Review of 'Internal heat'Caused by Taking Ginseng / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

ABSTRACT

To systematically collect the relative literatures about'internal heat'caused by taking ginseng, to summarize and analyze the scientific definition of'internal heat'according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and modern mechanism research. Through literature review, this article also analyzed and discussed the theory of'fire'based on the view of TCM, biochemistry and medicinal chemistry. It has been reported that the excessive and improper use of ginseng might lead'internal heat'. According to TCM theory, excessive nourishment of Qi will lead the generation speed of Qi faster than Blood, which will then cause'fire'. Modern researches indicated that the overdose or improper use of ginseng increased the levels of interleukin, dopamine, adrenal-cortical hormone as well as other biomarkers, which would then cause insomnia, oral ulcer, nose bleeding and other symptoms. Researchers indicated that ginsenoside Ro, ginsenoside Rg1, dencichine as well as panoxadiol, panoxatriol and other secondary ginseng saponin would cause'fire'.However, the conclusion about mechanism study on'fire'was conflicting. The changes on biochemical index caused by the main active components from ginseng are very similar to which caused by'fire'. The chemical substances and their mechanisms on'fire'after the treatment of ginseng still need to be further studied.