Notoginseng

Latin name: Radix Notoginseng

Chinese Name: San-Qi (Notoginseng)

Traditional Uses

Actions: Controls bleeding, eliminates blood stasis, reduces swelling and pain.

Applications: Hemoptysis, epistaxis, rectal bleeding, functional bleeding, hemorrhage due to external injury, throbbing pain in the chest and abdomen, swelling and pain due to external wound.

Pharmacology

(1) Hemostatic effect: Animal studies show that oral ingestion of the herb shortens blood coagulation time.

(2) Cardiotonic effect: It increases coronary blood flow and decreases oxygen consumption by the cardiac muscles, thereby diminishing the load on the heart. It also lessens lipid and cholesterol level in the blood.

(3) Other effects: It enhances the immune system and possesses anti-tumor effects.

Reference: Hung-yen Hsu, Ph.D. and Associates: Oriental Materia Medica A Concise Guide 1986, Keats Publishing