Guest guest Posted January 13, 2001 Report Share Posted January 13, 2001 I don't know how ginseng is traditionally dried in China (may be described in Pao Zhi), but I've dried plenty of other dense roots. I would advise against the use of the oven. Oven drying can quickly crisp the surface while the core may still be full of water. One key is that evaporation from the cortex occurs at about the same rate that the water in the deeper tissues transpires toward the surface. Other essentials are good air movement, darkness, and warmth (77-90 F). There are many styles of drying apparatuses that maximize the amount of plant material and airflow within a small space -- the ones I've used are cabinets with many removable shelves made out of screen or muslin or some other porous material, with a fan & /or heater usually in the bottom to move warm air up through the shelves, and a vent at the top. In your home you could just use window screens or stretch cheese cloth over wooden frames, lay the herbs on them, support the corners on something (in my basement it's old silkscreens on paint cans) to keep them off the ground so air can move through them, and set up a small space heater with a fan to keep things warm and moving. I would try to keep it below 93 F. Despite all these " essentials, " many people successfully dry herbs by just throwing them in the corner on a newspaper or sticking them in a paper bag. Good luck. ============================== Peter L. Borten, L.Ac. 4004 SW Kelly Avenue, Ste 201 Portland, Oregon 97201 503.522.2613 http://www.whiteflowerhealing.com/ ============================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2001 Report Share Posted January 13, 2001 , " Peter Borten " <innergate@e...> wrote: > I don't know how ginseng is traditionally dried in China (may be described > in Pao Zhi), I've heard if you steam the ginseng before drying it, it will turn red like ren shen, because steaming destroys certain enzymes that degrade certain constituents. I have heard that this changes the properties of xi yang shen and makes it more qi supplementing and less cooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2003 Report Share Posted September 13, 2003 Is this herb much used, anyone any comment on it's action or efficacy compare to yin formulas?? Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Hi All, & Hi Jackie > Is [American ginseng] much used? I cannot answer that, but I presume so. > Any comment on it's action or efficacy compared to yin formulas?? > Jackie Here are some data from my notes: Pinyin Name: Xiyangshen; Huaqishen Common Name: American Ginseng Rx Latin Name: Panacis Quinquefolii Rx Herb Class: Tonic~Build Qi; Build Yin Actions: Adaptogen/Antistress; Tonic~physical; boost physical performance, muscle strength; hypoxic tolerance; Build Qi; Build Yin*; Build Fluids; Clear Fire; Clear Xu Fire; Clear Yin Xu Fire; Calm Shen; Calm Brain; Rectify CNS; Nourish/Stabilise CNS; Aid Mental stabililty; Build HT Xue Flow; Antiischaemic; Antihypoxia (Boost Hypoxic Tolerance); HT~Antiarrythmic; Build SP; Build SP Qi; Build SP in T & T food essence; SP-Protector; Build Muscle; LV- Protector; Hypolipaemic; Build LU; Build LU Qi; Build LU Yin; Antioxidant/Antiageing; Adaptogen/Antistress; Boost Metabolism; Strengthen body; Build up body; Boost vitality; Boost physical endurance; encourage body Fx; Antifatigue/Antiexhaustion~profound in exhaustion w Xu; Antishock; Antiviral; Protect Tissues against strong stimuli; Sialagogue; Ease Thirst; Diuretic; Boost Libido; Immunostimulant; Aid Nerve healing; Vulnerary; Haemostat~Astringe; Regenerate Tissue; hasten RNA; protein synthesis; Antimutagenic Nature: Sweet; bitter-bitter~slightly; cool. relatively cool compared to Korean; Chinese ginseng Channels entered: LU; KI; ST; HT Dose: 1.5-30g/d Uses: LU DysFx; SP DysFx; Qi Xu; Yin Xu; Xu; fatigue; debility; Immunosuppression; LU Xu; Cough~chronic; Xue Xu; anaemia; bleeding; Mouth dry; Thirst; Tiredness; Unrest; Xu Fever; xerostomia (mouth~dry) in radiation therapy; AMI (acute myocardial infarct) w HT Xu/HT Xue Stasis; Protect Tissues against strong stimuli; e.g. extreme Heat; Anxiety; Shen Disturbed; Cancer Radiotherapy- Protector~nose; -Protector~Pharynx: Boil 3g/d in water; Take for 20 d before treatment; continue in therapy to reduce xerostomia w appetite~poor; libido low Cautions: Toxicity is very low but may cause allergic reaction Best regards, WORK : Teagasc Staff Development Unit, Sandymount Ave., Dublin 4, Ireland WWW : Email: < Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0] HOME : 1 Esker Lawns, Lucan, Dublin, Ireland WWW : http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/searchap.htm Email: < Tel : 353-; [in the Republic: 0] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Actions: Adaptogen/Antistress; Tonic~physical; boost physical performance, muscle strength; hypoxic tolerance; Build Qi; Build Yin*; Build Fluids; Clear Fire; Clear Xu Fire; Clear Yin Xu Fire; Calm Shen; Calm Brain; Rectify CNS; Nourish/Stabilise CNS; Aid Mental stabililty; Build HT Xue Flow; Antiischaemic; Thanks Phil, some good info in your database. If it clears heat/fire as well as tonifying yin it might be useful. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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