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American ginseng and astragalus are both qi tonic, but contraindications are different, how to use to be healthy?

American ginseng and astragalus are both very good qi tonic, but a warm and a cool, have their own characteristics, the correct use in order to play their tonic effect, do not know.

Radix Panax Ginseng is a cool tonic, which can both tonify qi and promote the production of fluids, and is suitable for people with deficiency of qi and yin. People with deficiency of qi and yin have symptoms of qi deficiency, such as low qi and laziness, mental fatigue, easy fatigue, etc., and symptoms of yin deficiency, such as dry mouth, dry throat, dry stools, and because of the deficiency of yin and the tendency to produce internal heat (fire), there will also be symptoms of insomnia, dreamy dreams, heartburn, night sweating, and heat of hands and feet and heart, etc. This group of people also manifests as red tongue, little moss, and thin and numb pulse. This kind of people also show red tongue with little moss and fine pulse. If there are these symptoms of deficiency of qi and yin, it is the most suitable to use American ginseng.



Astragalus, on the other hand, is different from American ginseng in that it is a warm qi tonic that can tonify qi and elevate yang. However, astragalus cannot directly promote the production of fluids, which is different from American ginseng, and it is suitable for those with qi deficiency and concomitant yang deficiency, who, in addition to the clinical symptoms of qi deficiency, are also mainly characterized by fear of the wind or cold, spontaneous sweating, easy to catch a cold, and cold limbs. Through its qi tonic effect, astragalus can be used to produce blood, i.e., tonifying qi to produce blood, used for patients with qi deficiency and blood deficiency, such as angelica blood tonic soup; it can also tonify qi to activate blood, used for patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis, such as replenishing the yang and also the five soup; it can also tonify qi to promote water retention, used to treat edema, such as preventing qi and astragalus soup. Therefore, the role of astragalus qi is very extensive.



Although they are complementary gas, but a warm and a cool, use must distinguish their indications, if you use the wrong or use the opposite, not only can not make up for the gas, but there will be adverse reactions, for example, gas and yin deficiency of people, you use astragalus to make up for the gas, the more you make up for the more dry mouth, the more you make up for the more on the fire; if it is the Yang qi deficiency of the people, you use American ginseng to make up for the gas, it is better than the fear of the cold people you splash cold water on him again. Therefore, Chinese medicine practitioners often say that "ginseng can also kill", do not think that tonic medicine is very safe and can be abused casually.

Finally, I would also like to emphasize that the dosage of qi tonic medicine should generally start with a small dose, and should not be used in a hurry or in a brutal manner, as "wanting to be quick does not lead to success". When we use qi tonic, in order to prevent congestion and stagnation of qi tonic, we often need to add a little wood incense, Chen Pi and other qi-expanding medicines, in order to make the tonic without stagnation, and better play the role of qi tonic.



Xiyangzhi participates in astragalus, one is cheaper and the other is more expensive, but still the advertising slogan: only choose the right one, not the expensive one!

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American ginseng, also known as American ginseng, is native to the United States and Canada, with a small price, and is also planted in China. Astragalus is widely planted in China, and the price is moderate. These two flavors of Chinese medicine can be used both medicinally and in health food, both in clinical and health care are widely used. Both have the effect of tonifying qi, but there are differences in application and contraindications:

sexual flavors and normalizing meridians (TCM)

  • American ginseng:Sweet, slightly bitter and cool in nature. Attributes to heart, lung and kidney meridians.

  • Astragalus:Sweet and slightly warm in nature. Attributed to the lung and spleen meridians.

diagnosis and treatment of a disease

  • American ginseng:Tonifying Qi and nourishing Yin, clearing heat and promoting the production of body fluid. Used for deficiency of qi and yin, deficiency heat and tiredness, coughing and wheezing, phlegm and blood, internal heat and thirst, dry mouth and throat.

