh

    John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen

  • https://amzn.to/42aMz73

    Max Wichtl

  • https://amzn.to/3PuD4bt

    Him Che. Yeung

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