Library

[Form] The morphology of Ginseng is classified into the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Its quality is distinguished as genuine or fake. Qualities that are light, dry, hollow, thin, slow, shallow, and fake are suitable for treating diseases in the Upper Jiao (Upper Burner).

[Color] The colors of Ginseng include Green, Red, Yellow, White, and Black. Their shades vary from deep to light. Qualities that are heavy, moist, solid, dense, urgent, deep, and genuine are suitable for treating diseases in the Lower Jiao (Lower Burner).

[Nature] The therapeutic properties include Cold, Damp, Warm, Cool, and Neutral. Their action trends are either urgent or slow. Among them, those with a neutral nature are suitable for treating diseases in the Middle Jiao (Middle Burner), while others correspond to specific Zang-Fu organs.

[Taste] The tastes include Pungent, Sour, Salty, Bitter, and Sweet. Their intensity varies between strong and weak, corresponding to the appropriate locations of the Fu organs.

[Body] The physical constitution varies in terms of emptiness, solidity, lightness, heaviness, and neutrality, as well as dryness and moisture.

Luzhou Ginseng [Image]
Weishengjun Ginseng [Image]

Ginseng has a sweet taste, warm temperature, and slightly cold property. Its aroma and flavor are both light and clear, ascending in nature, belonging to Yang, specifically Yang containing slight Yin. It is non-toxic. It grows in the northeastern regions of China, in shady and humid mountain valleys. (Detailed records follow below.) The "Chronicles of Goryeo" praises it: "Three branches, five leaves." (Young plants initially have one branch with five leaves; as they age, three branches gradually emerge, with leaves growing at the tips of the branches.) Facing away from the sun and towards the shade; "If you seek me, find me under the tree." (The tree resembles Paulownia, with large leaves shading the sun and providing dense shade, so it often grows beneath trees.) Varieties differ slightly in type, and shapes and colors are not uniform. Zituan Shen (Purple Cluster Ginseng) is purple, larger, and slightly flat, originating from Zituan Mountain in Luzhou (Shanxi Province). Batiao Shen (White Strip Ginseng), commonly known as Yangjiao Shen (Ram's Horn Ginseng), is white, hard, and round, originating from Baekje beyond the border (now a vassal of Goryeo). Huang Shen (Yellow Ginseng) grows in Liaodong (a frontier military region) and Shangdang (an ancient commandery southwest of Jizhou); it is yellow, moist, with long, fine rootlets. Goryeo Ginseng, commonly known as Dasha Shen, is purplish, hollow, and less substantial; Xinluo Ginseng is yellowish with a thinner taste. All can be used raw or cooked, but one must distinguish between coarse and fine qualities. Only Huang Shen achieves efficacy easily; when held in the mouth, breathing remains calm even after walking. (The "Tang Bencao Zhu" states: To test Shangdang Ginseng, let one person hold it in their mouth and another not, then both run for about two li. The one without ginseng will pant, while the one with it breathes calmly. This is the distinction.) It resembles the human form, possessing spirit and vitality. (Those resembling humans with hands and feet possess complete divine power and are rarest; hence the name Ginseng, derived from this similarity.) Those resembling chicken legs have potent force. (Lei Gong said: Large pieces resembling chicken legs are good.) Spring-harvested, light, gourd-shaped Ginseng rises in sap, sprouting stems (Spring Ginseng lacks strength; one tael is inferior to one qian of Autumn Ginseng). Autumn-harvested, heavy, solid Ginseng descends in sap, forming rings and gum-like substances. Displayed with golden wells and jade railings (describing beautiful cross-section textures), it is a top-grade ingredient in prescriptions. Mixed with Asari Radix (Xixin) prevents insect damage for a long time (Mix one jin of Ginseng with one liang of Xixin, seal in a porcelain jar, never damaged by insects). Remove the rhizome (Lu) and stems, slice thinly for decoction. Incompatible with Veratrum Viride (Lilu); Ginseng should be used sparingly. (Zhu Danxi said: Fat and fair-skinned individuals tend to have Qi deficiency, while dark-skinned individuals tend to have Qi excess. However, medical cases show that patients with deficiency patterns and dark complexions also use it frequently. This statement refers to general rules, but variations must be considered.) It strengthens meridians, regulates the Middle Jiao, generates fluids, and quenches thirst. It opens the heart, benefits willpower, clarifies vision, and lightens the body. It dispels palpitations, eliminates dream-disturbances, and resolves chest and hypochondriac fullness/reversal. It nourishes spirit, calms the soul, and relieves abdominal drumming pain. It warms and balances cold accumulation in the intestines and stomach, stopping cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea. It stabilizes wheezing and cough, unblocks blood vessels, and drains Yin Fire. (Yin deficiency generates internal heat. Another view: Yang Qi sinking into the Yin layer generates heat. Zhu Danxi stated: Tonifying Yin Fire does not mean boosting fire pathogenic factors. It means deficient fire can be tonified; using fire to treat fire implies tonification contains draining intent. To prevent readers from misunderstanding, it is written plainly here, corroborating the following text.) It tonifies Original Yang. Zhang Jiegu said: It tonifies Yuan Qi of the