Ginseng Rootlets

Ren Shen Xu denotes the fine rootlets and beards of white ginseng, separated from the main root during grading.

Though more modest than the master root, these fibres keep a significant share of the natural compounds and are prized for their milder character, more approachable day to day, and inexpensive.

Presented as fine tufts of a straw to golden brown, they give up quickly what they hold in an infusion or a short decoction.

A light material of the Qi supplementing register, particularly suited to daily use or to constitutions that do not take a whole ginseng (too supplementing for them).

Traditionally used within the mild register of the Qi of the median sphere and of the breath, to engender the Liquids (Jin Ye), and to quiet the Spirit slightly.

• Daily infusion: 3 to 5 g (a good pinch), water at a simmer, 10 to 15 minutes, and it can be re-infused
• Short decoction: 5 to 10 g, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes
• Gradual use: ideal as a gentle introduction to ginseng, before moving on to the whole root as needed

Cool nature: distinct from the warmer main root. It suits most constitutions, but is to be avoided in cases of very deficient Yang with deep cold (the red form would be better matched).

Same traditional incompatibilities as Ren Shen.