Nansha Ginseng: Also known as Sha Shen or Pao Shen, it belongs to the family Campanulaceae and is the root of several plants including Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae and Radix Adenophorae. After being harvested in the autumn, the stems, leaves, and fibrous roots are removed. The root is then washed, peeled, and dried before being used as medicine. Nansha Ginseng has a cool nature and a slightly bitter and sweet taste. It enters the lung and liver meridians. Analysis has shown that the root contains triterpenoid saponins and starch, and it has the effects of nourishing yin, clearing the lungs, relieving phlegm, and stopping cough. It is used to treat symptoms such as lung heat dry cough, chronic cough due to deficiency of the lungs, and dryness and sore throat due to yin deficiency. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states: "Sha Shen is sweet and cold, light and weak in constitution, and specifically supplements lung qi, thus nourishing the spleen and kidneys. Therefore, it is suitable for those who are vulnerable to fire over gold... It nourishes yin and controls yang." Modern pharmacological research has shown that the decoction of Nansha Ginseng has a sustained expectorant effect for more than 4 hours. The macerate has a significant cardiotonic effect and varying degrees of inhibitory effect on various skin fungi.
Beisha Ginseng: Also known as Laiyang Ginseng or Liaosha Ginseng, it belongs to the family Apiaceae and is the root of the plant Corallina officinalis. It is harvested in August or September, and the stems and fibrous roots are removed. The root is then washed, blanched, and peeled before being dried for use as medicine. Beisha Ginseng has a cool nature and a taste that is sweet, bitter, and slightly bland. It enters the lung and spleen meridians and contains alkaloids and abundant starch. It has the effects of nourishing yin, clearing the lungs, nourishing the stomach, and generating body fluids. "Compendium of Materia Medica Revised" records that Beisha Ginseng "specifically supplements lung yin, clears lung fire, and treats chronic cough and pulmonary consumption." Modern pharmacological research has shown that its ethanol extract has antipyretic and analgesic effects. The aqueous extract can enhance cardiac contraction at low concentrations, but higher concentrations can inhibit heartbeats.
In summary, Nansha and Beisha Ginseng, despite the slight difference in their names, have similar effects. However, they come from different plant families and different plants. Their composition and meridian classification are different. Although both have the effect of nourishing yin and clearing the lungs, Nansha Ginseng focuses on relieving phlegm and stopping cough, while Beisha Ginseng also has the function of nourishing the stomach and generating body fluids. "Seeking Truth in Materia Medica" records: "There are two types of Sha Shen, Nansha and Beisha. Beisha Ginseng is firm and cold in nature, while Nansha Ginseng has a weak constitution." There are differences in clinical applications, and individualized treatment is needed to achieve better therapeutic effects.
