A Complete Guide to Ginseng and Qi-tonifying Herbs: Summer Contraindications for Ginseng Consumption, Timing of Ginseng Use Postpartum, and Detailed Explanation of Astragalus, Codonopsis, and Dioscorea.

In the sweltering summer, the body's metabolism accelerates under the stimulation of high temperatures, energy consumption increases, sleep decreases, appetite declines, and people are prone to fatigue, often affecting their physical condition. For those who lack the ability to adapt to high temperatures, ginseng is an excellent remedy for combating summer heat. As long as the tongue coating is not white and greasy, or thick and greasy, or yellow and greasy, or shows signs of heat, ginseng can be taken as a tonic. This is the most effective way to increase resistance, known as "summer tonic." In particular, patients with chronic diseases that are prone to flare-ups in the cold winter, such as bronchitis and asthma, can benefit from taking ginseng in the summer to strengthen their constitution, improve their immune function, prevent the onset of chronic diseases in winter, and achieve the effect of treating winter diseases in summer. Summer is the peak season for the growth and reproduction of various pathogens, making people susceptible to various acute infectious diseases such as encephalitis B, acute gastroenteritis, and hepatitis. During the recovery phase of these diseases, symptoms such as low-grade fever, loss of appetite, dry mouth, red tongue, and weakness often occur. At this time, taking ginseng can nourish yin and qi, strengthen the body, and regulate the spleen. For those who frequently suffer from illness, weakness, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, poor appetite, insomnia, and excessive dreaming, ginseng can also enhance physical constitution, promote appetite, and prevent summer ailments. When taking ginseng in summer, it's important to choose carefully. Generally, sun-dried ginseng, American ginseng, and ginseng with a peeled tail are suitable. These types of ginseng have relatively mild medicinal properties and are more suitable for ordinary patients and the elderly or those with weak constitutions. However, patients with excess heat syndrome but without deficiency of vital energy should not take ginseng.

Ginseng is a traditional Chinese tonic, especially suitable for the elderly, those in the later stages of wasting diseases, and postoperative patients. However, not everyone is suitable to take ginseng. The following patients should not take ginseng: (1) Those with arteriosclerosis. The protein factors in ginseng can inhibit fat decomposition and aggravate lipid deposition in the blood vessel walls. Therefore, those with coronary heart disease, hypertension, cerebral arteriosclerosis, diabetes, or vasculitis should take ginseng with caution. (2) Patients with high blood viscosity. Increased blood viscosity and poor blood flow are called "blood stasis" in traditional Chinese medicine. Ginseng promotes the growth of red blood cells. With more red blood cells, blood viscosity will be even higher. (3) Patients with insomnia. Ginseng has a central nervous system stimulating effect. In insomniacs, the balance between excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex is imbalanced. Taking ginseng will only aggravate insomnia. (4) Stomach diseases. It has been found that Helicobacter pylori is the culprit of many stomach diseases. Ginseng has a protective effect against this bacterium and is not conducive to the killing of it by drugs. (5) Patients with cholecystitis and gallstones. Ginseng has estrogen-like effects, which can inhibit bile excretion from the bile ducts and thicken the bile. Studies have shown that long-term ginseng consumption significantly increases the incidence of gallstones.

After childbirth, some women take ginseng immediately to quickly recover their strength. However, from a medical perspective, it is not advisable to take ginseng immediately after childbirth. There are two reasons for this: (1) Ginseng contains ginsenosides, a component that can act on the central nervous system, heart, and blood vessels. It can produce an excitatory effect. After use, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, and other symptoms often occur, preventing the mother from resting properly and affecting postpartum recovery. (2) Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "when qi flows, blood flows; when qi is sufficient, blood flows smoothly." Ginseng is a medicine that greatly replenishes vital energy. Taking too much can accelerate blood circulation, which is not good for women who have just given birth. During childbirth, blood vessels in the internal and external reproductive organs are often damaged. Taking ginseng will not only hinder the self-healing of damaged blood vessels but also aggravate bleeding. In addition, women should pay attention to nutrition after childbirth. After leaving the delivery room, they can drink some brown sugar water. One week postpartum, you can eat foods like red dates and longan, and also drink some chicken soup, crucian carp soup, and eat lean meat, poultry, and eggs. However, don't eat too much at once to avoid damaging your spleen and stomach. Usually, ginseng can be taken 2-3 weeks postpartum, after the birth wound has healed and lochia has significantly decreased. Generally, it is believed that if you have symptoms of qi deficiency two months postpartum, you can take 3-5 grams of ginseng daily for one month.

