Pharmaceutical name:

Radix Panacis Quinquefolii

Latin botanical name:

Panax quinquefolium L.

Pron. in Japanese:

seiyojin

Pron. in Korean:

soyangsam

Pron. in Cantonese:

sai yeung sam

Common Name:

American ginseng

Distribution:

Appalachia, Wisconsin,  Canada, Northeastern China, France

Properties (characteristics)

Sweet, slightly bitter, cool. Compared to Korean and Chinese ginseng, American ginseng is relatively cool. 

Channels (meridians) entered:

Heart, Lung, Kidney

Actions & Indications:

Tonic for Lungs Yin, Clear Fire of Weakness, Promote Saliva, Quench Thirst, Heal Deficiency of Lungs and Chronic Cough, Loss of Blood, Dry Mouth and Thirst, Tiredness and Unrest, Fever Due to Weakness

Medical Function:

1. Affect central nervous system. Calm down the brain. Moderate stimulation of CNS. 2. Adjust the body function towards external stimulation. Resist lack of oxygen and fatigue. Anti strong stimuli, e.g., extreme heat. Anti shock. 3. Improve blood circulation to the heart. 4. Improve immune system. 5. Other effects. It can increase DNA and RNA of the liver, and can resist the damage of the DNA of the spleen. It promotes urination. It can increase the cAMP of the tumors of collagen of nerves.  6. Toxicity is very low.

Chemical ingredients:

Evaporating Ingredients: octanol, hexanoic acid, undecane, pinocarveol, octanoic acid, dodecane, 3-phenylhexane, 1-phenylhexane, pulegone, [2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl) -phenol], 1, 3, 5- triisopropylphene, Beta-gurjunene, piperitene, Beta-farnesene, alpha-curcumene, alpha-cedrene, 2, 6-diterbutyl-4-methylphenol, Beta-bisabolene, Beta-caryophyllene, 3-phenyldecane, hexadecane, 6-phenylundecane, 4-phenglundecane, 3-phenylundecane, 6-phenyldodecane, 5-phenyldodecane, 4-phenyldodecane, 3-phenyldodecane, 2-phenyldodecane, 5-phenyltridecane, 4-phenyltridecane, 3-cyclohexyldodecane.

2. Ginseng Saponins: ginsenoside -R0, -Rb1, -Rb2, -Rb3, -Rc, -Rd, -Re, -Rf, -Rg1, -Rg2, -Rg3, -Rh1, -RA0, quinquenoside R1, gypenoside X1, F3, F11.

3. Organic Acids: caproic acid, heptanoic acid, caprylic acid, nonanoic acid, palmitic acid, n-heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid, octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid, 8-methyl capric acid, oleanoic acid.

4. 17 Carbon Atom Compounds: PQ-1, PQ-2, PQ-3.

5. Sugars: sucrose, panose, ginsengtrisaccharide, karusan A, B, C, D, E

6. Amino Acids: More than 16 kinds. The main root contains 5.932% of amino acids. The fine hair-like root contains 7.737% of amino acids. It has less than 1% free amino acids. Roots of different ages contain different amounts.

7. Trace Minerals: American ginseng grown in different areas has different kinds of trace minerals.

8. Others: Daucosterol, stigmastenol, stimast-3, 5-dien-7-one.

Dosage:

1.5 - 30 g per day

Samples of formulae:

To be uploaded

Modern Application:

   1. For people with cancer of the nose and throat who are taking radiation therapy: Boil 3 g in water. Consume in one day.  Begin this dosage 20 days before treatment and continue during the therapy to reduce dryness of the mouth and lack of appetite.

2. For acute myocardial infarction: Using manufactured formula of the leaves and stems of American Ginseng (Qiang xin #1), taking 40 mg 3x a day, treating 13 patients, they improved PEP/LVETF, and EF. (Improved the function of the heart.)

Cautions:

There are some cases of allergic reaction to American ginseng. Not to use in cases of yangxu (yang deficient) and qixu (qi deficient), or pixu (spleen deficient) or during period of infection.

Not to use in children where growth is slow, bad digestion or during infection.