Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), of the Araliaceae family. Slow shade perennial from a fleshy, often man-shaped root; native range: mountain forests of north-east China, Korea and the Russian Far East. Globally recognized as ren shen (人参) in Chinese, and insam in Korean. The part used is root. Pale fleshy root, sweet then faintly bitter, warming on the tongue.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
ASIAN GINSENG
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Asian ginseng
- Scientific name
- Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.
- Family
- Araliaceae
Form
- Part used
- root
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet, slightly bitter
- Western
- sweet, aromatic
Temperature
- TCM
- warm (slightly)
- Western
- warm
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Spleen · Heart
- Western
- adrenals · nerves
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- powerfully tonifies the original (yuan) qi, tonifies Spleen and Lung, generates fluids, calms the shen
- Western
- adaptogen, tonic, mild stimulant
Cautions
Contraindications: excess heat, rising yang, acute infection; not with strong stimulants
Toxicity: overuse: agitation, insomnia, raised blood pressure ('ginseng abuse')
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: may reduce warfarin effect · antidiabetic agents: additive glucose lowering · MAO inhibitors: reports of headache and mania with phenelzine
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