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Latin pharmacognostic name: Pseudostellariae Radix

Alternate English names: lesser ginseng

Alternate Chinese names: 童参 tóng shēn; 孩儿参 hái ér shēn

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin (other sources): Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm.*; Pseudostellaria maximowicziana (Franch. et Sav.) Pax ex Pax et Hoffm.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Supplementing agents / Qì-supplementing agents

Properties: Sweet, slightly bitter; balanced.

Channel entry: Spleen and lung channels.

Indications:

• Boosts spleen qì and nourishes stomach yīn: Reduced eating and fatigue from spleen qì vacuity or stomach yīn vacuity.
• Supplements qì and engenders liquid: Qì vacuity with damage to liquids, manifesting in lung vacuity with dry cough, heart palpitation and insomnia, or vacuity heat with profuse sweating.
• Tài zǐ shēn is similar to Xī yáng shēn (西洋参 Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, American ginseng). Both supplement the qì and yīn of the spleen and lung. Both engender liquid and allay thirst, and also clear fire. However, tài zǐ shēn is weaker than xī yáng shēn in all these actions. It is used for mild patterns and for children.

Dosage & Method: Oral: 10–30g in decoctions.

Quality: Fat moist sand-colored roots without fine roots are best.

Product Area: Jiāngsū, ānhuī.

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