The Pharmacopoeia recommends a daily dosage of 3-6 g. For medicinal use, it is usually required to be decocted separately (boiled separately and then mixed with others to be taken together).

  • Astragalus:Tonifying qi and elevating yang, consolidating the surface and stopping sweating, inducing diuresis and subduing swelling, generating fluid and nourishing blood, promoting stagnation and paralysis, supporting toxins and draining pus, and astringing sores and regenerating muscles. It is used in treating qi deficiency and weakness, loose stools with little food, sinking of the middle qi, prolonged diarrhea and prolapse of the anus, blood in stool and leakage of blood, sweating from the surface, oedema with deficiency of qi, internal heat and thirst, impotence and yellowing with deficiency of blood, paralysis, paralysis and numbness, carbuncle and gangrene which are difficult to be ulcerated and not converged for a long period of time.

The Pharmacopoeia recommends a daily dose of 9-30g.

contraindication (medicine)

  • American ginseng:

  1. It is not to be taken by those who have weak yang and cold and dampness in the stomach. For example: pale face, swollen limbs, fear of cold, abdominal pain and distension, nausea and vomiting, etc.; men's impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, women's dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, sexual desire indifference should be avoided; cold and cough, or acute infections with dampness and heat should not be used in people with western ginseng.
  2. It should not be used by patients with chronic hepatitis B. It is not conducive to disease recovery.
  3. Avoid coffee, tea and radish while taking American ginseng, which will reduce the efficacy.
  4. Excessive amounts can have adverse reactions: chest tightness, irritability, dry mouth, bloating and abdominal pain.
  • milk vetch root (used in TCM)

  1. Astragalus is warm in nature, slightly sweet in taste, can replenish the qi of the whole body, and should not be taken when there is a deficiency of yin and fever.
  2. However, overdose can easily lead to flatulence and diarrhea.
  3. Avoid drinking tea and eating alkaline foods such as fruits and seaweed while taking Astragalus, which will weaken the medicinal properties.
  4. Allergy to astragalus is prohibited: oral administration of astragalus has been reported to cause skin allergies, aggravation of cough and asthma and other adverse reactions. It has even caused toxic reactions such as severe limb pain.

Although American ginseng and astragalus are both Chinese medicines and can be taken as health food, they should be used reasonably in combination with their own situation and other influencing factors, Chinese medicine is also concerned about the "symptom", but it is more important to "evidence", it is best to find a Chinese medicine practitioner to take a pulse or ask for diagnosis to see if it is suitable to take. Diagnosis to confirm the next, to see whether it is suitable to take, must not be used blindly, not to abuse and overuse, with a good can prevent and cure diseases, with a bad tendency to go against the wishes of other Chinese medicine supplements are also the same.

Here is the first thing to remind you. Whether it's American ginseng, or astragalus, these are all herbs. It must be remembered that it is, not food. It's actually a mistake when you designate these herbs as something that is supposedly medicinal.

The first prerequisite for using Chinese medicine to regulate the body is to use the right medicine for the right reason; if it does not fit the problem of qi deficiency, it is just not suitable for use.

The function of American ginseng is to tonify qi and nourish yin, and to produce fluids to quench thirst. This medicine is on the cooler side, so it is relatively less suitable for use if the symptoms of deficiency and cold are more obvious.

Astragalus has a wide range of applications, and its main function is to tonify the qi and strengthen the spleen, consolidate the surface to stop sweating, elevate the yang to stop trapping, and can also support the toxicity of muscle growth, diuresis and swelling. This drug is on the sweet and warm side, so it is not suitable to be taken if the disease is on the hot side.

Of course, this refers to the case of individual use, if the composition of the compound prescription, according to the relevant conditions, specific judgment can be.

In addition, if an acute external illness occurs, in most cases, it is still recommended that such illnesses should be cured before considering toning the body with tonics.

