Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma/ San Qi/ Sanchi: a pearl of traditional Chinese medicine that promotes blood circulation, removes blood stasis, stops bleeding and relieves pain
- Hongji Medical Group
- Mar 6
- 6 min read
Once upon a time , a hunter went up the mountain to hunt and saw a tiger. The hunter immediately raised his bow and shot an arrow at the tiger. Although the arrow hit the tiger, he chased after it and found that the tiger ran away, leaving a pool of blood on the ground. The hunter thought that the tiger would bleed to death after being shot by an arrow, so he planned to look for the tiger again tomorrow. The next day when he went up the mountain, the hunter saw the injured tiger on another hilltop. He was surprised to see that the tiger was still alive and was eating a kind of herb. When he raised his bow to shoot the tiger again, the tiger ran away very swiftly. The hunter collected the herb that the tiger ate and used it to treat the bleeding disease, and found that the herb was indeed very effective. This herb is Panax notoginseng.
San Qi, ginseng and American ginseng are all members of the same family of Panax ginseng in the Araliaceae family. They are all important traditional Chinese medicinal materials in my country and play an important role in China's health and medical medicine. The three major family members are independent and have their own functions. Ginseng is the best for replenishing qi, American ginseng replenishes lung yin and clears fire, and San Qi is famous for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
Characteristics of San Qi
San Qi belongs to the genus Panax, Araliaceae, and is a variant of Panax pseudoginseng. It is mainly produced in the mountains of Yunnan and Guangxi in China. The Chinese call it Panax notoginseng because it has three branches, each with seven leaves ; some say it is named because it is harvested three to seven years after planting. Panax notoginseng blooms in early summer with small yellowish-green flowers, and the umbrella-shaped inflorescence is single and terminal.
The quality specifications of San Qi are mainly evaluated based on sensory indicators. The ones with large size, irony, fullness, smooth surface and no bumps are the best quality. San Qi, also known as ginseng Sanqi and Tianqi, is a plant of the genus Ginseng in the Araliaceae family. The medicinal part is the dried tuber.
The difference between San Qi and Chuanqi (Rattan Panax notoginseng) also lies in their different medicinal properties and uses. Chuanqi is also called Rattan Panax notoginseng and Yangluokui. Unlike Panax notoginseng, it is a cooling food. San Qi is a plant of the Araliaceae family, and ginseng is also a plant of the Araliaceae family, so Panax notoginseng's appearance, leaves, and fruits are very similar to ginseng, and it is also called ginseng Panax notoginseng. The medicinal part of Panax notoginseng is the dried tuber. There is another kind of rattan Panax notoginseng called Yangluokui, which belongs to the Basella family, and its leaves are often used as a dish. Nowadays, Yangluokui is also commonly known as Chuanqi. Chuanqi is a cooling food, so it can be stir-fried with sesame oil to remove the grassy taste of Chuanqi itself.
San Qi harvested around the beginning of autumn is full of energy, good color, smooth surface, and good quality, which is called spring Panax notoginseng. The Panax notoginseng harvested after flowering and stalk formation consumes some nutrients during flowering and stalk formation, so it is insufficient in energy, poor color, wrinkled surface, and poor quality, and is called winter Panax notoginseng.
Effects of San Qi
San Qi is known for its ability to "stop bleeding without leaving stasis, and remove stasis without hurting the body". It is a specialty of Yunnan. Wenshan in Yunnan is the origin and main production area of Panax notoginseng. Its quality is the best in the country and it is known as the "Hometown of Panax notoginseng". Wenshan Panax notoginseng has a long history of use and its miraculous effects of promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, and relieving swelling and pain are recognized by the world. According to ancient books, ginseng is the best for replenishing qi, and Panax notoginseng is the best for replenishing blood. They have the same taste and the same effect. Panax notoginseng is called the most precious of Chinese medicines.
San Qi has dual effects, with the effects of raw and cooked, that is, raw Panax notoginseng and cooked Panax notoginseng. Cooked Panax notoginseng can replenish blood and strengthen the body, while raw Panax notoginseng can stop bleeding and promote blood circulation .
