Notoginseng (San Qi)
三七 · Sānqī
Panax notoginseng
Family: Araliaceae · Part used: Root (3–7 year) · Origin: Wenshan, Yunnan, China
Nature
Warm
Flavor
Sweet, slightly bitter
Meridian
Liver, Stomach
San Qi — 'three-seven', named for its 3–7 year maturation and leaf structure — is the legendary bleeding-stopping, bruise-healing herb of Yunnan. Famously carried by Yunnan Baiyao users and American Civil War soldiers alike, it uniquely stops bleeding while dispelling stasis: stopping blood without leaving stagnation behind.
🌿 Functions & Actions
- •Stops bleeding and disperses stasis
- •Reduces swelling and relieves pain
- •Invigorates blood (when steamed, tonifies)
📋 Traditional Indications
- •Internal and external bleeding
- •Traumatic injury and bruising
- •Chest and costal pain from stasis
- •Joint pain
- •Post-surgical recovery (professional guidance)
📖 Usage & Dosage
1–3 g daily as powder (raw for stasis, steamed for tonification); externally applied as poultice for bruises.
🍵 Classic Recipes
San Qi Steamed Chicken
Steamed notoginseng root 5 g inside chicken — the Yunnan tonifying classic.
San Qi Honey Paste
Notoginseng powder 1 g stirred into warm honey water daily for circulation.
🔬 Modern Research
Notoginsenosides R1 and Rb1 are heavily researched for hemostatic-then-anticoagulant dual activity, cardiovascular protection, and microcirculation.
⚠️ Contraindications
Avoid during menstruation with heavy flow and in pregnancy. Caution with anticoagulants.