This our Chinese medicine teacher told us that she is good at self-conditioning. The effect on her is to hold a hand soaked with a few slices of American ginseng thermos, and her that they do not say that they will soon be sixty years old, we thought that she was only forty years of age in appearance, medium height she, the class issued a strong voice, feel always have a continuous essence of the general charisma, so that we are embarrassed in the classroom listlessness.


Good Chinese medicine teacher and will not talk to you more about how good Chinese medicine, she herself is the biggest beneficiary of Chinese medicine learning, she just stand there and say they are engaged in Chinese medicine, you can associate the original study of Chinese medicine is so, can not help but want to learn Chinese medicine with her. Obviously our TCM teacher is such a person. Speaking of which, you may have the same doubts as I do, her essence is not because often soak American ginseng ah? At first we all thought so, but one day by chance we realized that her cup was not always filled with American ginseng, but also with astragalus. This doubt was also solved by her later in the study. Today I will give you with my understanding to relay some, for you to distinguish between the use of American ginseng and astragalus think will also be very meaningful.

Why did the teacher make a drink of American ginseng? Not astragalus?

To say that tonic gas, astragalus is certainly better, after all, astragalus is Li Shizhen called "the long of tonic gas", but why our teacher often to American ginseng soak it? This is to say from the characteristics of qi, the qi effect of American ginseng is not bad, but it comes soft, and we are not all normal people have to make up for qi, the performance of qi deficiency are only because of daily work consumption, so feel fatigue, weakness only.


For example, teachers need to speak loudly in class, and they themselves have no problem, the qi is very sufficient, and what needs to be replenished is just the consumed qi. Although the consumed qi can be restored through rest, just want to not consume too much, always be able to have enough energy, American ginseng when is the first choice.

Not only replenish qi, talk more easily dry mouth, to keep the mouth moist in fact we need some nourishing yin, Tsuyoshi, American ginseng just also have such benefits, American ginseng is to replenish qi and nourish the yin, heat and Tsuyoshi effect. It is more suitable for teachers or people who usually talk a lot and are fatigued.


When to choose astragalus?

Let's talk about astragalus again. Sometimes the teacher would brew astragalus and drink it, usually at the change of seasons or in winter she would brew astragalus or add some astragalus to American ginseng, what are the benefits of this?

Astragalus may be more suitable for the deficiency of qi and blood caused by physical illnesses, such as the appearance of spleen deficiency, which tends to make one's body fatigued, yellowish color and the phenomenon of diluted stools and so on. The appearance of these phenomena will lead to the body's immunity appears to reduce the situation, thus more prone to physical weakness, if your own body also has such a situation, then, astragalus may be better for you to make the role of.


And we also know that astragalus also has the effect of improving immunity, in the alternation of seasons when it is easier to catch a cold, soak some astragalus to replenish the qi, so that the protection of the body's Wei qi, and improve the resistance, so that it is not easy to catch a cold. So in the alternation of seasons, or cold weather winter teacher will add astragalus to brew water to drink.

The main effects of astragalus are strengthening the spleen and tonifying the middle, raising the sun and lifting up the sink, benefiting the guards and consolidating the surface, diuretic, toxin, and muscle growth. It is more often used for spleen qi deficiency, lung qi deficiency, qi deficiency and self-sweating, qi and blood deficiency, sores and ulcers that are difficult to ulcerate and hard to putrefy, or ulcers that are difficult to converge for a long time.

Again, to briefly summarize the usefulness of the two, American ginseng is more for daily fatigue and replenishing qi, while astragalus is more for helping to regulate and improve as well as prevent various problems caused by qi deficiency!

Contraindications for each of American ginseng and astragalus

Is medicine three poisons, even if it is a tonic that is not the more the better, the health of the body that do not add to the trouble of eating this and drinking that, especially on their own physique and pharmacology is not clear to the people.

