What is San-Qi Ginseng?

San-Qi (also called Sanqi, Tienchi, Tianqi, or Three-Seven Root) is the dried root of Panax notoginseng, a plant native to the mountainous regions of Southwest China, particularly Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. Unlike its relatives Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), San-Qi has unique properties and applications.

Traditional Classification: Warm in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, nontoxic

Active Constituents: The root contains over 200 bioactive compounds including:

• Ginsenosides (saponins) - particularly Rb1, Rg1, Rk1, and Rg5
• Notoginsenosides (unique to this species)
• Flavonoids
• Polysaccharides
• Volatile oils (including andrographolide, panaxynol, and panaxydol)

Primary Functions & Benefits

Traditional Chinese Medicine Uses:

• Stops Bleeding: Hemostatic properties for internal and external bleeding
• Invigorates Blood: Disperses blood stasis and improves circulation
• Reduces Swelling and Pain: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects
• Transforms Blood Stasis: Breaks up blood clots without injuring new blood

Modern Clinical Applications:

Cardiovascular Health:

• Reduces chest pain (angina)
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves circulation
• Reduces cholesterol and triglycerides
• May prevent blood clot formation
• Protects against heart attack damage

Bleeding Disorders:

• Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
• Vomiting blood (hematemesis)
• Blood in urine (hematuria)
• Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Internal bleeding
• Post-surgical bleeding

Stroke and Brain Health:

• Neuroprotective effects
• Improves functional independence after ischemic stroke
• May improve cognitive function
• Reduces brain inflammation

Other Benefits:

• Reduces muscle soreness and inflammation
• Wound healing
• Anti-cancer properties (prostate, liver, other cancers)
• Improves energy and reduces fatigue
• May help with depression and mood
• Supports liver and kidney health
• Antioxidant protection
• Immune system support

Recommended Dosages

Traditional Preparation:

• Decoction: 5-10 grams per day
• Powder (taken directly or mixed with water): 1-3 grams per dose, 2-3 times daily
• Tablets: Typically 500 mg per tablet, 3-5 tablets per dose

Modern Standardized Preparations:

• Xuesaitong soft capsules: 120 mg twice daily
• Injectable forms: Only administered by healthcare providers

Important Notes:

• The root must be grown for 3-5 years before harvesting for medicinal use
• Raw San-Qi is used for bleeding and blood circulation
• Cooked San-Qi is less potent for bleeding but better for tonification

What to Take San-Qi With

Synergistic Supplements:

• Salvia miltiorrhiza (Dan Shen): Often combined in formulas for cardiovascular health
• Panax ginseng: For energy and vitality (different uses than San-Qi)
• Rheum palmatum (Da Huang): In certain formulas for blood circulation
• Blood cooling herbs: When bleeding is caused by heat
• Yin tonics: If there is dry mouth or Yin deficiency

Supportive Combinations:

• Antioxidant vitamins (C, E) for cardiovascular protection
• Omega-3 fatty acids for heart health
• Coenzyme Q10 for cardiovascular support

Drug and Supplement Interactions

AVOID or Use with Extreme Caution:

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Medications:

• Warfarin (Coumadin) - May increase bleeding risk or alter drug levels
• Aspirin
• Clopidogrel (Plavix)
• Heparin
• Note: Some studies show San-Qi may be safely combined with dual antiplatelet therapy under medical supervision, but this requires close monitoring

Diabetes Medications:

• May lower blood sugar levels
• Requires dose adjustment and monitoring

Blood Pressure Medications:

• May enhance blood pressure-lowering effects
• Nifedipine - San-Qi may increase drug levels

Other Medications:

• HIV medications (raltegravir, lopinavir/ritonavir) - May increase liver toxicity risk
• MAO inhibitors (phenelzine) - Potential interaction
• Medications metabolized by CYP450 enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4)

Alcohol:

• May reduce San-Qi absorption and effectiveness
• Alcohol should be avoided during San-Qi treatment

Who Should Take San-Qi

Ideal Candidates:

Bleeding Disorders:

• Individuals with chronic nosebleeds
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Post-surgical bleeding risk

Cardiovascular Conditions:

• Angina (chest pain)
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Poor circulation
• History of stroke or heart attack

Injury and Inflammation:

• Traumatic injuries with bruising
• Muscle soreness (especially athletes)
• Chronic pain from blood stasis
• Post-surgical recovery

Blood Stasis Symptoms (Traditional Chinese Medicine):

• Sharp, stabbing pain in fixed location
• Masses or tumors
• Menstrual pain with clots
• Dark purple tongue
• Varicose veins

Who Should NOT Take San-Qi

Contraindications:

Pregnant Women: UNSAFE - May cause birth defects or miscarriage Breastfeeding Women: UNSAFE - May pass through breast milk and cause allergic reactions in infants Scheduled Surgery: Discontinue at least 2 weeks before surgery due to bleeding risk

Use with Caution:

Blood Disorders:

• Hemophilia or other bleeding disorders
• People taking blood thinners

Hormone-Sensitive Conditions:

• Breast cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• (San-Qi has estrogen-like activity)

Liver Disease: May affect liver function or drug metabolism

Qi Deficiency (Traditional Chinese Medicine):

• Extreme fatigue
• Pale tongue
• Weak pulse
• May deplete energy if misused

Blood Deficiency (Traditional Chinese Medicine):

• Pale complexion
• Dizziness
• Palpitations
• Contraindicated in this pattern

Blood Heat (Traditional Chinese Medicine):

• Bleeding with bright red blood
• Restlessness and irritability
• Not appropriate for this type of bleeding

Deficiency Symptoms

San-Qi does not cause a specific deficiency when absent from the diet, as it is not an essential nutrient. However, in Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, conditions that may benefit from San-Qi include:

Blood Stasis Patterns:

• Chronic, fixed pain (especially chest pain)
• Dark, purplish complexion
• Varicose veins or spider veins
• Menstrual blood with dark clots
• Purple spots on tongue
• Choppy or wiry pulse

Blood Deficiency with Stasis:

• Fatigue combined with pain
• Pale complexion with bruising
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Poor wound healing

Note: These are TCM diagnostic patterns, not Western medical deficiencies.

