Primary Traditional
Functions
Greatly Tonifies Yuan (Source) Qi
Yuan (source) qi is the basis of all qi
in the body. Ren Shen (Radix
Ginseng) is the best herb to strengthen the body and restore vitality.
- Qi deficiency or depletion
- Fading pulse
Tonifies deficiency and restores the
collapse of yuan qi after:
- Profuse perspiration
- Excessive
loss of fluids in severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Excessive loss of
blood
- Due to other chronic illnesses
- Shallow respiration
- Shortness of breath
- Cold
extremities
- Feble or barely palpable pulse
- Yang deficiency
- Yang collapse
- Qi and yang deficiencies with profuse
perspiration and cold
extremities
Tonifies the Spleen Spleen Qi Deficiency
Tonifies the Spleen
and enhances its functions of transformation and transportation
Food cannot be transformed into energy
resulting in
- Fatigue
- Lack of energy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Poor appetite
- Sallow
complexion
- Low voice
- Listlessness
- Diarrhea
- Stomach and rectal
prolapse
- Other conditions characterized by qi
deficiency of the
Spleen and Stomach
Qi deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach
Qi deficiency of the Spleen and
Stomach with dampness:
Qi
deficiency of the Spleen and Stomach with loose stools or diarrhea:
Organ prolapse due to qi and yang
deficiencies
Tonifies the Lung Lung deficiency
Lung dominates the qi of the
body and controls respiration
Kidney dominates yuan (source) qi,
consolidates jing (essence) and helps pull qi downwards from the Lung
Lung and Kidney are deficient symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Dyspnea
- Asthma
- Accelerated or feeble respiration with
fatigue
- Spontaneous sweating and weak pulse
Tonifies the
Lung and enhances its respiratory effectiveness
- Chronic cough due to
Lung deficiency
- Wheezing and shortness of breath due to
Lung
and Kidney deficiency
Promotes Generation of Body Fluids and Relieves Thirst
- Xiao ke
(wasting and thirsting) syndrome
- Thirst from qi and yin deficiencies
- Tonifies qi
- Promotes generation of body fluids and
relieves thirst
- Heat
sensations with thirst that cannot be quenched by water
- Excessive perspiration
- Big
pulse that is revealed upon pressure to be weak
- Xiao ke syndrome
with thirst
- Febrile disorders with heat damaging
both qi and body fluids
Calms the Spirit, Improves Mental Function
Lack of qi and
blood nourishment to the Heart shen
- Insomnia
- Disturbed sleep with
excessive dreams
- Fright
- Confusion and forgetfulness caused by
qi
deficiency
Neurasthenia involving symptoms of
fatigue, headache and insomnia
Poor cognitive functions due to Heart and Spleen weakness
- Qi and
blood deficiencies
- Fatigue
- Excessive
worrying and insomnia
Poor cognitive functions due to Heart
and Kidney weakness
with yin and blood deficiencies
- Confusion and forgetfulness
Tonifies Qi and Blood Blood deficiency
Sallow complexion revealing both qi and blood deficiencies
Treats Impotence
With Kidney yang-tonic herbs to treat
impotence
Tonifies Qi in Deficiency with Exterior Conditions
Exterior disorder with interior deficiency
- Deficiency with external pathogens
Boosts wei
(defensive) qi to fight against external pathogens
- Exterior condition with interior
deficiency
Typical Usage of Concentrated Extracts
1 to 2 gram per day or as directed by your health practitioner
The dosage of Ren Shen may be increased to 3 to 6 grams to treat
collapse of yuan (source) qi. The decoction should be taken in multiple
small doses (instead of one large dose) when treating collapse.
Cautions and
Contraindications
Sweet and warm in nature,
Ren
Shen is contraindicated in cases of excess conditions due to
Liver yang rising
- Bleeding caused by heat in the blood
- Red eyes
- Dizziness
Wheezing and cough because of Lung heat
or phlegm
accumulation
- Constipation
- Parasites
- Internal accumulation
- Heat
- Fire
According to classic texts, Ren Shen is
incompatible
with Li Lu (Radix et Rhizoma Veratri), antagonized by Zao fiao (Fructus
Gleditsiae), and Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani Sativi)
The effectiveness
of Ren Shen may be reduced by concurrent consumption of turnips, daikon
radishes, and tea.
OVERDOSAGE Mild overdose of Ren Shen may lead to side effects
- Dry mouth and lips
- Excitation
- Fidgeting
- Irritability
- Tremor
- Palpitations
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Increased body
temperature
- Increased blood pressure
- Edema
- Decreased appetite
- Increased sexual desire
- Dizziness
- Itching
- Eczema
- Early morning diarrhea
- Bleeding
- Fatigue.
If any of the above symptoms occur,
please be advised to discontinue the herb and seek symptomatic
treatment if necessary
Gross overdose may lead to such adverse
reactions as
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Urinary and
bowel incontinence
- Fever
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased
respiration
- Decreased sensitivity and reaction to
light
- Decreased
heart rate
- Cyanotic facial complexion
- Red face
- Seizures
- Convulsions
- Delirium
Though the toxicity of this herb is mild,
intake of large dosages may cause toxic side effects
- Pityriasis
rosea
- Itching
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sudden rise in temperature, or
bleeding
Bleeding is characteristic of acute overdose of Ren Shen
Allergic reactions to Ren Shen are characterized by
- Burning sensations
of the extremities
- Itching
- Excitation
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Chest
congestion and discomfort
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pale face
- Perspiration
- Cold extremities
- Low voice
- Deep and thready pulse
- Urinary and bowel incontinence
TREATMENT OF OVERDOSAGE
- An herbal decoction of 120 grams of Can
Cao
(Radix Glycyrrhizae) treats general overdose of Ren Shen
Specific
symptomatic treatments are also available.
- Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani
Sativi) treats feelings of distention, dyspnea, or oppression
associated with overdose
- Tian Men Dong (Radix Asparagi)
and Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae) treat increased heat in the body
associated with overdose
- Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri
Reticulatae), Sha Ren (Fructus Amomi) and Shan Zha (Fructus Crataegi)
treat bloating, which sometimes occurs with use of Ren Shen .
- Acute
cases of overdose can be treated by emetic methods. Ingestion of 1.2 to
1.5 grams of Li Lu (Radix et Rhizoma Veratri) with warm water will
usually induce vomiting of the ingested Ren Shen within a few minutes
- Chronic cases of overdose can be
relieved by ingestion of daikon radish.
The treatment is to either ingest 500 to 1,000 grams of fresh daikon
radish, or to cook 250 to 500 grams of dried daikon radish and
administer via decoction
- Severe cases of overdose characterized
by
epistaxis with bright red blood, red tongue and rapid pulse should be
treated with herbs that clear heat cool blood and stop bleeding. Herbal
treatment includes 6 grams of powdered Da Huang (Radix et Rhizoma
Rhei), 3 grams of San Qi (Radix Notoginseng), 3 grams of Shui Niu fiao (Cornu Bubali), and 400 ml of juice squeezed from
fresh daikon radish
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