In the case of American ginseng:

  • First of all, it should be noted is that some people may experience a drop in body temperature, diarrhea, loss of appetite and some allergic reactions, itchy limbs, blisters and other abnormal reactions after eating it, which should be immediately discontinued and immediately go to the hospital for treatment.
  • Secondly, American ginseng is cool, tonifying qi and nourishing yin, if there is a cough with phlegm, edema may be aggravated after taking.
  • People with cold bodies should even avoid consuming American ginseng to avoid vomiting and diarrhea.



Let's talk more about astragalus:

Astragalus is suitable for people with qi deficiency and spleen dampness, that is, those who seem to be the body is fat, muscle flaccidity, holding a big belly, on the contrary, if the body is thin and firm people should not eat astragalus.


In terms of season, ordinary people should not take astragalus in spring. Why can't we drink astragalus porridge for cold? Because astragalus is solid surface, it helps the body to close the door to prevent the invasion of foreign evil, but when the body has already felt the external evil, it will become a closed door to keep the enemy, the evil closed in the body, there is no way to vent. Similarly, spring is the season of birth, the body needs to be declared, eating astragalus is not very suitable.

Kidney disease is a deficiency of yin, dampness and heat, heat and toxin blazing people with astragalus will generally appear toxic side effects, should be prohibited. Because of the sweet taste of astragalus, slightly warm, yin deficiency patients take will help heat, easy to hurt the yin and blood, and damp-heat, heat toxicity blazing patients take easy to stagnate the evil, so that the condition is aggravated, if you have to take astragalus, be sure to use the complementary application.

阴虚患者使用黄芪,必须配伍养阴药使用,如生地、熟地、玄参、麦冬、天冬、玉竹等。 Patients with dampness-heat must be accompanied by drugs to clear dampness-heat, such as Huanglian, Yin Chen, Scutellaria baicalensis, etc. Patients with blazing heat-toxicity must be accompanied by heat-clearing and detoxicating drugs, such as Huanglian, Gardenia jasminoides, rhubarb, and septoria japonica.

So, for the use of Chinese medicine we need to figure out the properties of Chinese medicine, drugs, whether our constitution is consistent, so that we can be clear with this drug is good for us or not, each person's constitution and physical condition is very different, which is often said in Chinese medicine the same disease with a different formula, according to the constitution may require different drugs with the conditioning, if the body is not in the way do not think of taking the medicine to eat indiscriminately.

summarize

About American ginseng and astragalus are good qi tonic, simple summary is that if you usually feel tired and fatigue, talk a lot of people, people with dry mouth can try to soak some American ginseng to drink the effect is good. If there is a deficiency of qi, spleen dampness, it is recommended to use astragalus, it is best to be able to under the guidance of the doctor according to the body constitution with other drugs to help improve.

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Astragalus and American ginseng are the same as qi medicine, there is no difference between high and low, American ginseng is sweet and cool, that can make up for the gas can also nourish the yin, suitable for yin deficiency and fire of easy to fire people to eat, it is not easy to get on the fire; and astragalus is sweet and warm, can be in the qi at the same time to supplement blood, suitable for the people of the body cold, both of them are different in taste and efficacy and correspond to the symptoms of the respective, have their own benefits, we should choose the right qi medicine according to their own constitution, and the best thing is that they have to choose a suitable qi medicine, and they should not be greedy. After all, only suitable for their own is the best, do not greedy oh.

Radix Panax Ginseng and Radix Astragali can both tonify qi, but the specific efficacy characteristics are different and the indications are also different, how should they be differentiated for use? Let's talk about these two qi tonics.

The medicinal property of American ginseng is cold, with the effect of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, clearing fire and generating fluids; while the medicinal property of astragalus is warm, with the effect of tonifying qi and elevating yang, benefiting qi and consolidating the surface, inducing diuresis, subduing swellings, and supporting the sores to generate muscles.

One is cold and one is warm, so the people who use it can pretty much say the opposite.

