The Benefits and Effects of Dangshen: A Traditional Chinese Medicine for Nourishment and Health

Dangshen, I believe everyone has seen it. It is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that can be used as both medicine and food. It has a faint fragrance. The most common way to consume dangshen is by soaking it in water. So what are the benefits and effects of dangshen? Let's find out together!

【Benefits and Effects of Dangshen】

1. Nourishing blood and moisturizing

Dangshen has the function of replenishing both Qi and blood. It is suitable for cases where Qi and blood are unable to generate, or when blood deficiency leads to pale complexion, sallow complexion, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and other symptoms of Qi and blood deficiency. In addition, the Qi-tonifying effect of dangshen can also moisturize the body, making it suitable for cases of Qi and fluid deficiency, shortness of breath, thirst, and internal heat with excessive thirst.

2. Strengthening the spleen and nourishing the lungs

Dangshen has a sweet and mild taste. It mainly enters the spleen and lung meridians and has a similar tonifying effect on the spleen and lungs as ginseng, but with weaker medicinal properties. It can be used to treat symptoms such as weak spleen, fatigue, weak appetite, and loose stools.

3. Delaying aging

Dangshen extract can increase the activity of superoxide dismutase in the blood, enhance the ability to eliminate free radicals, and have a certain anti-aging effect on the body.

【Ways to Consume Dangshen】

1. Dangshen jujube rice

Prepare dangshen, glutinous rice, and jujube. Clean the dangshen and jujube, then boil them in water and extract the juice. Steam the glutinous rice and put it into a bowl. Pour the dangshen, jujube, and the extracted juice over the glutinous rice. Finally, add a certain amount of sugar. Consuming dangshen in this way can improve the disharmony of the spleen and stomach, and have a certain improvement effect on weak Qi caused by poor spleen and stomach function.

2. Dangshen and poria cocos congee

Prepare dangshen, ginger, poria cocos, and glutinous rice. Boil the three herbs together in water and extract the juice. Then cook the glutinous rice into congee and add salt to season. This dietary therapy method can improve weak spleen and stomach, emaciation, fatigue, poor appetite, and decreased food intake.

3. Dangshen, goji berry, and pork liver congee

Prepare dangshen, pork liver, goji berries, glutinous rice, and other ingredients. Cook them together to make congee. This can improve the weakened liver and kidney function in the elderly, and also nourish the kidneys.

【Side Effects of Dangshen】

Dangshen is a precious traditional Chinese medicine. When consumed according to medical advice, it does not have any adverse reactions. However, improper dosage can lead to adverse effects.

Dangshen is a blood and Qi-tonifying herb. As long as it is taken in the correct dosage, it generally has no side effects. However, if taken for a long time or in excessive amounts, it can lead to excessive Qi tonification and damage the body's righteous Qi, causing dryness and pathogenic factors.

In fact, medicine and poison are only a fine line apart. Therefore, in order to use dangshen to improve one's health, it is important to understand its medicinal properties and avoid adverse effects caused by excessive consumption or improper dosage.

Since dangshen is commonly used as a medicine, no significant side effects have been discovered. However, due to individual differences in the human body, excessive consumption of dangshen should be avoided when first starting to use it.

Using a large dose of dangshen (more than 60 grams per dose) can cause discomfort in the precordial region and irregular heart rate, but these symptoms will disappear after stopping the medication.