Tonic herbal medicine refers to the medicine that can supplement the deficiency of human qi, blood, yin and yang, improve the function of internal organs and strengthen the body, also called deficiency medicine or tonic medicine. It is a traditional Chinese folk custom for people with weak constitution to take some tonic herbal medicines at the right time. Long-term practice also proves that some tonic herbs can indeed strengthen the body, increase the body’s ability to defend against diseases and prolong life. Most of the cancer patients are in a weakened state due to the influence of the disease itself or the damage caused by various modern treatments to the body’s qi, blood, yin and yang. Therefore, reasonable tonics are of great importance to the recovery of cancer patients and the prevention of recurrence and metastasis. Fan Huiting, Department of Oncology, Guang’anmen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tonic Chinese medicines are an important part of the treasury of Chinese medicine in China. Like other types of Chinese medicines, tonic Chinese medicines also have cold, hot, warm and cool properties. According to the efficacy of various drugs and their main treatment, tonic herbs are generally divided into four types: qi tonic, blood tonic, yin tonic and yang tonic, therefore not all tonic herbs are suitable for tumor patients. Therefore, not all tonic herbs are suitable for tumor patients. Patients should consult their physicians to clarify their condition and constitution, whether they belong to Qi deficiency, Yang deficiency, Yin deficiency or Blood deficiency or both, and follow certain tonic principles to choose them, so as to achieve scientific and reasonable tonic and enhance the body’s ability to fight against cancer. However, in reality, not all patients can grasp the principles of tonicity and achieve scientific application. In this article, we will introduce the most widely used members of the “ginseng” family, including ginseng, American ginseng and Chinese ginseng, in order to help patients achieve the correct tonic regimen according to their constitution. Ginseng is a great tonic for the vital energy Ginseng has been known for a long time for its effectiveness in improving the weakness of the body and promoting recovery after illness. At present, the main ginseng varieties available in the market are: wild ginseng, mountain ginseng, red ginseng, sun-dried ginseng (also known as white ginseng), and Korean ginseng (also known as other ginseng, also divided into two types of red and white ginseng). The sun-dried or dried ones are called “raw ginseng”, the steamed and dried ones are called red ginseng, and the ones treated with boiling water and sugar and then dried are called “white ginseng”. The real wild ginseng has to grow for tens to hundreds of years, which is very rare and expensive, and the wild ginseng available in the market now is cultivated with wild ginseng seeds, also called old ginseng. Wild mountain ginseng is sweet, slightly bitter and flat, and has the strongest tonic power among all kinds of ginseng; red ginseng is sweet and thick, and its nature is more warm, while cancer patients are mostly heat and poisonous, and both qi and yin are deficient, especially lung cancer patients, so using it alone will easily help heat and produce dryness, and fire will consume yin. Therefore, the two kinds of ginseng are rarely used for cancer patients. Of course, it is not that tumor patients cannot take them, but they should follow the guidance of physicians and focus on diagnosis and treatment, and not blindly take tonic on their own. For patients with symptoms such as tiredness, coldness, and cold hands and feet, ginseng can benefit qi and restore vitality. Raw ginseng is calm, mildly warm and not greasy, and it is a flat tonic with strong tonic effect, which is usually used by cancer patients and is suitable for cancer patients after surgery and chemotherapy. Although ginseng has good tonic effect, it should not be abused, used for a long time or used in excess. If symptoms such as heartburn, chest tightness, abdominal distension, irritability, dryness, excitement, dry mouth, dry stool or even insomnia, nose bleeding, etc. occur during taking it, it means that your body or condition is not suitable for taking ginseng. In this case, you must stop taking the medicine and take raw white radish or decoction of Chinese herbal medicine Lycopodium. In addition, people with cold and fever, high blood pressure, rising liver fire, acute and chronic inflammation of lungs and bronchial tubes, and all those with internal heat and damp-heat real evidence should not take ginseng. It should not be cooked in an iron pot, but in a casserole. American ginseng, also known as American ginseng, originated in the United States and Canada, but now there are transplanted varieties in China. It is sweet, slightly bitter and cool in nature. In addition to its effect of nourishing Yin, it can also clear heat and promote the production of body fluid, which is very effective in treating deficiency of body fluid and thirsty tongue. Although the tonic effect of American ginseng is not as good as that of raw sun ginseng, red ginseng and wild ginseng, it is cool in nature and does not have the warm and dry nature of ginseng, so in addition to the tonic effect, it also has the effect of clearing fire, unlike ginseng which has obvious fire or chest tightness after taking it for a long time. Western ginseng can nourish yin without nourishing and clearing fire like raw earth and maitake, and it can be less restricted by identification and basically has no adverse reactions, therefore, western ginseng can be used as a safe health product, which can benefit qi and nourish yin. Zhang Xichen, a famous doctor in recent times, pointed out in the book “Medicine Zhong Zhong Ginseng Xilu” that the nature of American ginseng is cool and tonic, so anyone who wants to use ginseng but does not suffer from the warmth of ginseng can use it instead. In other words, American ginseng can be used instead of ginseng for those who are not suitable for ginseng. For cancer patients with radiation therapy (especially after radiation therapy for lung cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer) and chemotherapy induced dry mouth and throat, fever, weakness, nausea, leukopenia, poor appetite, salivary gland atrophy and other adverse reactions, taking American ginseng can alleviate or reduce the symptoms. In addition, American ginseng is good for hypertension, myocardial dystrophy, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and other heart diseases, especially for improving irritability, stuffiness and thirst caused by heart disease. Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng is sweet in taste and flat in nature, with the effect of tonifying the middle and benefiting the qi, generating fluid and nourishing the blood, and belongs to the family of ginseng which is a flat tonic for the deficiency of both qi and blood. Ginseng is a member of the Wujia family and Dang Shen is a member of the Platycodon family, which are two different genera. Although it is not as potent as ginseng, it is calm in nature and can be used as a substitute for ginseng in cancer patients with symptoms such as deficiency of qi and blood and weakness of the spleen and stomach. According to the theory of Chinese medicine, qi can produce blood, qi can produce strength, qi can produce fire, and qi can guard the outside. Therefore, for cancer patients who suffer from fatigue and weakness, easily catch a cold, have little blood and no color, and are afraid of cold and their limbs are not warm, they can take dang ginseng for a long time. According to the theory of Chinese medicine, deficiency of spleen will result in less food and spleen deficiency can produce phlegm and dampness. Therefore, long-term use of Radix Codonopsis can benefit the qi and strengthen the spleen, improve the diet and improve the symptoms of weakness in cancer patients. Although the medicinal power of ginseng is not as great as that of ginseng, it basically has the functions of ginseng and the price is much lower than ginseng. If you have symptoms such as mental lethargy, poor appetite, tiredness, etc., you can wash the ginseng and steam it in a pot for 1 hour, then cut it into thin slices when it is cold and soft, and chew 5 grams each morning and evening every day to benefit the qi and strengthen the spleen. Although the medicinal properties of Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng are calm, it may cause the disadvantage of supplementing qi and generating heat when taking more, so do not increase the dose blindly. It is not suitable for people with solid or heat evidence.