The efficacy and function of Chinese ginseng

Nowadays, our living standards are constantly improving, but our health quality is constantly declining. Unscientific diet poses a potential threat to our bodies. Many Chinese medicinal herbs can regulate and improve our bodies. Here I would like to introduce you to Chinese ginseng.

【English name】 RADIX PHYSOCHLAINAE

【Alias】 Hot ginseng

[Source] This product is the dried root of Physochlaina infundibularis Kuang, a plant of the Solanaceae family . Dig up in spring, remove the fibrous roots, wash and dry.

[Properties] This product is oblong conical or cylindrical, slightly curved, some with branches, 10 to 20 cm long and 1 to 2.5 cm in diameter. The surface is brown with yellow-white horizontal lenticels, root marks and longitudinal wrinkles, and annular marks on the upper part. There are often one to several rhizomes at the top, with stem scars and wart-like protrusions on them. It is hard, with a white or yellowish-white cross section, a narrow cortex and a broad wood, with fine radial texture. It has a tobacco smell, a slightly bitter taste, and slightly numbs the tongue.

【Identification】 (1) Cross section of this product: The cork layer consists of several to more than ten rows of cork cells, with the outermost layer of cells being yellow-brown in color. The cambium ring is obvious. The xylem occupies most of the root, and several vessels are gathered together. Some of the vessels have groups of small sieve tubes next to them, which is the inter-xylyl phloem. The wood parenchyma and rays contain sand crystal cells. The duct or duct group near the center is sometimes surrounded by several to more than ten layers of brown flat cork cells containing yellow-brown secretions. The thin cells are filled with starch granules, and some contain calcium oxalate sand crystals. The powder is off-white. There are many starch granules. Single granules are round or semicircular with a diameter of 3 to 15 μm. The hilum is dot-shaped, fissure-shaped or fork-shaped. Compound granules are composed of 2 to 4 sub-granules. Calcium oxalate sand crystals are mostly found in thin-walled cells. The diameter of the reticulated duct is 17 to 85 μm.

[Processing] Remove impurities, wash and dry. Crush when using.

【Nature and flavor】 Sweet, slightly bitter, hot; poisonous.

【Functions and indications】 Relieves asthma and cough, calms the nerves and relieves convulsions. Used for cough due to cold phlegm, palpitations, insomnia and easy fright.

【Usage and Dosage】 0.1～0.2g.

【Note】 Do not take too much to avoid poisoning. Contraindicated for patients with glaucoma. Use with caution in pregnant women and patients with severe prostate hypertrophy.

【Storage】Place in ventilated and dry place to prevent moth.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Pharmacopoeia

【Source】 Shaanxi Chinese Herbal Medicine

The above content is an introduction to the traditional Chinese medicine Chinese ginseng. We should learn more about Chinese ginseng in our daily lives so that we can use it more reasonably and better maximize the value of Chinese ginseng.