Notoginseng:The Miracle Root for the Preservation of Life.,the No.1 Blood Precious Tonic and more.

Botanical Description of Panax notoginseng.

Panax Notoginseng Extract Notoginseng Leaf Extract Triterpenes Ginsenoside Rb3 Notoginseng Root Extract Total Triterpenes CAS 88105-29-7 photo picture image Sanchi is the dried root of Panax notoginseng (Bulk. ) F. H. Chen (Fam. Araliaceae).

The root of the perennial plant Panax pseudo-ginseng notoginseng (Burkill.) G.Hoo.C.J.Tseng., of the family Araliaceae. Native to east Asia, it is found in forests and shrubberies in China, Burma, and up to 2100-4300 metres in Central Nepal and the Himalayas.

The perennial plant grows to about 1.2 m high at a slow rate. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Sanqi, also called Tianqi or Tien-chi, is the dried tuber of Panax notoginseng (family: Araliaceae). It is classified as warm in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and nontoxic. The dose in decoction for clinical use is 5-10 g. It can be ground to powder for swallowing directly or taking mixed with water: the dose in that case is usually is 1-3 grams, each time (a common preparation is tablets, 500 mg sanqi powder per tablet). In the Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica, 1596 A.D.) it is stated: "On account of the fact that sanqi is an herb belonging to the xue (blood) phase of the yangming and jueyin meridians, it can treat all diseases of the blood." Sanqi is an herb that has been used in China quite extensively since the end of the 19th century. It has acquired a very favorable reputation for treatment of blood disorders, including blood stasis, bleeding, and blood deficiency.
Panax Notoginseng Extract Notoginseng Leaf Extract Triterpenes Ginsenoside Rb3 Notoginseng Root Extract Total Triterpenes CAS 88105-29-7 photo picture image

By Chinese standards, Notoginseng is a relative newcomer, first appearing in the Compendium of Materia Medica published by Li Shizen in 1578. He pronounced the root "more valuable than gold." Modern clinical trials conducted in China appear to confirm that Notoginseng does indeed speed the clotting process. It also seems to combat the effects of hardening of the arteries, improving circulation to the heart and relieving high blood pressure.

Native to China, Notoginseng is grown commercially in the southern and central regions of the country. The portion of the plant used in remedies is the root, dug up before the plant flowers or after the fruit has ripened.
Panax Notoginseng Extract Notoginseng Leaf Extract Triterpenes Ginsenoside Rb3 Notoginseng Root Extract Total Triterpenes CAS 88105-29-7 photo picture image

With its high level of use have come a few reports of apparent adverse effects, none of them related to toxicity of its herbal constituents.

There are two basic types of adverse responses reported. One is an esophagitis that appears to occur as a result of consuming tablets of sanqi without drinking much water. The tablet may directly contact the tissues and cause some irritation or might lead to some acid reflux; there were two such cases reported. The other, more frequent, problem is with allergic reactions. These include dermatitis (allergic exanthema), shock, purpura, blisters, or other reactions of idiosyncratic nature; there were 19 such cases reported. After relaying these reports in detail here, the basic information for the allergic reactions is summarized in a table on page 4. The manufacturer of the sanqi products consumed was not known, nor was the botanical identity of the raw materials confirmed for these reaction reports.

The Chinese refer to it as "three-seven root" because the plant has three leaves on one side and four leaves on the other. The herb is a perennial with dark green leaves branching from a stem with a red cluster of berries in the middle. It is both cultivated and gathered from wild forests, with wild plants being the most expensive. The root of the plant is used medicinally, and tea is sometimes made from the leaves. At the top of the root is a section called the "age root," which has notches that indicate the age of the particular root. Chinese herbalists consider roots older than three years to be the most effective medicinally. Notoginseng root has a very bitter flavor.