American ginsengeasierFire, or a deficiency of qi in the form of a deficiency of yin and fireThe tongue is redder and less coated once it sticks out. It is generally suitable for teachers, presenters, businessmen, etc. who speak a lot and are more prone to a Yin deficiency and fire-excessive constitution. Can be usedAmerican ginseng with goji berries and chrysanthemumsDrink it in water together.

milk vetch root (used in TCM)easierFear of cold, Qi deficiency, fatigue, malaise, lazy speechThose who do, generally have a pale tongue with thin white or white tongue coating. It is more suitable for people who often sit in the office and are less inclined to exercise, as they are more prone to the physical characteristics of qi deficiency and spleen weakness. It can be used withAstragalus with Angelica, Wolfberry, Red DateDrink it in water together.

In addition to the different aspects of tonic Qi, there are other differences between these two herbs.

American ginsengNot only does it replenish qi and reduce fire, it is also able tonourish the vulva (TCM)It is more suitable for dry mouth, thirst, fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitation, etc., which are caused by injury to both qi and yin.Together, Schisandra chinensis and maitake are more effective in tonifying qi and nourishing yin.

milk vetch root (used in TCM)In addition to replenishing qi, there areRaising Yang Qi, inducing diuresis, subduing swellings and supporting sores.It is suitable for the sagging of internal organs that occurs when qi is deficient and sinking, edema and dysuria that occurs when qi is deficient and water stops, as well as deficiency of qi and blood, and ulcers that are not healed for a long time that occurs when sores are sinking inwardly, etc., so comparatively speaking, astragalus will have a better and wider range of effects.

In addition, there is still a difference between American ginseng and astragalus in terms of how they are taken.

American ginsenggenerally speakingBest absorbed when taken sublinguallyAnd the speed is also fast. Of course it's good to drink in water, and the dosage is usually small.3 to 6 grams or so.

milk vetch root (used in TCM)then you needDrink in water or stew, its medicinal effects are more effective.The dosage is relatively large, usually 10 to 15 gramsIf reused, it can be up to30-60 grams

As for how to use it in a healthy way?

In this case, it's mainlyEat only if it suits, don't eat if it doesn't.But one mistake that many people tend to make is that I eat whatever I think is good. Because always think this is good, more is better. American ginseng and astragalus in general both used by completely different people, but theThere are times when both will be used at the same time to enhance the effect. For example, when a person with a deficiency of qi and yin has a significant deficiency of qi, he or she may use xiyangshen and astragalus together, only with less astragalus, or with other medicines that nourish yin and reduce fire, so that the whole formula will not be hot, which makes it suitable for a person with a deficiency of qi and yin.

One more thing.That is, during a cold or fever, or with damp-heat or solid-heat conditions, it is best not to take tonic medicines, which can easily lead to aggravation of the condition.

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Astragalus and American ginseng are all qi tonic medicine, can tonify qi, this is from the general aspect, but the medicine has a bias, although it is a tonic medicine, there is warmth, there is coolness, can not be generalized, so the focus of the medication should be divided into cold and heat, to distinguish between the real and the imaginary.

Astragalus

Sweet and warm in nature, belonging to the lung and spleen meridians.

It can tonify Qi and elevate Yang, benefit Qi and consolidate the surface, promote diuresis and eliminate swelling, and support toxin and pus. It is used for the deficiency of spleen and stomach, loss of transportation in the middle Jiao, the appearance of dullness and lack of food, tiredness and fatigue, yellowish color. The central qi sinking, organ prolapse, appearing long diarrhea, diarrhea, stomach, uterus, anal prolapse. Weakness of lung qi, coughing, low voice, timid and weak speech. Self-sweating, night sweating and susceptibility to infection due to deficiency of the surface. Qi deficiency and edema, sores that do not close and do not scab for a long time.

