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Table 1 Use of ginseng in Chinese medicine

From: Anti-cancer and potential chemopreventive actions of ginseng by activating Nrf2 (NFE2L2) anti-oxidative stress/anti-inflammatory pathways

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Indications

Chinese medicine products

To replenish the primordial qi

Collapse due to prostration of primordial qi, exhibiting extremely cold limbs, sweating, vertigo and shortness of breath.

Shenfu tang - decoction of ginseng and Aconiti Lateralis;

Sinijia renshen tang - decoction of ginseng for treating yang exhaustion.

To nourish the spleen and stomach

Spleen and stomach qi deficiency complicated by dampness, exhibiting weakness of limbs, emaciation, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhoea, fullness in the epigastrium and chest.

Shenlingbaizhu san - powder of ginseng, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae;

Jianpi wan - pills for strengthening the spleen.

To promote the production of body fluid

Impairment of both qi and yin, exhibiting lassitude, shortness of breath, excessive perspiration, dry throat, thirst; also for long-standing cough due to lung deficiency.

Shengmai yin - liquid of ginseng, Radix Ophiopogonis and Fructus Schisandrae for restoring the pulse.

To invigorate the spleen and nourish the heart

Disorders involving heart and spleen deficiency, exhibiting palpitation, amnesia, insomnia, poor appetite, fatigue; also for cases of hemafecia, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis.

Guipi wan - ginseng pills for invigorating spleen and nourishing the heart;

Renshen yangrong wan - pills of ginseng for nourishing qi and yin.