American ginseng, with a sweet and slightly bitter taste and cool nature, enters the Heart, Lung, and Kidney meridians. Its medicinal properties include nourishing yin, tonifying qi, clearing heat, and generating fluids. Regarded as a premium tonic, it is primarily used for palpitations and anxiety due to qi deficiency and yin depletion, restlessness with internal heat, chronic cough from lung deficiency,forgetfulness and insomnia, lethargy, dry throat and thirst, a weak and rapid pulse, and a tongue coating with little moisture. Modern medical indications include cardiac insufficiency, cardiac neurosis, neurasthenia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, suboptimal health states, and physical exhaustion following illness or chemotherapy/radiotherapy.Zhang Xichun stated: "American ginseng can supplement both qi and blood. Due to its cool nature while being tonifying, it can substitute for ginseng whenever its warming properties are unsuitable." Pu Fuzhou added: "For benefiting qi, generating fluids, clearing heat, and moistening the lungs, American ginseng is excellent, though it can be replaced by sand ginseng or solomon's seal root."The standard dosage for American ginseng is 3–10 grams, with higher doses ranging from 10–30 grams.American ginseng exhibits significant central nervous system inhibitory effects, along with anti-hypoxia, anti-fatigue, and anti-stress properties. It demonstrates antiarrhythmic and anti-myocardial ischemia effects on the cardiovascular system, increases myocardial blood flow, and reduces coronary resistance. Additionally, it possesses hemostatic, anti-diuretic, lipid-lowering, anti-hemorrhagic shock, and immune-enhancing functions.
American Ginseng Medicinal Dishes
Methods for consuming American ginseng include sublingual dissolution, powder infusion, stewing, steamed eggs, tea infusion, porridge preparation, and wine maceration. Choose according to preference, but note three precautions: First, avoid tea consumption with ginseng, as tannic acid in tea reduces absorption of its active compounds;Second, avoid eating radishes after taking American ginseng, as radishes disperse qi. Third, individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold, frequently experiencing stomach pain and diarrhea, should refrain from consumption.
1. American Ginseng Porridge: 3g American ginseng, 10g Ophiopogon japonicus, 6g Bambusa vulgaris leaves, 30g rice. First, decoct Ophiopogon and Bambusa leaves in water, strain to obtain the liquid, then add rice to cook into porridge. When the porridge is nearly done, add American ginseng and simmer together.
This porridge nourishes qi and yin, clears heat, and harmonizes the stomach. It addresses irritability, dry mouth, shortness of breath, and fatigue due to qi and yin deficiency.
2. American Ginseng and Longan Drink: 3g American ginseng slices, 30g longan flesh, 5g rock sugar. Place all ingredients in a steaming bowl with sufficient water. Steam for 2 hours until thickened into a paste. Remove and serve.
This drink benefits qi and nourishes blood, tonifies yin and calms the spirit. It addresses palpitations, insomnia with frequent dreams, forgetfulness, mental decline, and pale complexion/lips caused by dual deficiency of qi and yin, or insufficiency of heart and spleen.
3. American Ginseng and Goji Berry Braised Soft-Shelled Turtle: 60g soft-shelled turtle, 10g American ginseng,15g goji berries, 3 red dates (pitted), 1 slice ginger. Clean and gut the soft-shelled turtle. Wash all other ingredients. Place all ingredients in a stewing pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, cover, and simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Season to taste before serving.
This dish replenishes qi, nourishes yin, generates fluids, lowers lipids, and reduces blood sugar. It is suitable for diabetes and hyperlipidemia cases characterized by qi and yin deficiency, presenting symptoms such as lethargy, weak voice, dry mouth with thirst, easy fatigue, or irritability with insomnia.First grind the American ginseng into coarse powder and crush the walnut kernels. Simmer together in 250ml water to make a decoction. Sip frequently before bedtime.
This decoction tonifies the lungs and kidneys, anchors qi, and calms wheezing. It is used for wheezing and shortness of breath caused by lung and kidney qi deficiency failing to anchor qi back to its source, even preventing lying flat. It is especially suitable for elderly individuals with wheezing due to dual deficiency of lung and kidney qi and yin.
5. Fortune Wine: 50g American ginseng, 150g Morinda root, 200g Chinese yam, 3500ml rice wine. Crush the herbs into coarse powder, place in a cloth bag within a jar, and add rice wine. Steep for 1 day in summer or 5 days in winter. Take 10ml twice daily.This wine nourishes yin and strengthens yang, treating impotence, low energy, diminished sexual function, premature ejaculation, and frequent urination.
Health Preservation Formulas
1. Ginseng-Gallnut Capsules: 50g each of American ginseng, gallnut, and schisandra. Grind into fine powder and fill size 0 capsules. Take 4 capsules three times daily before meals. Maintains blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.
2. American Ginseng, Ganoderma, and Notoginseng Powder: 30g each of American ginseng and notoginseng, 90g ganoderma, 45g salvia root. Grind into fine powder. Take 3-5g twice daily with warm water.This formula tonifies qi and nourishes yin, unblocks collaterals and alleviates pain. Indicated for coronary heart disease with qi-yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis, presenting as chest tightness with stabbing pain, palpitations, spontaneous sweating, thirst, fatigue, or five-heart heat, dizziness, blurred vision, red tongue with scanty coating, and petechiae under the tongue.
3. Five Ginsengs and Blood-Activating Formula: American ginseng, salvia root, sophora root, notoginseng, northern ginseng root, red peony root, leech, borneol. Grind into powder in specific proportions, encapsulate at 0.45g per capsule. Take 4–5 capsules three times daily with plain water.This formula nourishes yin, tonifies qi, invigorates blood, and resolves stasis to regulate heart rhythm. It treats coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and pulmonary heart disease presenting with dual deficiency of qi and yin complicated by stagnant blood, manifesting as chest oppression or dull pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, arrhythmia, and dark purple tongue. Also indicated for cerebral infarction and cerebral arteriosclerosis.