Ginseng ( Ren Shen ) 人參 Chinese Herbs Articles
Ginseng ( Ren Shen ) 人參 Chinese Herbs Articles also known as ginseng root.
It belong to the "Araliaceae" family.
Ginseng ( Ren Shen ) 人參 has a smells aromatic, tastes sweet and slightly warm properties. It is use for treating the spleen and lung.
Ginseng ( Ren Shen ) 人參 Medical Function:
1. Regulates central nervous system.
2.Regulates circulatory system:
• small amount: stimulates, large amount: suppresses;
• small amount: improves memory;
• prevents platelet coagulation;
3. Improves immune system.
4. Anti Cancer.
5. Anti aging.
6. Anti stress.
7. Prevents morphine from becoming habit-forming.
8. Improves condition of diabetic patients.
9. Increases aldosterone (ant-diuretic action).
Ginseng ( Ren Shen ) 人參 Toxicity and Side Effects:
1. Emotion : causing headaches, insomnia, anxiety.
2. Circulatory system: pale face, purple lips, spastic limbs, elevated blood pressure, rapid respiration, even exhaustion and death.
3. May cause edema
4. Other side effects: hiccups, itchy skin.
Generally, the natural saponins are highly toxic. The toxicity of saponin of ginseng is relatively mild. Oral dosage of 100 ml of 3% ginseng tincture may
cause anxiety and over-stimulation. Oral dosage of 200 ml may cause allergic reactions of rash, itchiness, dizziness, headache, rising of body temperature
and bleeding. There is a report of death after orally taking 500ml. Eleutherosides of ginseng are related to digitalis glycosides, such as digoxin, and
may have an additive effect with digoxin. The concurrent use of digitalis glycosides and ren shen (ginseng) 人參 may increase serum levels of digoxin and
possible digitalis glycoside toxicity.
A fake substitute is Hua-shan shen (華山參). The shape and color of Hua-shan shen is very similar to ren shen. Although it is also an medicinal herb that is
being used for calming and as a cough suppression, cold type of diarrhea, but its dosage is very small: 0.3 g to 0.9 g being used in decoction. Dosages of
Hua-shan shen (華山參) over 1 gram can be toxic. Clinical symptoms include: dry mouth, dry tongue, difficulty in swallowing, excitement, hallucination,
flushing but without sweat, dilation of pupils, vomiting, dizziness, manic and delirium. The late stage symptoms include slowing down in breathing, rising
body temperature but with cold extremities, spasm, coma and even death.
May not be suitable during pregnancies.