American ginseng (Huaqishen): Which season is best for nourishing yin and boosting qi? Benefits of drinking it as an infusion and what to pair it with?

American ginseng is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Araliaceae family, genus Panax. Also known as Huaqishen, Yangshen, and American ginseng, it has the dual effects of nourishing yin and boosting qi, calming the mind and improving alertness, clearing heat and promoting fluid production, and reducing internal heat and relieving summer heat. So which season is best for taking American ginseng? What are the benefits of drinking it as an infusion? What should it be paired with when infused in water?

Many people like to drink American ginseng as an infusion, but the season must be taken into account when drinking it this way, or you may risk a deficient system being over-nourished and developing internal heat. Although American ginseng has very good tonic effects, it is not suitable for everyone. If the remedy does not match the condition, it may well have the opposite effect.

Which season is best for taking American ginseng?

1. The most suitable season for taking American ginseng is actually spring and summer. Many people feel extremely sleepy in spring and do not feel refreshed no matter how much they sleep day or night. This is because of qi deficiency: qi and blood lack the force to circulate, so the brain does not receive enough blood supply. At this time, a little American ginseng should be taken.

2. In summer, it is even more suitable to take a little American ginseng, because summer is when the body consumes the most. People who were already qi-deficient will feel very tired in summer, or after summer, and this is related to qi and yin being consumed by heat. Therefore, it is suitable to take a little American ginseng. The saying "nourish yang in spring and summer" follows the same principle; American ginseng can gently supplement yang qi.

3. The qi-boosting effect of American ginseng can be used for conditions of qi deficiency in the heart, lungs and spleen, and its qi-boosting effect is slightly weaker than that of ginseng. From the perspective of application, because ginseng is warmer in nature, it is best taken in winter; while American ginseng is cooler in nature, it can be used in summer.

4. Therefore, spring and summer have drier climates and are suitable for taking American ginseng, while ginseng or red ginseng should not be taken; autumn and winter are more suitable for taking ginseng.

What are the benefits of drinking American ginseng as an infusion?

American ginseng has the dual effects of nourishing yin and boosting qi, calming the mind and improving alertness, clearing heat and promoting fluid production, and reducing internal heat and relieving summer heat. An old saying goes: “American ginseng is cool in nature yet tonifying; anyone who wishes to use ginseng but cannot tolerate its warmth may use it instead.” Thus, tonifying without causing dryness is what makes American ginseng special.

1. Enhances central nervous system function:

The saponins in American ginseng can effectively strengthen the central nervous system, achieving effects such as calming the mind and focusing the spirit, eliminating fatigue, and enhancing memory. It can be applied to symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, memory decline and senile dementia.

2. Protects the cardiovascular system:

Regular use of American ginseng can combat arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia and myocardial oxidation, and strengthen myocardial contractility. Patients with coronary heart disease whose symptoms manifest as deficiency of both qi and yin with palpitations and shortness of breath can take American ginseng over the long term, with notable therapeutic effects. The benefits of American ginseng also include regulating blood pressure; it can effectively lower both temporary and persistent blood pressure, and helps with the recovery of hypertension, arrhythmia, coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, cerebral thrombosis and other diseases.

3. Improves immunity:

As a preferred medicinal material for qi-boosting health care, American ginseng can promote serum protein synthesis, bone marrow protein synthesis, organ protein synthesis and more, improving the body's immunity, inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, and effectively resisting cancer.

4. Promotes blood vitality:

Long-term use of American ginseng can reduce blood coagulability, inhibit platelet aggregation, resist atherosclerosis, promote red blood cell growth and increase hemoglobin.

5. Treats diabetes:

American ginseng can lower blood sugar, regulate insulin secretion, and promote glucose metabolism and fat metabolism, and has a certain auxiliary effect on treating diabetes.

Dosage of American ginseng when drunk as an infusion

For healthy people and those in sub-health, the daily dosage is generally 6-10 grams. For patients, the dosage depends on factors such as the severity of the disease, the stage of treatment, the duration of the illness, the patient's constitution, the prominence of symptoms, age and season. Generally, the daily dosage should be between 2-5 grams, which can be divided into 2 to 3 servings per day.

How to drink American ginseng as an infusion

1. Prepare 3 g of American ginseng slices or rootlets and 3 g of goji berries, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, cover and steep for about 5 minutes, then drink. It can be repeatedly brewed until the ginseng flavor is gone.

2. Take 3 g of American ginseng slices or rootlets and 0.5 g of chrysanthemum flowers, and brew with boiling water. It has the effects of nourishing yin and promoting fluid production, clearing heat and improving eyesight. Take 3 g of American ginseng slices, sections or rootlets and 1 g of dwarf lilyturf tuber, add water, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for about 1 hour and drink the liquid. This can enhance the yin-nourishing, fluid-promoting and lung-moistening effects of American ginseng.

3. Put the American ginseng into a cup, use boiling water - the water must be boiling - pour it over the ginseng, then cover it with a lid and let it steep, closing it up for five to ten minutes before drinking. Drink it throughout the day, adding a little more water when it runs out; basically one cup a day. At the end, the American ginseng can all be eaten.

