Rén Shēn (人参), known in English as Ginseng (Panax ginseng), is a warm, sweet and slightly bitter Chinese herb from the Tonify qi category. It enters the Spleen, Lung, Heart and Kidney channels. Its main action: strongly tonifies Yuan qi, rescues collapse.
| Pinyin | Rén Shēn (Ren Shen) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 人参 |
| English | Ginseng |
| Botanical name | Panax ginseng |
| Category | Tonify qi |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Sweet, Slightly bitter |
| Channels | Spleen, Lung, Heart, Kidney |
| Dosage | 3–9g (up to 30g for collapse) |
| Cautions | Heat patterns; hypertension; mania; incompatible with Lilu |
Actions
- Strongly tonifies Yuan qi, rescues collapse
- Tonifies Spleen and Lung qi
- Generates fluids, stops thirst
- Calms Shen, improves cognition
Indications
- Qi collapse
- Spleen qi deficiency
- Lung qi deficiency
- Heart qi deficiency with palpitations
- Diabetes
How to remember Rén Shēn
Tonify qi herbs are mostly sweet, and most enter the Spleen, Lung and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Sweet: like most Tonify qi herbs
- Spleen and Lung channels: from its action “Tonifies Spleen and Lung qi”
- Heart channel: from its use for “Heart qi deficiency with palpitations”
- Learn by heart
- Warm: Tonify qi herbs vary in nature
- Slightly bitter: unusual for Tonify qi herbs (most are sweet)
- Kidney channel: nothing in its group or its actions points to it
Formulas containing Rén Shēn
- Sì Jūn Zǐ Tāng
- Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng
- Guī Pí Tāng
- Lǐ Zhōng Wán
- Tiān Wáng Bǔ Xīn Dān
- Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng
- Qīng Zào Jiù Fèi Tāng
- Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng
- Wēn Jīng Tāng
- Bā Zhēn Tāng
- Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng
- Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng
- Yǎng Xīn Tāng
- Jiàn Pí Wán
- Wū Méi Wán
- Xuán Fù Dài Zhě Tāng
- Dí Tán Tāng
- Ān Shén Dìng Zhì Wán
- Bǔ Fèi Tāng
- Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng
Other Tonify qi herbs
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Rén Shēn?
Rén Shēn is warm and sweet and slightly bitter.
Which channels does Rén Shēn enter?
Rén Shēn enters the Spleen, Lung, Heart and Kidney channels.
What are the actions of Rén Shēn?
Strongly tonifies Yuan qi, rescues collapse; Tonifies Spleen and Lung qi; Generates fluids, stops thirst; Calms Shen, improves cognition.
What is Rén Shēn used for?
Qi collapse; Spleen qi deficiency; Lung qi deficiency; Heart qi deficiency with palpitations; diabetes.
Which formulas contain Rén Shēn?
Sì Jūn Zǐ Tāng, Bǔ Zhōng Yì Qì Tāng, Guī Pí Tāng, Lǐ Zhōng Wán, Tiān Wáng Bǔ Xīn Dān, Xiǎo Chái Hú Tāng, Qīng Zào Jiù Fèi Tāng, Bàn Xià Xiè Xīn Tāng, Wēn Jīng Tāng, Bā Zhēn Tāng, Shí Quán Dà Bǔ Tāng, Rén Shēn Yǎng Yíng Tāng, Yǎng Xīn Tāng, Jiàn Pí Wán, Wū Méi Wán, Xuán Fù Dài Zhě Tāng, Dí Tán Tāng, Ān Shén Dìng Zhì Wán, Bǔ Fèi Tāng and Zhì Gān Cǎo Tāng.
Practise Rén Shēn and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.