However, what is on earth the difference between ginseng benefits and astragalus benefits since both of them claim Qi benefits?

Is it possible to replace each other in therapy since both of them are of Qi benefits?

No way. Although ginseng benefits Qi and astragalus benefits Qi as well, they have other important properties besides Qi benefits. If we don’t distinguish them during Chinese medicine therapy, they are unable to play their role fully.

Furthermore, it will not only increase the suffering of the patients, but also result in a waste of drugs.

Difference between Ginseng benefits and Astragalus benefits

1. Nature and flavour:
Ginseng is natured of slight warm (or slight cold), tastes sweet and slight bitter.
Astragalus is natured of slight warm, tastes sweet.
Although both of them are of Qi benefits, ginseng benefits much more than astragalus does.

2. Ginseng benefits also in promoting fluid production, quenching thirst and tranquilization, which are not available by astragalus.

Although astragalus benefits less than ginseng does on Qi benefits, astragalus can be served to raise Yang energy, consolidate superficies, expel pathogens and pus from interior, and induce diuresis for removing edema, which are not available by ginseng.

Given that the effectiveness varies between ginseng and astragalus, they should be distinguished in clinical therapies of Chinese medicine.

Ginseng Benefits

1. Ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically and invigorate Qi for relieving depletion, clinically which is usually used to cure serious diseases, chronic diseases, or syndrome caused by blood exhaustion inducing Qi exhaustion, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, cold limbs, plenty of sweat, and hardly felt faint pulse. Ginseng can be used alone, or combined with astragalus or aconite.
2. Ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically reflects also from the respects of benefiting lung-kidney, and relieving asthma. For instance, ginseng combined along with walnut, or with gecko treats the asthma caused by lung deficiency, or deficiency both of lung-kidney.
3. Ginseng, combined along with Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Sha Ren (Amomi Fructus), and Shan Yao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma) etc., treats syndrome caused by deficient Qi of spleen-stomach, such as lack of energy, fatigue, loss of appetite, loose stools, or chromic diarrhea. So ginseng benefits primordial Qi dramatically reflects also from the respects of strengthening spleen and relieving diarrhea.

Astragalus Benefits

Astragalus Benefits are as follows:

1. Astragalus benefits Qi and raises Yang energy, which is used in symptoms caused by Qi deficiency such as rectal prolapse, uterine prolapse, uterine bleeding, dizziness, fatigue, etc. And astragalus is used very often along with Sheng Ma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chai Hu (Bupleurum).
2. Astragalus benefits in consolidating superficies for arresting sweating, which is used in spontaneous perspiration for superficies deficiency. For instance, symptoms of lowered superficial resistance, exogenous cold and sweating can be treated with astragalus along with Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix).
3. Astragalus benefits in expelling pathogens by strengthening vital Qi and expelling pus, which is used in non-healing of boils even involving interior. Astragalus promotes ulceration and limits the ulcer development. And astragalus benefits in promoting granulation and wound healing after ulcer burst, along with Yin Hua (Lonicerae Flos), Zao Ci (Gleditsia sinensis lamarck), and Di Ding (Herba corydalis ungeanae) etc.
4. Astragalus benefits in inducing diuresis for removing edema, which is used in deficient edema caused by Yang Qi deficiency. Astragalus is used very often along with Fang Ji (Sinomenium acutum), Fu Ling (Poria), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma) etc.

To sum up, though ginseng benefits Qi and astragalus benefits Qi as well, they vary significantly. It is wrong to mix them when dealing with the syndrome of Qi deficiency in Chinese medicine therapy, which they both can handle. Otherwise, it would delay the time, or even worsen the patient’s condition.

The most mentioned function about ginseng is that ginseng works to supplement Qi. But the concept of Qi-supplement from Chinese medicine is quite elusive and general for those unprofessional.

So what does ginseng do exactly to us?

What does ginseng do according to Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica):

Ginseng mainly supplements five zang viscera;
Ginseng tranquilizes the mind;
Ginseng soothes the soul;
Ginseng stops palpitation;
Ginseng expels the pathogenic Qi;
Ginseng improves eyesight;
Ginseng benefits the brain and pleases the heart;
Ginseng reduces body weight and prolongs life if taking ginseng for a long time.

What does ginseng do in medical applications?

1. Ginseng can be used for serious illness of Qi deficiency, Qi depletion and pulseless. No matter it is caused by severe blood loss, severe vomiting and diarrhea, or chronic illness and serious illness, large dosage of ginseng solely can invigorate Qi dramatically, bring back the pulse, and relieve Qi depletion, such as Du Shen Tang (Sole Ginseng Decoction).

In recent years, the reports said that Sole Ginseng Decoction can be used for heart failure and cardiogenic shock.