The efficacy of San Qi can be summarized in six words: "hemostasis, blood stasis, and pain relief". Panax notoginseng has always been used as an important medicine for traumatology, and is rarely taken as a tonic. Panax notoginseng occupies an important position among the important medicines for traumatology, and is often used to treat injuries caused by falls, stasis, and pain.
San Qi has a wide range of applications in traditional Chinese medicine, and is primarily known for its effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and stopping bleeding and relieving pain. Panax notoginseng is known as the "magic hemostatic drug" and has a strong hemostatic effect. It has shown significant hemostatic effects in different animals, different routes of administration, and different preparations.
In addition, San Qi has multiple functions such as anti-thrombosis, promoting hematopoiesis, regulating the cardiovascular system, etc. It can dilate the coronary arteries, increase coronary blood flow, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, maintain normal heart rhythm, resist thrombosis and coagulation, and enhance the body's immune function.
In clinical practice, San Qi is often used to treat various internal and external bleeding diseases, such as traumatic bleeding, blood stasis, gastric bleeding, hematuria, etc. It can also dilate blood vessels, dissolve blood clots, improve microcirculation, prevent and treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hyperlipidemia, increased cholesterol, coronary heart disease, angina, and sequelae of cerebral hemorrhage.
Modern Research on San Qi
San Qi has the effects of stopping bleeding and dispersing blood stasis, eliminating swelling and relieving pain, effectively treating bruises and injuries, dilating coronary arteries, regulating coronary blood flow, reducing myocardial oxygen consumption, maintaining normal heart rhythm, resisting thrombosis and coagulation, and enhancing the body's immune function.
Modern research shows that San Qi has significant effects in many areas. First, Panax notoginseng has a strong hemostatic and blood circulation and stasis-removing effect. Studies have found that the total saponins in Panax notoginseng can effectively promote human blood circulation and inhibit platelet aggregation, thereby preventing and treating thrombosis. In addition, Panax notoginseng can also dilate coronary arteries, increase coronary blood flow, reduce myocardial oxygen consumption, maintain normal heart rhythm, and has a significant protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
Secondly, San Qi also plays an important role in promoting hematopoiesis and immune regulation. Modern research has confirmed that Panax notoginseng total saponins can directly induce the proliferation and differentiation of related hematopoietic cells and have a good blood-tonifying effect. At the same time, San Qi can also enhance the body's immune function and has significant therapeutic effects on a variety of chronic diseases. These research results have made Panax notoginseng widely used in the clinical treatment of internal and external bleeding, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, immune dysfunction and other diseases.
How to take San Qi
There are many ways to take Panax notoginseng, and you can choose the appropriate method according to different needs. The following are some common ways of taking it:
Panax notoginseng powder : Grind the Panax notoginseng into fine powder and take it directly or add it to food. Generally, take 1-3 grams each time, 1-2 times a day. It can be taken directly with warm water or added to honey, milk and other drinks.
Panax notoginseng slices : Cut the Panax notoginseng into thin slices and chew directly or soak in water for drinking. Take 3-5 slices each time, 1-2 times a day.
Panax notoginseng tea : Put Panax notoginseng slices or powder into a cup, add boiling water, and drink it when the water temperature is suitable. You can add appropriate amount of honey or lemon according to your personal taste.
Panax notoginseng soup : Add Panax notoginseng slices or powder to the soup and boil it with other ingredients. Common combinations include chicken soup, pork rib soup, etc. This can better exert the effects of Panax notoginseng and increase the nutritional value of the soup.
Panax notoginseng wine : Soak Panax notoginseng in white wine to make Panax notoginseng wine. Drink a small cup each time, 1-2 times a day. This will help you better absorb the effective ingredients of Panax notoginseng.
Notes
There are some taboos to note when taking San Qi. It is not suitable for people with weak constitution, women during menstruation, or those with colds. It is best to consult a doctor for compound prescriptions. It is best to consult a doctor for taking Panax notoginseng powder or compound powder alone.
Conclusion
As a common health-care herb, San Qi is well known for its unique blood-activating and hemostatic effects. Its evaluation in ancient medical books, plant characteristics, differences between different varieties, indications and effects, modern applications and precautions all demonstrate its important position in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. The story of Panax notoginseng and its difference from Sichuan notoginseng also provide us with a richer understanding. San Qi, this pearl of Chinese medicine, will surely play a greater role in future medical care.
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