What to pair American ginseng with for infusion

American ginseng paired with Dendrobium officinale:

Dendrobium officinale has the effects of nourishing yin and benefiting the stomach, and promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. Paired with dendrobium, American ginseng has effects such as benefiting fluid production and nourishing yin and clearing heat. It is suitable for people who smoke and drink excessively, and especially suitable for the elderly, because the body fluids of the elderly decrease sharply. Take 5 pieces of Dendrobium officinale Fengdou and about 8 slices of American ginseng, repeatedly brew them, and finally chew and swallow the Dendrobium Fengdou and American ginseng slices.

American ginseng paired with Cordyceps flower:

Cordyceps flower has the effects of boosting qi, strengthening essence and tonifying the kidneys. American ginseng paired with Cordyceps is very suitable for consumption together: American ginseng is cooler in nature, while Cordyceps is warmer in nature, so the two complement each other when consumed together. It relieves asthma and stops coughing, has a relatively good therapeutic effect on emphysema and bronchitis, and is very suitable for people with poor constitutions who catch colds easily.

American ginseng paired with Panax notoginseng:

Panax notoginseng has a very good effect of invigorating blood and dissolving stasis. Mix American ginseng and Panax notoginseng evenly and drink as an infusion every day. It can dissolve stasis and unblock collaterals, and tonify both qi and yin. It has a very good effect on stasis and blockage of the heart meridians and blood vessel blockage, and can also help maintain cerebrovascular health.

American ginseng paired with Astragalus:

Astragalus, while tonifying qi and blood, can also very well improve the body's immunity. Both American ginseng and Astragalus have qi-boosting and qi-benefiting effects. Consumed together, they can effectively strengthen various functions of the human body, making it less susceptible to viral invasion and preventing colds. They are most suitable for people with deficiency of both qi and yin and for people with low resistance.

American ginseng paired with goji berries:

As is widely known, goji berries have the effects of tonifying the kidneys and strengthening yang, and improving male function. Goji berries paired with American ginseng can be used to treat liver and kidney yin deficiency, boost qi and benefit essence, and is the preferred pairing method for men to tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang. It also improves symptoms such as soreness and weakness of the waist and knees and dizziness caused by kidney deficiency.

American ginseng paired with dwarf lilyturf tuber:

The main function of dwarf lilyturf tuber is to nourish yin and promote fluid production. Dwarf lilyturf tuber combined with American ginseng can very well boost qi and benefit qi, and nourish yin and promote fluid production. It has a very good effect on damage to both qi and yin, vexing heat and thirst, or in the elderly with deficiency of both qi and yin, dry throat and mouth, and insufficient body fluids.

American ginseng paired with fetal chrysanthemum:

The function of fetal chrysanthemum is to nourish the liver and improve eyesight, and clear heat and detoxify. Fetal chrysanthemum paired with American ginseng can enhance the liver's detoxification function, but what is most effective is its very obvious eyesight-improving function. It has good effects on relieving visual fatigue, eye congestion and improving eyesight, and is very suitable for office workers who face computers for long periods.

American ginseng paired with red dates, longan and goji berries:

Red dates tonify blood, longan tonifies qi, goji berries tonify the kidneys, and when paired with American ginseng and consumed together, they have the effect of tonifying deficiency of both qi and blood. In addition, American ginseng is cool in nature and can offset the heatiness of the above three, making it less likely to cause internal heat.

Who is American ginseng suitable for?

1. Children who are allergic, have poor development, or catch colds easily: because American ginseng can boost qi and help absorption.

2. Adults who use their brains too much and students preparing for exams: American ginseng is also called the examinee's great tonic in Taiwan, China, because it has an excitatory effect on the nerves of tired people and helps enhance memory.

3. Office workers under great pressure and people with anemia and dizziness: American ginseng helps protect liver function, strengthen metabolism, and improve circulation and the digestive system, thereby strengthening the body.

4. People with irregular menstrual periods and those who want youth without acne: because American ginseng can regulate the endocrine system and is the best product for whitening and slimming.

5. People who love singing and teachers who need to speak often: because American ginseng can tonify the lungs and reduce internal heat, promote fluid production and relieve restlessness and fatigue, and can protect the throat and increase lung capacity.

6. The elderly: because American ginseng improves the movement of brain cells in the elderly and has received considerable attention in research on senile dementia.

Who should not take American ginseng?

The advantage of American ginseng is that it boosts qi without generating heat, but it is not suitable for everyone. If the dosage is too large, or if a person with a cold-deficient constitution consumes it, nosebleeds are inevitable.

1. People with internal heat or constipation should also not take American ginseng. Suitable groups include those with qi and yin deficiency such as shortness of breath and weakness, dry mouth and thirst; those with lung yin deficiency such as dry throat and dry cough; and those with yin deficiency such as afternoon tidal fever and chronic cough.

2. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that anyone with insufficient yang qi or cold-dampness in the stomach should avoid taking it. For example, American ginseng is contraindicated for those with pale complexion, facial puffiness and swollen limbs, aversion to cold and fear of cold, slow heartbeat, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and distension, loose stools, and white greasy tongue coating.

3. Children with delayed development or indigestion should not take American ginseng.

4. People with colds and coughs, or acute infections with damp-heat, should not take American ginseng.

5. People who are afraid of cold and have a cold-deficient constitution are not suitable for taking American ginseng.

Of course, although American ginseng, as a traditional Chinese medicine, has definite therapeutic effects, all medicines are somewhat toxic. Therefore, experts remind everyone that when taking American ginseng, it is best not to take large doses, and if conditions permit, the dosage can be adjusted by consulting a doctor or professional pharmacist.