What are the effects of Astragalus membranaceus? How to use it? (1) Tonify Qi and raise Yang, strengthen the exterior and stop sweating. When used raw, it can strengthen the exterior and stop sweating, and treat spontaneous sweating and night sweats due to deficiency. When roasted, it can tonify the spleen and benefit the lungs, and treat symptoms such as sinking of clear Qi and bleeding due to Qi deficiency. When combined with Angelica sinensis (named Angelica sinensis blood-tonifying decoction), it treats deficiency of both Qi and blood. When combined with Atractylodes macrocephala and Saposhnikovia divaricata (named Yu Ping Feng San), it treats spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of Wei Qi. When combined with Cimicifuga foetida and Bupleurum chinense, it treats sinking of middle Qi. (2) Promote the elimination of toxins and pus, promote diuresis and reduce swelling. It is used for carbuncles that do not ulcerate or that do not heal after ulceration and for edema due to spleen deficiency. It is often combined with Atractylodes macrocephala, Stephania tetrandra and Poria cocos. Chinese medicine dosage: 10-15 grams. Large doses can be up to 30-120 grams. When tonifying Qi and blood, roasted is appropriate; when strengthening the exterior, promoting the elimination of pus and promoting tissue regeneration, raw is appropriate.

What are the effects of Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen)? How to use it? Codonopsis pilosula can replenish qi and strengthen the spleen, and is used for cough and shortness of breath due to lung qi deficiency; poor appetite and loose stools due to spleen qi deficiency; and other symptoms of insufficient qi. It is combined with Schisandra chinensis to treat lung qi deficiency; with Atractylodes macrocephala to treat spleen deficiency and loose stools; with Rehmannia glutinosa and Angelica sinensis to treat blood deficiency and qi weakness; and with Aconitum carmichaelii to treat yang deficiency and impending collapse. Dosage: 6-10 grams.

What are the effects of yam? How to use it? Yam is the dried rhizome of the Dioscorea opposita plant, belonging to the Dioscoreaceae family. It is harvested in winter after the stems and leaves wither, the root head is cut off, washed, the outer skin and fibrous roots are removed, and it is fumigated with sulfur before drying. Alternatively, large, straight dried yams are selected, soaked in water until the core is no longer dry, thoroughly fermented, fumigated with sulfur, the ends are trimmed, shaped into a cylinder using a wooden board, sun-dried, and polished; this is commonly known as "polished yam." This product is slightly cylindrical, curved and slightly flattened, 15-30cm long and 1.5-6cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white or pale yellow, with longitudinal grooves, wrinkles, and fibrous root scars, occasionally with light brown outer skin residue. It is heavy, firm, and not easily broken; the cross-section is white and powdery. It is odorless, has a bland, slightly sour taste, and is sticky when chewed. Polished yam is cylindrical, with both ends flat, 9-18cm long and 1.5-3cm in diameter. The surface is smooth, white or yellowish-white. Yam is sweet and neutral in nature, and enters the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians. It can tonify the spleen and stomach, promote the production of body fluids and benefit the lungs, and tonify the kidneys and astringe essence. It is used for spleen deficiency with poor appetite, chronic diarrhea, lung deficiency with cough and asthma, kidney deficiency with seminal emission, leukorrhea, frequent urination, and thirst due to deficiency heat. Wheat bran-fried yam tonifies the spleen and stomach. It is used for spleen deficiency with poor appetite, loose stools, and excessive leukorrhea. Dosage in traditional Chinese medicine: 15-30g.

What is licorice? This product is the dried root and rhizome of *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*, *Glycyrrhiza inflata*, or *Glycyrrhiza glabra*, all belonging to the legume family. It is harvested in spring and autumn, the fibrous roots are removed, and it is sun-dried. The licorice root is cylindrical, 25–100 cm long and 0.6–3.5 cm in diameter. The outer skin varies in tightness. The surface is reddish-brown or grayish-brown, with prominent longitudinal wrinkles, grooves, lenticels, and sparse, fine root scars. It is firm in texture, with a slightly fibrous, yellowish-white, powdery cross-section, a distinct cambium ring, radial rays, and some with fissures. The rhizome is cylindrical, with bud scars on the surface and pith in the center of the cross-section. It has a faint odor and a sweet, distinctive taste. *Glycyrrhiza inflata*: The root and rhizome are woody and robust, with some branches having a rough outer skin, mostly grayish-brown or grayish-brown. It is hard in texture, with abundant woody fibers and less powder. The rhizome has numerous large adventitious buds. Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra): The root and rhizome are relatively firm, with some branches having a smooth outer skin, mostly grayish-brown, with fine and inconspicuous lenticels. Licorice is sweet and neutral in nature, and enters the heart, lung, spleen, and stomach meridians. It can tonify the spleen and replenish qi, clear heat and detoxify, resolve phlegm and relieve cough, alleviate spasms and pain, and harmonize other medicines. It is used for spleen and stomach weakness, fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, cough with excessive phlegm, abdominal and limb spasms and pain, carbuncles and boils, and to alleviate the toxicity and harshness of other drugs. Dosage in traditional Chinese medicine: 1.5~9g. It should be noted that licorice should not be used concurrently with Euphorbia pekinensis, Daphne genkwa, or Euphorbia kansui.