The difference between American Ginseng and Ginseng

Western ginseng and ginseng are both tonic medicines, and many people who are not familiar with them will confuse the two, in fact, Western ginseng and ginseng have the same points, but they are more different.

Similarities

Both American ginseng and ginseng belong to the same family of plants, and recent studies have proved that they contain basically the same chemical composition, mainly ginsenosides, which can strengthen the body's ability to adapt to the environment, improve immunity and endocrine function, and ginseng and American ginseng are the same major drugs in the fight against aging and geriatric diseases.

Different shapes

American ginseng: The main root is cylindrical and bell-shaped, often 2-6 cm, with a diameter of 0.5-1.7 cm, and its commercial products are branch roots and fibrous roots without reed heads. Ginseng: The main root is 5-20 cm long and 1-3 cm in diameter, and its products are branched roots and fibrous roots with reed heads.

Different application conditions

Ginseng: Ginseng has the function of tonifying qi, fixing the surface of the body, returning yang, and rescuing rebellion, etc. It is a good medicine for treating acute decompensation such as deficiency, shock, profuse sweating, severe diarrhea, vomiting, etc. In terms of therapeutic effect, it is often used in combination with warming medicine to obtain special therapeutic effect, while western ginseng cannot play these roles. Western ginseng: Although Western ginseng is not as good as the number of people in supplementing qi and helping yang, it can produce fluid and nourish yin when supplementing qi, which is suitable for patients with deficiency of yin and yang in long term illness. American ginseng can be applied alone or in combination with other tonic medicines and foods. Ginseng cannot be used for diseases such as external sensation or fever, while American ginseng can be applied appropriately according to specific conditions; patients with Qi deficiency and heat and those who are not suitable for ginseng can use American ginseng instead.

Pharmacological differences

Although both ginseng and American ginseng contain ginsenosides, there are some differences in the types and contents of ginsenosides between the two, so there are some differences in their pharmacological effects. Western ginseng is squid ginseng in anti-hypoxia, anti-cold temperature and other emergency stimulation, while ginseng is better than western ginseng in anti-fatigue and immune function enhancement.

Different medicinal properties

Ginseng: It is warming in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and belongs to the spleen and lung meridians; its tonic effect is more suitable for patients with symptoms of Qi and Yang deficiency, such as tiredness, fear of cold, and cold hands and feet. Western ginseng: cold in nature, bitter in taste, belongs to the heart, lung and kidney meridians; in addition to the tonic effect, it also has a certain fire-clearing effect, and is more suitable for patients with symptoms of Qi-Yin deficiency, such as tiredness and weakness, Yin deficiency with heat.

Different seasons

Ginseng is cold in nature and is suitable for the hot season in spring and summer, while ginseng is warm in nature and is suitable for the cold season in autumn and winter.