How to Take Ginseng: Those with a thick, greasy tongue coating should not take it.
Core Tip: Although ginseng is a powerful tonic, it is still a medicinal herb. Generally speaking, healthy infants, those with acute fever, chest tightness and abdominal bloating, those with carbuncles and sores, and those with a thick, greasy tongue coating should not take ginseng.
A reader said, "My husband is middle-aged. Recently, he has always been very tired, so I bought him some ginseng to boost his energy. Who would have thought that after stewing and taking it, the fatigue didn't go away, but he developed a nosebleed. After a doctor's diagnosis, it turned out to be caused by the ginseng. What's going on here?"
In fact, the use of ginseng is quite particular. When used correctly, it can greatly replenish vital energy; when used incorrectly, it may cause adverse reactions such as irritability, dizziness, or bleeding, and even unexpected consequences. So, how can one take ginseng safely and reasonably?
In Chinese medicine, there are many types of herbs called "shen" (ginseng), such as Ren Shen (Panax ginseng), Xi Yang Shen (American ginseng), Dang Shen (Codonopsis pilosula), Tai Zi Shen (Pseudostellaria heterophylla), Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia ningpoensis), and Dan Shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). However, the one commonly used for toning is Ren Shen. Xi Yang Shen is used to replenish Qi, nourish Yin, and promote fluid production. Dang Shen and Tai Zi Shen also have Qi-replenishing effects, but their toning power is far less than that of Ren Shen. As for Ku Shen, Xuan Shen, and Dan Shen, although they are also commonly used Chinese medicines, they are completely unrelated to ginseng in terms of plant source and therapeutic effects.
Ginseng is the dried root of the perennial herb Panax ginseng of the Araliaceae family. Due to different cultivation and processing methods, it has different names and varying efficacies. Wild ginseng is called "Shan Shen," which is rarely seen nowadays. The premium quality available now is "Yi Shan Shen," which has better tonic effects. The common ginseng products are mostly cultivated and are called "Yuan Shen." After being sun-dried or oven-dried, it is called "Sheng Shai Shen." These types of ginseng are commonly known as "Bai Shen" (white ginseng). Products processed by steaming are called "Hong Shen" (red ginseng). Ginseng from Korea is called "Gao Li Shen" or "Bie Zhi Shen," which is a premium variety of Hong Shen. Hong Shen from Northeast China is called "Xin Kai Hong Shen," and its tonic effect is slightly less.
Ginseng is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly warm in nature. Its effects include greatly replenishing vital energy, strengthening the spleen and kidneys, promoting fluid production to quench thirst, and calming the mind to improve intelligence. Modern pharmacological experiments have also proven that ginseng has various effects, such as regulating the balance of nerve function, improving the body's stress response, stimulating the pituitary-gonadal system, increasing myocardial contractility, antioxidant effects, stimulating bone marrow hematopoiesis, inhibiting platelets, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-tumor, anti-liver damage, and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. "Bai Shen" is slightly more neutral in nature and can be widely used by various groups of people, while "Hong Shen" is more "hot" in nature and is suitable for a narrower range of people.
Generally, thinly sliced ginseng can be used to make a ginseng soup, brewed as tea, or taken orally by holding it in the mouth. Because individual constitutions vary and the quality of ginseng is inconsistent, it is best to determine the variety, usage, and dosage under the guidance of a professional physician. If, after a TCM diagnosis, it is supplemented with other tonic herbs, the tonic effect of ginseng can be enhanced. Ginseng should not be stored for a long time. Ginseng from a certain year should be taken within that year to avoid waste. While taking ginseng, it is forbidden to eat radishes and drink green tea.
Although ginseng is a powerful tonic, it is still a medicinal herb. Generally speaking, healthy infants, those with acute fever, chest tightness and abdominal bloating, those with carbuncles and sores, and those with a thick, greasy tongue coating should not take ginseng. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, malignant tumors, and others must consult a professional physician before taking ginseng. In addition, there are many counterfeit products among premium ginseng in recent years, so attention should be paid to identification when purchasing.