The Use Of Ginseng In Chinese Herbal Medicine - Part Two

This week I will continue our journey into the Chinese medical world, again looking at the tonic family of herbs.

            The oldest book of Chinese medicine lists 365 herbs, and classifies them according to three grades. The lowest grade of herbs dispels disease. The middle grade corrects imbalances in the body. The highest grade - the one to which Ginseng belongs - nourishes life itself. These are the tonic herbs, many of them classified as “adaptogens” in Western scientific terms.

            Ginseng first reached the West via reports from a seventeenth century Dutch traveller who had been shipwrecked in Korea. He reported that the Mongol soldiers used Ginseng to increase their stamina. A Jesuit missionary to Beijing in 1711 wrote:

           

“Nobody can imagine that the Chinese and Tartans would set so high a value on this root if it did not constantly provide good effect. Those that are in good health often make use of it to render themselves more vigorous and strong; and I myself am persuaded that it would prove an excellent medicine in the hands of any European who understands its pharmacy.”

            To understand Ginseng, it is necessary to look at the difference between tonics and stimulants. Tonics and stimulants may seem closely related, because they both provide a boost of energy. However, the habitual use of stimulants, including caffeine and Guarana, is incompatible with the use of Ginseng or other tonic herbs. Although stimulants and tonics may both seem like “uppers,” their effects are actually opposed to each other. The long-term effect of a stimulant is exhaustion and depression, which can more than cancel out the beneficial effects of a tonic.

            The distinction between stimulants and tonics is important; many people with Qi deficiency who medicate themselves with caffeine or other stimulants end up with less Qi than they started out with. Taking a tonic is like putting money (Qi) in the bank. Taking a stimulant is like withdrawing the money; at some point, your account becomes overdrawn, “in the red.” If you continue to spend Qi without replenishing it, the consequence can be “energy bankruptcy” - severely depleted Qi. A Qi building programme, including tonic herbs like Ginseng, and lifestyle changes, is like starting a saving plan: if you’re in debt and overdrawn, it’s best to cut up your credit cards (that is, stimulants like coffee).

            Last week I looked at the type of constitution one needs to benefit from using Ginseng. A Qi deficient type will get great vigour and strength from using Ginseng regularly.

            Ginseng will increase strength in those who are weak, build the blood in those who are anaemic, strengthen the appetite, improve the resistance of those who are short of breath from weakness, help to ease spontaneous sweating and calm the nerves and spirit. It is a major remedy for impotence and also helps increase wisdom in spiritual pursuits. Another major use is in helping to aid in recovery from the low energy and dehydration that follow debilitating fevers.

            It seems almost unbelievable that a single herb could do so much good. But the list above is only touching the tip of the iceberg of the actions of this “superhero” of herbs.

           

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist