Tonify qi
Ren Shen
人参
Ginseng root
Panax ginseng
Strongly tonifies source qi. Easy to misuse, and not a stimulant.
Not for self-dosing. This page is not a formula, not a strength, and not a substitute for a licensed herbalist or physician.
Category
Warm · Sweet, Bitter
Meridians entered
Traditional uses
Asian ginseng. The textbook herb for collapse of qi and for a deep, empty tiredness with a weak appetite. American ginseng (Xi Yang Shen) is cooler and is a different herb. Energy-drink ginseng is not this dose or this diagnosis.
Common pairings
- Huang Qi 黄芪
Two qi tonics. Ren Shen is more about source qi, Huang Qi more about the surface and lifting.
- Bai Zhu 白术
With Fu Ling and Gan Cao this is the four-gentlemen idea: rebuild the middle.
Cautions
Not for self-dosing. Can raise blood pressure and disturb sleep. Care with blood thinners, diabetes drugs, and stimulants. Not for a hot, excess pattern. Quality and species fraud are common.