Ginseng
Modern sources record safety concerns for this herb. Reference information, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Modern pharmacovigilance sources record a herb-drug interaction concern for ginseng (ren shen). The U.S. NIH LiverTox database reports that ginseng by itself has not been linked to liver injury (likelihood score E), but that it can affect cytochrome P450 activity — some ginsenosides inhibit CYP3A4 enough to alter the metabolism of other drugs — and that significant herb-drug interactions have been reported, with liver injury developing 1 to 3 months after starting ginseng in patients who had previously tolerated a potentially hepatotoxic agent (for example imatinib or raltegravir). This is reference information drawn from modern sources, not a diagnostic or treatment recommendation.
Tonifies the qi of the five viscera, calms the spirit and settles the ethereal and corporeal souls, quiets fright palpitations, brightens the eyes and benefits the mind; warms a cold stomach and intestines and harmonizes the centre, relieves wasting-thirst and engenders fluids, and supplements the original qi.
Used in 36 formulas
Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu)卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·主治（《本经》）
- functions_en self-translated from 本草纲目 traditional_functions (public domain; the Chinese tf carries verbatim excerpt_hash citations). No modern work consulted.
- WHO IST-TCM terminology-aligned for the English rendering.
- public pharmacopoeia & botanical facts (public-domain reference facts; no proprietary modern source).
Classical source text (Chinese) — English summary above.
传统中医记载：《本经》载人参补五脏、安精神、定魂魄、止惊悸、除邪气、明目开心益智，久服轻身延年；《别录》疗肠胃中冷、调中、止消渴、通血脉；张元素谓补肺脾气、泻心肺脾胃火邪、止渴生津液；李杲谓甘温补元气、为疮家圣药。
Nature & flavor: 甘，微寒，无毒（《本经》）；《别录》谓微温。张元素谓性温、味甘微苦，气味俱薄，浮而升，为阳中之阳。·Meridians: 肺（手太阴）
- Si Shun Decoction
- Regulate the Middle Pill
- Four Gentlemen Decoction
- Ginseng Decoction
- Dried Ginger, Ginseng and Pinellia Pill
- Poria Decoction for Frigid Extremities
- Evodia Decoction
- Preserve the Primal Qi Decoction
- Inula and Hematite Decoction
- Fresh Ginger Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Bupleurum and Cinnamon Twig Decoction
- Bupleurum plus Mirabilite Decoction
- Ophiopogon Decoction
- Major Construct the Middle Decoction
- Cocculus Decoction minus Gypsum plus Poria and Mirabilite
- Minor Bupleurum Decoction
- Honey-Fried Licorice Decoction
- Aconite Decoction
- Cinnamon Twig and Ginseng Decoction
- Cinnamon Twig Decoction plus Peony, Fresh Ginger and Ginseng (New Supplement)
- Cocculus Decoction
- Frigid Extremities plus Ginseng Decoction
- White Tiger plus Ginseng Decoction
- Dried Ginger, Scutellaria, Coptis and Ginseng Decoction
- Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium
- Warm the Menses Decoction
- Coptis Decoction
- Magnolia Bark, Fresh Ginger, Pinellia, Licorice and Ginseng Decoction
- Lophatherum and Gypsum Decoction
- Tangerine Peel and Bamboo Shavings Decoction
- Bamboo Leaf Decoction
- Bupleurum plus Dragon Bone and Oyster Shell Decoction
- Dioscorea Pill
- Sun Spurge Decoction
- Mume Pill
- Turtle Shell Decocted Pill
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参（条目标题·《本经》上品）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its classification.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·释名Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its alternate names.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·气味（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·气味（张元素）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its nature & flavor.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·气味（归经·朱震亨「人参入手太阴」）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its meridian tropism.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·主治（《本经》）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·主治（张元素）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its traditional functions.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·气味（畏恶反·徐之才）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.
- Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) · Li Shizhen · 卷十二·草部·草之一·山草类·人参·气味（朱震亨·反藜芦）Cited from Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu) for its safety notes.