If combined with symptoms of cold limbs and Yang Qi deficiency, ginseng benefits Qi and restore Yang together along with Fu Zi, namely Shen Fu Tang;

If combined with symptoms of plenty of sweat, thirst and deficiency both of Qi and Yin, ginseng benefits Qi and astringe Yin together along with Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Radix) and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), namely Sheng Mai San.

2. Ginseng can be used for syndrome of deficiency of lung Qi such as shortness of breath, asthma, no desire to talk, weak voice, feeble pulse, and spontaneous perspiration.

Ginseng benefits lung Qi along with Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus);

Ginseng works often with walnut and gecko for those with chronic asthma due to deficiency both of lung and kidney, such as Ginseng Walnut Decoction and Ginseng Gecko Decoction.

3. Ginseng can be used for syndrome of deficiency of lung Qi such as lethargy, tiredness, appetite loss and loose stools.

Ginseng can also invigorate spleen and replenish Qi along with Bai zhu (Atractylodis macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), and Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix), such as Si Jun Zi Tang.

4. Ginseng can be used for syndrome of deficiency both of Qi and fluid due to febrile disease, such as body fever, thirst, and wasting-thirst. It is because ginseng benefits Qi and promotes the production of fluid.

Ginseng treats the syndrome of body fever, plenty of sweat, thirst and feeble pulse along with Shi Gao (Gypsum fibrosum), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) etc., such as Bai Hu Jia Ren Shen Tang;

In treating wasting-thirst syndrome, ginseng works very often together with Tian Hua Fen (Tricosanthis Radix), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), and Huang Qi (Astragali Radix) etc.

5. Ginseng can be used for syndrome of deficiency both Qi and blood, such as palpitation, insomnia, and forgetfulness etc. It is because ginseng benefits Qi, tranquilizes the mind and benefits the brain.

Ginseng can be used alone, or along with Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Suan Zao Ren (Ziziphi spinosae Semen), such as Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan.

6. In addition, ginseng can be used for syndrome of blood deficiency, Qi depletion and impotence.

Usage and dosage for ginseng

Ginseng decoction: 5 to 10g normally, and the dosage can be added to 15 to 30g in critical cases. Slow fire is appropriate.

Ginseng powder: 1.5 to 2g each time.

Cautions for ginseng

Ginseng is imcompatible with Li Lu (Veratrum) and Wu Ling Zhi (Trogopterus dung faeces trogopterori).

It is inappropriate to eat radishes or tea along with ginseng just in case of reducing efficacy.

What does ginseng do? Now I can say that ginseng benefits us so much besides Qi-supplement.

So when it comes to Chinese herbs, Panax ginseng is one of the herbs we just can not miss.

Nowadays, panax ginseng refers to the fleshy roots of slow-growing perennial plants, which belongs to the Panax genus in the family Araliaceae. In China, panax ginseng mainly grows in Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces.

Panax ginseng’s legend

Chinese people have a very strong complex about panax ginseng and treat this kind of magic herb as some kind of sprite instead of a plant.

According to the older generations, panax ginseng can transform into the shape of a baby. Panax ginseng grows on the mountains, absorbs the pith and marrow from the heaven and earth year after year, then change appearance to a baby in red stomachers when time is long enough.

Years ago, I ever chatted with an old man who were from Chanbai Mountain, he said the story about panax ginseng was true and he ever experienced this situation. When he dig it up, he found that panax ginseng was gone because he did not tie a red thread on it. OK, it just an anecdote and we don’t have to buy it.

Given this legend about panax ginseng, till today when collecting panax ginseng, the people should close gently and tie them with a red thread first, otherwise it would run away. Furthermore, during the process of harvest, the people should be very careful not to hurt them.

Panax ginseng categories

• Panax ginseng growing in wild is called Shan Shen (Mountain Panax Ginseng);
• Panax ginseng growing by man is called Yuan Shen (Garden Panax Ginseng);
• The fresh panax ginseng after cleaning and drying is called Sheng Shai Shen (Sun-dried Panax Ginseng);
• Panax ginseng after steaming and drying is called Hong Shen (Red Panax Ginseng);
• Panax ginseng after blanching, soaking in glucose and drying is called Tang Shen (Glucose Panax Ginseng) or Bai Shen (White Panax Ginseng);
• The fine root broken off panax ginseng during processing is called Shen Xu (Panax Ginseng Beard);
• Mountain Panax Ginseng after sun-drying is called Sheng Shai Shan Shen (Sun-dried Mountain Panax Ginseng).

Nature and flavor of Panax ginseng

Sweet, slight bitter and slight warm.

Channel tropism of Panax ginseng

Channels of heart, lung and spleen.

Panax ginseng benefits

• Invigorating Qi greatly;
• Nourishing spleen;
• Benefiting lung;
• Promoting production of fluid;
• Tranquilization.

Panax ginseng is a topic we could have a lot of talk, and the above is just a brief introduction about panax ginseng. As a matter of fact, next I would like to continue talking about the application of panax ginseng and how those experienced Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners bring panax ginseng to the optimum performance.