Xi Yang Shen (西洋参) is the root of American ginseng, recorded as Radix Panacis Quinquefolii. It is sweet and slightly bitter in flavour and cold in temperature, entering the Heart, Lung and Kidney channels. The catalogue files it among the herbs that tonify Yin.

Pinyin

xi yang shen

Chinese

西洋参

Latin Name

Radix Panacis Quinquefolii

English Name

American ginseng·American Ginseng Root

Japanese

seiyojin

Korean

seoyangsam

Actions and indications

Tonifies Qi, generates Fluids, nourishes the Stomach and nourishes Yin

Deficient Qi, Yin and Body Fluids with Heat signs and a chronic fever that does not abate
Weakness, irritability, thirst and a lingering low fever after febrile disease

Tonifies Lung Yin and clears Fire from the Lungs

Lung Qi and Yin both deficient, Fluids depleted and Deficiency Fire flaring so that the Lungs cannot clear and disperse: long-standing wheezing and blood-streaked sputum
Lung Yin deficiency with cough, dry cough, hoarseness or loss of voice, and coughing up blood
Thirst with a dry mouth and tongue from Yin deficiency

Clears Heat from the Intestines and stops bleeding

Blood in the stool from Intestinal Heat due to Yin deficiency

Combinations

shi hu + mai men dong + zhi mu

Warm-Heat pathogen disease that has damaged both Qi and Fluids, with high fever, thirst, diarrhea and dehydration; Yang Ming Stage disorder alongside Qi and Yin Deficiency

shi gao + zhi mu

Dehydration, diarrhea, thirst and high fever in Warm-Heat pathogen disease where Qi and Fluids are both injured; Qi and Yin Deficiency accompanying a Yang Ming Stage pattern

mai men dong + wu wei zi

Severe loss of Fluids in a febrile disease, with thirst, a faint pulse and lethargy

tian men dong + yu zhu + zhi mu

Yin Deficiency with exhausted Fluids, leaving the throat and mouth parched

long yan rou

Intestinal Heat with blood in the stool, the herb steamed

mai men dong + e jiao + bei mu

Lung Yin Deficiency with blazing Fire, causing wheezing and a cough bringing up blood-streaked sputum

sheng di huang + e jiao + xuan shen

Depleted Qi and Yin with Deficiency Fire in long-standing cough, the cough hacking or scantily productive with blood-streaked sputum

sang ye + xing ren + pi pa ye

Dryness and Heat damaging Lung Yin, with hemoptysis and a dry throat