Toxicity and Side Effects

Common Side Effects:

• Dry mouth
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nervousness or insomnia
• Flushed skin
• Headache
• Gastrointestinal upset
• Diarrhea

Allergic Reactions (Rare but Documented):

• Skin rashes (exanthema)
• Urticaria (hives)
• Itching
• Red papules
• In extremely rare cases: severe reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, anaphylaxis

Esophagitis:

• Can occur if tablets are taken without sufficient water
• Take tablets with a full glass of water

Serious Adverse Events (Very Rare):

• Cerebral arteritis (brain blood vessel inflammation)
• Liver inflammation (cholestatic hepatitis)
• Anaphylactic shock

"Ginseng Abuse Syndrome":

• Occurs with very high doses (15+ grams/day)
• Central nervous system hyperactivity
• Skin eruptions
• Morning diarrhea
• Mania

Toxic Dosage Levels:

• At controlled therapeutic doses, San-Qi has nearly no toxic effects
• Toxicity is rare and typically related to extremely high doses or prolonged misuse
• Always follow recommended dosages

Important: There is liver toxicity risk from using the WRONG species. "Tu San Qi" (Gynura japonica) is sometimes confused with Panax notoginseng and contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause severe liver damage. Always verify you are using authentic Panax notoginseng from a reputable source.

Timing and Administration

Best Time to Take:

• No specific time required - can be taken morning, afternoon, or evening
• Consistency is more important than timing
• For bleeding: Can be taken as needed
• For chronic conditions: Regular daily dosing

With Food or Empty Stomach:

• Can be taken with or without food
• If experiencing stomach upset, take with food
• Traditional powder form can be mixed with warm or cold water
• Tablets should be taken with plenty of water to prevent esophageal irritation

Forms and Preparation:

Raw Powder (Most Common):

• Mix 1-3 grams with warm water
• Can swallow powder directly
• Drink the liquid and residue

Decoction:

• Simmer 5-10 grams in water
• Drink the liquid

Tablets/Capsules:

• Follow manufacturer instructions
• Take with full glass of water

External Application:

• Can be applied directly to wounds as powder
• Stops bleeding and promotes healing

Duration of Use:

• Acute injuries: Until healed (typically days to weeks)
• Chronic conditions: Months, but should be monitored
• Avoid long-term use without supervision to prevent imbalance
• Take breaks or cycle use for chronic conditions

Special Considerations

Quality and Sourcing:

• Use only authentic Panax notoginseng from reputable suppliers
• Look for products tested for purity and contaminants
• Dao Di region (Yunnan Province) is considered the best source
• USP-Verified or GMP-certified products are preferred
• Check for ISO lab testing and full traceability

Pregnancy and Postpartum:

• Contraindicated during pregnancy - risk of birth defects
• Contraindicated while breastfeeding - may cause infant allergic reactions
• Only use postpartum under expert TCM guidance

Traditional Chinese Medicine Context:

• San-Qi is classified as a "blood-moving" herb
• Belongs to the "herbs that stop bleeding" category
• Unique dual action: stops bleeding without causing stasis AND moves blood without causing bleeding
• Must be prescribed according to TCM pattern differentiation
• Works best when combined with other herbs in formulas

Drug Testing:

• Ginseng products may occasionally cause false positives on drug tests
• Inform testing facilities if using San-Qi

Clinical Evidence

According to PubMed research:

Stroke Recovery: A large randomized clinical trial found that Panax notoginseng saponins (Xuesaitong soft capsules) significantly increased the likelihood of functional independence at 3 months in patients with ischemic stroke, with 89.3% achieving independence versus 82.4% in the control group (DOI).

After Intravenous Thrombolysis: Systematic reviews found that notoginseng saponins improved neurological deficits and activities of daily living in stroke patients after thrombolysis, without increasing adverse events (DOI).

Cognitive Function: Network meta-analysis showed that ginsenosides were the most effective plant extract for improving cognitive scores (MMSE and MOCA) in stroke patients (DOI).

Safety Profile: At controlled doses, Panax notoginseng has nearly no toxic effects, with adverse event rates similar to placebo in clinical trials.

Summary & Key Takeaways

San-Qi (Panax notoginseng) is a powerful Traditional Chinese Medicine herb with unique dual properties: stopping bleeding while simultaneously improving blood circulation. It has strong evidence for cardiovascular health, particularly in stroke recovery and angina management. Modern research supports its traditional uses while revealing new applications in neuroprotection and inflammation.

Bottom Line: San-Qi is generally safe when used appropriately, but requires caution with bleeding disorders, pregnancy, hormone-sensitive conditions, and blood-thinning medications. Always source from reputable suppliers to ensure you're getting authentic Panax notoginseng (not the toxic Gynura japonica). For chronic conditions or combination with medications, consultation with a qualified TCM practitioner or integrative medicine physician is essential.

The herb shines in treating blood stasis patterns with bleeding, traumatic injuries, cardiovascular disease, and stroke recovery. Its safety profile is favorable at recommended doses, though allergic reactions can occur rarely. Quality sourcing and proper TCM pattern diagnosis are critical for optimal results.