San Qi or Notoginseng: A Classic TCM Herb for Blood Invigoration and Healing
Health Lab- Apr 20
- 5 min read
Updated: May 11
San Qi, commonly known as Panax notoginseng or tienchi ginseng, is a highly valued herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), renowned for its ability to invigorate blood, stop bleeding, and promote healing. Documented in texts like the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica) by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty, this time-honored herb has been a cornerstone of TCM for centuries.
Its dual action of moving and stopping blood makes it a natural remedy for modern issues like bruises, bleeding, and cardiovascular health, optimized for search terms like "San Qi benefits" and "Panax notoginseng TCM."
Origins and Background
San Qi, derived from the root of the Panax notoginseng plant, has been used in TCM since ancient times to address blood stasis, bleeding, and injuries.
Prized for its unique ability to both invigorate blood and control hemorrhage, it was a key remedy in ancient China for trauma, menstrual disorders, and internal bleeding. In an era when physical injuries and circulatory issues were common, San Qi was essential for restoring balance.
Its prominence in treating both acute and chronic conditions makes it a versatile herb for today’s health challenges, searchable under terms like "tienchi ginseng uses" and "San Qi blood health."
Properties and Benefits
San Qi is a single herb with a broad range of therapeutic effects in TCM:
San Qi (Panax Notoginseng): Sweet, slightly bitter, and warm, San Qi invigorates blood, stops bleeding, and disperses stasis. Its active compounds, such as notoginsenosides and flavonoids, provide anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and hemostatic effects. It balances movement and stabilization, making it ideal for both traumatic and chronic conditions, aligning with search terms like "San Qi for bleeding" and "tienchi ginseng healing."
Key Effects
Invigorating Blood: It disperses blood stasis, reducing pain, swelling, or clots from trauma or stagnation.
Stopping Bleeding: It controls internal and external bleeding without causing stasis, aiding in wound healing.
Relieving Pain: It alleviates pain from injuries, menstrual cramps, or cardiovascular issues.
Supporting Cardiovascular Health: It improves circulation and reduces cholesterol, supporting heart function.
Common Symptoms
San Qi is ideal for:
Bruising, swelling, or pain from trauma or injuries.
Internal or external bleeding, such as nosebleeds or heavy menstruation.
Chest pain, palpitations, or circulatory issues due to blood stasis.
Menstrual pain or irregular periods with clots.
Purple tongue with dark spots or a choppy pulse.
Practical Applications
Traumatic Injuries: San Qi reduces bruising, swelling, and pain from sprains or fractures, relevant for searches like "tienchi ginseng for injuries."
Bleeding Disorders: It controls bleeding from wounds, nosebleeds, or heavy periods, aligning with "San Qi for bleeding."
Menstrual Pain: It eases cramps and regulates menstruation caused by blood stasis, searchable as "Panax notoginseng menstrual health."
Cardiovascular Support: It improves circulation and supports heart health, ideal for "San Qi cardiovascular benefits."
Clinical Uses of Notoginseng
San Qi is used for:
Traumatic injuries with bruising, swelling, or internal bleeding.
Gynecological conditions like dysmenorrhea, postpartum bleeding, or menorrhagia.
Cardiovascular disorders such as angina, hypertension, or atherosclerosis.
Hemorrhagic conditions like nosebleeds, hemoptysis, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Post-surgical recovery to reduce swelling and promote healing.
Adjunct therapy in chronic conditions like stroke recovery or diabetes with blood stasis.
Modern research supports its benefits: San Qi’s notoginsenosides improve blood flow and reduce clotting, its anti-inflammatory properties alleviate pain, and its hemostatic effects control bleeding, making it a versatile herb for blood health and healing, optimized for searches like "San Qi TCM" and "Panax notoginseng health benefits."
Dietary Support
Incorporating San Qi sparingly into meals or drinks can enhance its blood-invigorating and healing effects, typically used in small doses due to its potency:
San Qi Tea
Ingredients: 3g San Qi powder (use sparingly).
Method: Steep in boiling water for 5 minutes, drink warm in small amounts.
Benefits: Promotes circulation and stops bleeding, searchable as "tienchi ginseng tea."
