Ginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Codonopsis pilosula, American ginseng, red ginseng, Pseudoginseng… what exactly are the differences? Here’s a comprehensive comparison of these ginseng varieties—save this!

The ginseng family is vast, encompassing varieties such as Asian ginseng, Codonopsis pilosula, Prince’s ginseng, Adenophora (northern and southern), American ginseng, and Salvia miltiorrhiza. Though all classified as “ginseng,” they differ significantly in their unique characteristics and medicinal properties, and individuals with different constitutions should choose accordingly. What are the nuances to consider? Let’s hear what traditional Chinese medicine has to say.

[Comprehensive Overviews] Although they all bear the name “ginseng,” their effects vary considerably. How can you use ginseng effectively to reap its full benefits? Naturally, understanding the unique properties of each type is essential to making the most of it.

0 1 Ginseng

Ginseng: Greatly replenishes primordial qi and is the premier herb for tonifying deficiency.

Ginseng is the dried root and rhizome of Panax ginseng, a plant belonging to the Araliaceae family. With a sweet‑bitter taste and a warm nature, it is renowned as the “supreme herb for replenishing qi and the vital essence that sustains life.”

Wild-grown ginseng is known as “mountain ginseng.” After being sun-dried, it is called “raw‑sun‑dried mountain ginseng,” which lacks the warming and drying properties of other ginseng varieties. It greatly replenishes vital energy and is considered the highest grade among all ginsengs; however, its natural resources are scarce, making it exceedingly valuable.

The cultivated variety is known as “garden ginseng.” After being sun‑dried or oven‑dried, it is called “raw‑sun‑dried ginseng,” which is relatively mild and neither warm nor drying. It can both tonify qi and generate body fluids, making it suitable for reinforcing the body’s vital energy while expelling pathogenic factors, thereby strengthening physical constitution and enhancing disease resistance. When garden ginseng is steamed and then dried, it becomes “red ginseng.” Red ginseng possesses warming and tonifying properties; while it tonifies qi, it also carries a robust, warming, and drying nature, excelling at invigorating yang energy and thus being particularly indicated for emergency use to restore yang.

There is another type of ginseng called Korean ginseng, which is cultivated on the Korean Peninsula. It has a much stronger flavor and a rich, aromatic scent than ordinary ginseng.

In summary, ginseng tonifies primordial qi, strengthens the spleen and benefits the lungs, generates fluids and nourishes the blood, and calms the spirit while enhancing cognitive function. It also exerts therapeutic effects to varying degrees in conditions such as hypertension, myocardial ischemia, coronary atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

02 Codonopsis

Codonopsis: Tonifies qi and nourishes the blood.

Codonopsis pilosula has a sweet flavor and neutral nature, entering the spleen and lung meridians. It is an excellent herb for tonifying qi and nourishing blood, with the effects of replenishing the middle jiao to benefit qi, strengthening the spleen, and benefiting the lungs. It is indicated for individuals with physical weakness, deficiency of qi and blood, and post‑illness or postpartum debility, who present with spleen‑stomach qi deficiency—manifesting as sallow complexion, dizziness, palpitations, limb fatigue, poor appetite, and loose stools—as well as lung qi deficiency—characterized by shortness of breath, asthmatic cough, and a tendency to catch colds.

Codonopsis differs from ginseng. However, in terms of therapeutic effects, it shares similarities with ginseng, which is why it is often referred to as ginseng’s “brother.” With its mild and gentle nature, abundant supply, and affordable price, Codonopsis is particularly well suited for everyday health maintenance.

03 Sand Ginseng

Adenophora: Nourishes yin and clears the lungs, transforms phlegm and stops cough.

Adenophora has two varieties—South Adenophora and North Adenophora—and their therapeutic effects are quite similar. North Adenophora is indicated for chronic cough due to deficiency of both lung qi and yin; South Adenophora is suitable for dry, sore throat following an exogenous heat illness.

Adenophora possesses the characteristic of tonifying without drying. Classified as a herb for replenishing deficiency, it has a sweet flavor and is particularly effective in nourishing the yin of the five viscera, with special emphasis on supporting the yin of the lungs and stomach.

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that radix adenophorae is indicated for dry cough with scant sputum and dryness of the throat, conditions arising from yin deficiency with lung dryness or heat‑induced damage to lung yin; it is also used for symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, a red tongue with little coating, and constipation, which result from heat‑pathogen injuring stomach yin in warm‑disease or from prolonged illness leading to yin deficiency and fluid depletion.

In the Lingnan region, nearly every household prepares “qing bu liang” soup, which often includes radix adenophorae.

North Sand Ginseng

04 Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza: promotes blood circulation and resolves blood stasis.

Danshen is an excellent herb for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, with a long history of medicinal use. It is closely associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, and numerous formulations have been developed from it, including the commonly used Danshen Dripping Pills and Compound Danshen Tablets.

Danshen is indicated for conditions such as chest oppression and heart pain, epigastric and abdominal discomfort with radiating pain to the hypochondrium, painful heat‑induced arthralgia, restlessness and insomnia, menstrual irregularities, dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, sores and swellings with toxic heat, and injuries from falls or blows. In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a well‑known saying: “A single dose of danshen can even outwit the most renowned physicians,” elevating danshen to a position of great esteem. Some even regard it as possessing the therapeutic effects of the Four Substances—namely, Siwu Tang, composed of prepared rehmannia, angelica, white peony, and chuanxiong.

05 American Ginseng

American ginseng: clears heat and nourishes yin.

American ginseng, also known as “Panax quinquefolius,” is native to the United States and Canada. Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that it is particularly well-suited for individuals with qi deficiency accompanied by yin‑yin depletion and internal heat, and is indicated for symptoms such as yin deficiency–related fever, cough, hemoptysis, toothache due to deficient fire, and thirst with scant saliva.

06 Prince Ginseng

Prince Ginseng: Its medicinal properties are stable, tonifying qi without causing internal heat.

Prince’s Ginseng is the dried rhizome of the plant Pseudostellaria heterophylla, a member of the Caryophyllaceae family; it is also known as Child’s Ginseng, Children’s Ginseng, Four‑leaf Ginseng, Four‑leaf Vegetable, and Rice Ginseng, among other names.

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that Prince Ginseng tonifies qi and strengthens the spleen, generates fluids and moistens the lungs, and is indicated for conditions such as spleen deficiency with fatigue, poor appetite, post-illness weakness, deficiency of both qi and yin, spontaneous sweating and thirst, and dry cough due to lung dryness.

07 Red Ginseng

Red ginseng: Tonifies yang energy and is suitable for those with yang deficiency.

Red ginseng is warmer in nature, more potent, and delivers a stronger, longer-lasting effect; accordingly, its ability to tonify yang and nourish qi and blood is truly exceptional.

Anyone exhibiting symptoms of yang deficiency—such as a pale, dull complexion and cold hands and feet—may benefit from taking red ginseng to tonify the body. However, individuals with yin deficiency and excessive internal heat should avoid using red ginseng.