American Ginseng

Sweet, slightly bitter and cold in nature. Attributed to heart, lung and kidney meridians

It can benefit qi and nourish yin, clear fire and promote the production of fluids, and is used in treating deficiency of lung qi, prolonged cough, weak cough, dry cough with little sputum, and dry pharynx with blood. Heat disease injury to yin, tiredness and thirst, less gas and fatigue, body tiredness and sweating, dry mouth and tongue. Intestinal dryness and fluid deficiency, constipation, etc!

Although the two drugs can make up for the gas, American ginseng is bitter and cold, then in the Yang deficiency less, cold and dampness within the obstruction of all the real evidence, can not be used! Astragalus is sweet and warm in nature, so it is not recommended to use it for Yang evidence of solid evil on the surface, internal stagnation, dampness and heat, yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang, and sores that don't close their mouths!

The use of the above, you can astragalus with American ginseng, a warm and a cool, mutual restraint, astragalus sweet temperature can restrain the bitter cold of American ginseng, used together, can be more effective and healthy!



American ginseng and astragalus, are complementary qi and blood medicine, however, there is a deficiency of yin and fire body, not very suitable for taking, if you have a deficiency of qi, you can use a small amount of it, to be in moderation

My personal opinion: American ginseng is cool, while astragalus is warm; the former both tonic qi and yin, while the latter not only tonic qi, but also warming the middle and dispersing the cold to warm the stomach and tonify the kidneys (with a feeling of satiety), the situation of the cost of production and the cost of the public are cheaper, in the same similar medical treatment, the application of the more common.

Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng and Radix Astragali can both replenish qi, but Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng is too expensive for the average family to afford, but Radix Astragali is good for replenishing qi and cheap, so it is a good choice for replenishing qi. Therefore, this article only discusses the medicinal value of Radix Astragali, as well as its contraindications.

Astragalus is very effective in replenishing qi, even better than ginseng, but because ginseng can greatly replenish vital energy, while saving people from great loss of vital energy. In this regard, Astragalus is not as good as ginseng, but if it is not used in first aid, the effect of Astragalus in replenishing qi is not inferior to that of ginseng at all. Such a good choice, worthy of the name of "old man".

Astragalus can benefit the qi and strengthen the spleen, so that the functions of the spleen and stomach are strengthened. The spleen and stomach are the digestive organs of the human body, and when the function of the spleen and stomach is enhanced, the digestive function of the human body will increase. When digestion is enhanced, there will be a constant flow of qi and blood. Therefore, the spleen and stomach are the engine of the body's qi and blood, and with sufficient qi and blood, the body will be full of strength.

Astragalus can also replenish lung qi, the lungs are the respiratory organs of human beings, and intercommunicate with the skin of the human body. When lung qi is sufficient people will not be afraid of cold, and sweating will be normal. There will be no coughing, shortness of breath and uneven breathing. Sometimes, after coming home from work, there will also be short breath, this is the time to boil some astragalus water to drink, and in a short while it will be full of blood.

Of course, qi supplementation is one of the most important effects of astragalus, astragalus can also lift yang qi, what is to lift yang qi? What is meant by lifting yang qi? It is to lift the qi, just like a crane cannot lift a heavy object when there is not enough power, astragalus replenishes the power and enables the crane to lift the heavy object.

It is because astragalus can replenish qi and lift qi that astragalus can be used for sores, carbuncles, swellings, and poisons caused by qi deficiency that take a long time to heal. This is the "Shennong Ben Cao Jing" said: "Lord carbuncle long defeat sores, drainage of pus, pain, gale mange disease, five hemorrhoids, rodent fistula", widely used in a variety of surgical diseases, the effect is good.

Astragalus taste sweet, warm, for the gas is not weak, naturally can not be used, if the gas is not weak, take astragalus will be on fire, not only can not play the role of qi, but also hurt the body's qi, this is the "less fire angry, strong fire food qi", after the fire, but hurt the positive qi. Yin deficiency fire, more should not take astragalus, both can not make up for the gas, but more harm to the body's fluid.

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