Chinese ginseng is a precious medicinal herb that contains various nutrients and has high medicinal value. Can it be consumed with traditional Chinese medicine?
Can Chinese medicine be consumed with ginseng?
It depends on the situation.
Ginseng has a cool nature and a slightly bitter taste. It has the effects of nourishing qi, nourishing yin, clearing heat, and generating fluids. If it is a traditional Chinese medicine formula, it is not recommended to add ginseng to it on your own to avoid affecting the efficacy and causing discomfort. Ginseng is a qi-tonifying herb and can be combined with other herbs for consumption. The specific method of use should be determined by a doctor's diagnosis and prescription.
Which Chinese medicine can be consumed with ginseng?
Ophiopogon Root
Ophiopogon root has a slightly cold nature and a sweet and slightly bitter taste. It belongs to the heart, lung, and stomach meridians and has the effects of nourishing yin and generating fluids, moistening the lungs, and stopping coughing. Ophiopogon root and ginseng can be consumed together to nourish yin and moisten the lungs, and can be used for dry cough with blood, long-term cough due to lung deficiency, etc.
Astragalus Root
Astragalus root has a slightly warm nature and a sweet taste. It has the effects of tonifying qi, consolidating the exterior, detoxifying, promoting diuresis, and promoting tissue regeneration. It can be used for qi deficiency and weakness, long-term diarrhea, prolapse of the anus, spontaneous sweating, edema, prolapse of the uterus, and slow-healing sores. Both astragalus root and ginseng have the effect of tonifying qi, and their combined consumption enhances the medicinal effect.
Dendrobium
Dendrobium has a slightly cold nature, a sweet taste, and belongs to the stomach and kidney meridians. It has the effects of benefiting the stomach, generating fluids, nourishing yin, and clearing heat. It is mainly used for heat diseases with fluid damage, insufficient stomach yin, excessive yin fire, dim vision, and weak muscles and bones. Both ginseng and dendrobium can nourish yin and clear heat. Their combined consumption can be used for symptoms such as fatigue and irritability due to deficiency heat, internal heat polydipsia, dry mouth and throat.
Prepared Rehmannia Root
Prepared rehmannia root has a warm nature and a sweet taste. It enters the liver and kidney meridians and has the effects of nourishing yin and replenishing blood. It is commonly used to treat deficiency of yin and blood, weak waist and knees, nocturnal emissions, irregular menstruation, blurred vision, etc. Ginseng is a qi-tonifying and yin-nourishing herb. Consuming it with prepared rehmannia root can nourish yin, replenish kidneys, and tonify qi and blood.
Longan
Longan has a sweet taste, a neutral to warm nature, and is non-toxic. It has the effects of tonifying the heart and spleen, replenishing qi and blood, invigorating the spleen and stomach, and nourishing muscles. It is mainly used for deficiency of the spleen due to excessive thinking, dizziness, insomnia, lack of appetite, post-illness physical weakness, etc. Ginseng has the effect of tonifying the essence and calming the mind. Consuming it with longan can help with sleep.
Taboos for soaking ginseng in water
1. Avoid drinking tea
Ginseng should not be consumed with strong tea because strong tea contains a large amount of tannic acid, which has a contracting effect and may affect the efficacy of ginseng.
2. Avoid eating radishes
Ginseng has the effect of tonifying qi, while white radish has the effect of promoting qi circulation. Consuming them together may affect the absorption of medicinal effects and may cause discomfort.
3. Avoid blind consumption
Although ginseng is rich in nutrients and has high medicinal value, it is not suitable for everyone. According to traditional Chinese medicine, ginseng belongs to the category of cooling herbs and has the effects of tonifying qi, nourishing yin, clearing heat, and generating fluids. It is suitable for those with heat patterns, such as red complexion, dry mouth and throat, hot palms, fatigue, and weakness. It is not suitable for those with abdominal distension and pain, loose stools, and edema, as it may worsen the condition. In addition, if there are no discomfort symptoms, ginseng should not be consumed regularly.
What can ginseng be paired with for soaking in water?
Ginseng and Tangerine Peel Tea
Ingredients:
3g ginseng, 5g tangerine peel, honey as needed.
Instructions:
1. Rinse the ginseng and tangerine peel;
2. Put them into a cup and brew with 200ml boiling water;
3. Cover and steep for 5-10 minutes, then add honey.
Ginseng and Astragalus Root
Ingredients:
5g ginseng, 5-8g astragalus root.
Instructions:
1. Wash the ginseng and astragalus root;
2. Pour boiling water into the prepared herbs, cover, and steep for about 5-10 minutes before drinking.
