Sanqi (Pseudo-Ginseng)

According toA Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medicawritten by Zhao Xuemin, a famous Qing Dynasty doctor, ginseng is best for toning a patient's Qi while pseudo-ginseng is best for toning the blood. The two roots taste the same and have broadly similar effects. Zhao regarded pseudo-ginseng as one of the most precious herbs. Modern research has confirmed pseudo-ginseng and ginseng are very similar in chemical composition, pharmacological effects and clinical application, but the saponin content of pseudo-ginseng exceeds that of ginseng. Pseudo-ginseng has a distinct advantage over ginseng in preventing cardiovascular disease. Using pseudo-ginseng can expand blood vessels, reduce vascular resistance, increase cardiac output and decrease the heart rate.