Upper Jiao and drains Fire pathogens in the Spleen, Lung, and Stomach, using Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma) as a guiding herb; it tonifies Yuan Qi of the Lower Jiao and drains Kidney Fire, using Poria (Fuling) as an usher herb. Li Dongyuan said: Ginseng, Astragali Radix (Huangqi), and Licorice Root (Gancao) are the holy medicines for retreating deficient heat. Zhu Danxi treated exterior contraction complicated by interior injury; in cases of Qi deficiency with severe heat, he always combined it with Huangqi to support righteous Qi. Fearing the mild action might not reach quickly, he added small amounts of Aconite Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) to leverage its vigorous nature for success. Thus, Fire pathogens and Original Yang are mutually exclusive. One prevails, the other yields; thus, supporting measures are taken. The Classic states: Where pathogens gather, Righteous Qi is necessarily deficient. Ginseng rhizomes induce vomiting of phlegm foam, effectively driving out turbidity. Its overall taste is sweet, harmonious, gentle, and not harsh. Suitable for decoction in frail, elderly, and weak individuals with diaphragmatic stagnation. "Yanyi" also states it can be substituted when difficult to obtain. (Mo) Commentary: "Jiyao" notes: For Lung affected by Cold Pathogen, causing shortness of breath and deficient wheezing, it is suitable. For Lung affected by Fire Pathogen, causing wheezing, cough, and deficient-fire consumptive cough, since the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian can tonify Fire, it is contraindicated for Lung affected by Fire. Wang Haogu's statement describes Hai-Zang's view that Ginseng is used for Cold-Lung and Sha-Shen for Heat-Lung. Later enthusiasts, falsely attributing this to Dongyuan, compiled the saying: "Cold-Lung may take it, Heat-Lung harms the Lung." (Dongyuan, leaving behind his legacy, also cited Cold and Heat. Responding: How do you know within Cold and Heat there are distinctions of Excess and Deficiency? Lung Excess-Heat contraindication is appropriate. But what harm is there in using it for Lung Deficient-Heat! Moreover, Zhu Danxi said: Deficient fire can be tonified; Dragon Fire is treated inversely. Dragon Fire refers to the thunder-fire in the sky, i.e., deficient fire. In the human body, although referring to Ministerial Fire in the Lower Jiao, the principle applies above and below. Lung deficient fire is equivalent to Ministerial Fire. This fire cannot be extinguished by water; during heavy rain and thick clouds, flames intensify, shattering wood and stone or burning houses. Its scorching intensity is indeed irresistible. Once the sun shines, the fire naturally dissipates. Thus, human deficient fire, regardless of Upper, Middle, or Lower Jiao differences, if manifested externally, cannot be controlled by cold-cooling water-assisting drugs. One must rely on this sweet-warm Yang-tonifying agent to replenish Original Yang, then the fire recedes. Tonification includes draining, and draining includes tonification; this is exactly what the Classics call 'Sweet-Warm can remove great heat.' Furthermore, this discussion is not unique to Zhu Danxi; Zhang Jiegu and Li Dongyuan also mentioned draining fire because they deeply understood this principle, speaking truthfully and applying it firmly as rock. Wang Haogu did not know Ginseng could drain Fire Pathogens, instead fearing tonifying Fire as a contraindication. Citing only Cold and Heat without distinguishing Excess and Deficiency, he arbitrarily instructed people, which is laughable. Generally, Ginseng tonifies deficiency; Deficient-Cold can be tonified, Deficient-Heat can also be tonified; Qi deficiency suits its use, Blood deficiency also suits its use. Even in Yin deficiency with fire agitation, consumptive cough with hemoptysis, or prolonged illness with severe Yuan Qi deficiency, the concern is merely that the body may not withstand the tonification, not that it cannot be tonified. If one adheres strictly to Wang Haogu's words, why did earlier physicians use it repeatedly without taboo? For example, Zhang Zhongjing treated blood loss and blood deficiency, knowing well about fire agitation, yet used this to tonify, stating that Qi deficiency leads to blood weakness; tonifying Qi generates Blood, Yin arises from Yang, and Sweet generates Blood. Ge Kejiu treated massive hemoptysis after tuberculosis, knowing well it was caused by fire carrying blood upward. He used this single herb in decoction, naming it Du Shen Tang (Single Ginseng Decoction). Because blood loss requires first benefiting Qi. Zhu Danxi treated lung consumption with flourishing fire pathogens, making Qiongyu Gao (Jade Jade Paste) with Ginseng as the sovereign herb; or single-decocted Ginseng, called Ginseng Paste. After taking it, lung fire was eliminated and cough improved, verifying that deficient fire can be tonified and dragon fire treated inversely! Not only this, ancient texts state: Various pains should not take Ginseng and Astragalus; this refers to acute diseases with Qi excess. Why adhere to this rigidly! Li Dongyuan used Ginseng with Ginger (Jiang) in Treat-Middle Decoction for abdominal pain and vomiting, stating that interior deficiency causes pain, requiring tonification of insufficiency. Therefore, when prescribing for diseases, physicians must prioritize observing Excess and Deficiency patterns. Dosage adjustments naturally conform to standards. Patients avoid premature death, and physicians avoid the sin of killing without a knife.