Ginseng – Aralia Quinquefolia

The mother tincture is prepared from the dried root of the plant, Panax ginseng

C.A. Meyer, which grows wild in Manchuria and Korea. N.O. Araliaceae.

The principal indications are:

States of nervous exhaustion. Raises libido (and in many cases potency too).

The symptom-picture of Ginseng exhibits a predominance of right-sided com- plaints. There are pressing and stabbing pains in various parts, a spasmodic contrac- tion of the stomach, in the fingers and lower extremities, with stiffness of the joints, a sensation of heaviness and a painful feeling of exhaustion in the extremities. There is a battered pain in the sacrum and thighs, likewise with the right side predominat- ing.

There is also a predominant weakness of intellect, and forgetfulness with confu- sion and heaviness of the head; the senses are dulled.

Vertigo, hemicrania with ptosis of the eyelids, heat in the head and a tendency to sleep, are also indications for Ginseng.

There is characteristic paralytic ptosis, with difficulty in opening the upper lids. This is accompanied by a certain weakness of vision with hypersensitivity to light, visual distortion, and double vision.

Apart from weakness in the neck muscles there is stiffness and a battered pain in the spine, the sacrum and the hands and arms, with trembling and coldness. There are also contractures in the right hand, pains in the hips and knee joints, and neural- gic conditions of the sciatic nerve, extending to the toes.

The digestive organs are affected, with the tongue red and burning painfully, dry, cracked lips, especially the lower one, eructations, nausea with retching and stomach

pains with a sensation of contraction, stabbing pains in the liver region and constric- tion of breathing. There are also irritative states in the genito-urinary organs, with frequent urging for urination, burning, itching and discharge of dilute urine with de- posits of urates. There are erections at night without emissions.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Panax pseudoginseng, published the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for ginseng: rheumatism; general weakness and debilitation.