San Qi Porridge
Ingredients: 3g San Qi powder, 100g rice.
Method: Cook rice in water until soft, stir in San Qi powder, serve warm.
Benefits: Supports healing and reduces pain.
San Qi and Red Date Soup
Ingredients: 3g San Qi powder, 5 red dates (jujubes).
Method: Boil red dates in water until soft, add San Qi powder, serve warm.
Benefits: Nourishes blood and promotes recovery, relevant for "Panax notoginseng soup."
San Qi Chicken Broth
Ingredients: 3g San Qi powder, 100g lean chicken, 5g ginger.
Method: Boil chicken and ginger in water until cooked, add San Qi powder, season lightly, serve warm.
Benefits: Enhances healing and invigorates blood.
Massage Support
Massage can complement San Qi’s effects by promoting circulation and relieving stasis:
Xuehai Point: Two inches above the inner knee. Massage for 5 minutes to invigorate blood and reduce pain.
Neiguan Point: Two inches above the wrist, between the tendons. Massage for 5 minutes to ease chest pain and promote circulation.
Sanyinjiao Point: Three inches above the inner ankle. Massage for 5 minutes to regulate blood and qi.
Weizhong Point: In the center of the back of the knee. Massage for 5 minutes to relieve pain and disperse stasis.
Precautions
San Qi is potent and requires caution:
Avoid in Pregnancy: Contraindicated during pregnancy due to its strong blood-moving effects, unless prescribed by a practitioner.
Excessive Bleeding: Use cautiously in cases of severe bleeding disorders, as it may require precise dosing to balance hemostasis.
Qi Deficiency: Those with fatigue, pale tongue, or weak pulse should consult a practitioner, as it may deplete energy if misused.
Prolonged Use: Avoid long-term use without supervision to prevent imbalance; consult a TCM expert for safe dosing.
Medical Supervision: Always consult a TCM practitioner for personalized dosing and safe use.
Conclusion
San Qi, or Panax notoginseng, is a TCM treasure, a single herb that invigorates blood, stops bleeding, and promotes healing. Perfect for bruises, menstrual pain, or cardiovascular health, it offers powerful support for modern health challenges.
Enhance its benefits with San Qi tea or red date soup, and consult a TCM practitioner for personalized guidance. Let this ancient herb bring vitality and relief to your life, optimized for searches like "San Qi TCM" and "tienchi ginseng benefits."
Chinese Name | 三七 |
Chinese Pinyin | Sanqi |
English Name | Sanchi |
Latin Pharmaceutical Name | Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma |
Category | Roots and rhizomes |
Origin | The dried root and rhizome of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H.Chen.(Araliaceae) |
Production Regions | Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Wenshan of Yunnan, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Sichuan. |
Macroscopic Features | Root is sub-conical or cylindrical, 1~6cm lone, 1~4cm diameter. Externally grayish-yellow or grayish-brown, with intermittent longitudinal wrinkles and lateral root scars. Apex has stem scar, surrounding with verruca. Heavy in weight, firm texture, fractured surface is grayish-green, yellowish-green or grayish-white, cortex and xylem are relatively easily split apart, xylem is slightly radial arranged. faint odor, bitter with a sweet aftertaste. |
Quality Requirements | Superior medicinal material has round head, large and full size, dry body, heavy weight, firm texture, grayish-black fractured surface, without cracks. |
Properties | Sweet, slightly bitter, warm. |
Functions | Stops bleeding, disperses blood, calms pain. Apply to swelling and pain from injury, chest impediment and pain, abdominal mass, blood stasis and amenorrhea, dysmenorrheal, postpartum yin stasis and abdominal pain, sore and abscess swelling pain. |
Technical Terms | ‘Copper skin’: This refers to a grayish-yellow color seen on the outer skin of san qi, which is similar to the color of copper. ‘Iron bone’: This refers to the central, inner core of the medicinal material, which is iron-colored and hard like bone. It is heavy and solid and does not break easily. ‘Nail head’: This refers to the numerous scars of lateral roots that from small protuberances on the upper portion of the medicinal material; they are also called ‘breasts (ru bao)’. |
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