Panax notoginseng is the Chinese species of ginseng, sold as sanqi, tianqi or three seven root. It is a different plant from Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), with its own chemistry and its own trials; the three Panax species sets the three side by side. People take it for circulation, the heart, and bruises and bleeding, and that is where its trials sit.
Most of the evidence comes from standardised saponin products used in Chinese hospitals, such as Xuesaitong soft capsules and Xuesaitong or Xueshuantong injections, taken on top of standard treatment. Each section below says which product was tested, so you can tell the hospital results from the powder in your cupboard.
It Helps People Regain Independence After a Stroke
A 2023 trial at 67 Chinese hospitals gave 2,966 adults with ischemic stroke either Xuesaitong soft capsules, 120 mg of notoginseng saponins twice a day, or placebo for 3 months (Wu 2023). At 3 months, 89.3 percent of the capsule group could live independently against 82.4 percent on placebo, and serious side effects were 1.0 percent against 1.1 percent. A 2022 review of 17 trials in 1,942 people on the same capsule found better recovery scores and lower blood viscosity (Gao 2022).
A 2011 trial of 140 people found a different sanqi capsule, 200 mg three times a day with 50 mg of aspirin, improved neurological scores and daily living against aspirin alone (He 2011). The full record is in notoginseng for heart health.
It Calms Overactive Platelets
Platelets are the blood cells that clump to start a clot. A 2017 review of 36 trials found notoginseng saponin preparations lowered platelet clumping against placebo, and lowered clumping and thromboxane, a clotting signal, further when added to antiplatelet drugs, without extra bleeding (Li 2017). The review is in a Chinese language journal and its authors rated the trial quality as poor. A 2021 trial of 42 people with stable coronary disease found 2 months of saponins plus aspirin inhibited platelets more than aspirin alone and eased indigestion (Wang 2021). More in notoginseng for circulation.
It May Ease Angina
A 2018 review of 17 trials of oral notoginseng saponins in people with unstable angina found fewer and shorter angina attacks and less nitroglycerin use (Duan 2018). A 2017 review of 18 trials in 1,828 people found fewer cardiovascular events and better electrocardiograms, though 16 of the 18 trials used hospital injections and the authors called the reporting poor (Song 2017). No trial has tested the powder sold as a supplement for angina. See notoginseng for heart health.
It May Support the Heart After a Heart Attack
A 2021 review of 5 trials in 539 people found Xuesaitong injection added to standard care after a heart attack raised the ejection fraction, the share of blood the heart pumps out with each beat, by 3.18 points, and lowered damage and inflammation markers (Hua 2021). All five trials used the hospital injection, and the authors rated them low quality. A trial of 300 people on Compound Xueshuantong capsules after a heart attack is registered and running (Yang 2022).
It Lowers Cholesterol and Triglycerides in Diabetic Kidney Disease
A 2020 review of 24 trials in 1,918 people with diabetic kidney disease found notoginseng preparations added to usual medicines lowered total cholesterol by 1.56 mmol/L, LDL cholesterol by 0.94 mmol/L and triglycerides by 0.56 mmol/L (Tang 2020). Protein in the urine fell too. Every trial was in people with disease, on top of their medicines, in Chinese hospitals, and no trial has tested cholesterol in healthy people. The ranges and the kidney findings are in notoginseng for cholesterol.
It Shortens Bleeding and Helps Bruises Settle
Stopping bleeding is the oldest use of the raw root. A 2002 trial of 60 women found Xuesaitong soft capsules for 7 days around childbirth shortened bleeding time and lowered blood loss over the first 24 hours (Liu 2002). A 2024 review of 31 trials in 2,076 people after hip fracture surgery ranked sanqi powder among the three best Chinese herbal options for keeping haemoglobin up (Wu 2024). Steaming lowers dencichine, the clotting compound, which is why raw root is the bleeding form (Zeng 2026). Read notoginseng for bruises and bleeding and raw vs steamed notoginseng.
It May Stretch Endurance and Ease Muscle Soreness
A 2005 trial of 29 untrained adults found 1,350 mg of notoginseng a day for 30 days added more than 7 minutes to time to exhaustion on a bike and lowered peak blood pressure during the ride, from 113 to 109 mmHg (Liang 2005). In a 2013 trial, 20 trained men took 4,000 mg around a downhill run; the placebo group lost squat jump height and had more quadriceps pain at 96 hours while the notoginseng group held steady, and the authors called the overall effect unconvincing (Pumpa 2013). Both trials used notoginseng capsules of the kind sold as a supplement.
It Blunts the Blood Sugar Rise After a Meal
A 2012 trial of 52 men without diabetes found 3 grams of notoginseng a day for 3 days lowered blood sugar 30 minutes after a glucose drink by 26.3 mg/dL against placebo, and lowered the total rise over 90 minutes (Liang 2012). It is one short trial in healthy men, and the dose sits with the other oral doses in notoginseng dosage.
How to Take It
The hospital trials used 120 mg of saponins twice a day in capsules. The supplement trials used 1,350 mg to 3 grams of root a day. By tradition raw root is for bleeding and circulation, steamed root for building blood after illness. Notoginseng dosage lays out dose by goal and form, and how to choose notoginseng covers origin and quality.
What Users Report
Many users say their hands and feet feel warmer after a few weeks on the powder. People often report that bruises fade faster when they take the raw powder soon after a knock. These are reports, not trial results.
Safety Notes
Talk with your doctor before taking notoginseng if you take warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel or any blood thinner. Stop it before surgery. Avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding, where there are no trials. In the 2023 stroke trial serious side effects were 1.0 percent on the capsule and 1.1 percent on placebo (Wu 2023), and the 2017 platelet review found no extra bleeding when saponins were added to antiplatelet drugs (Li 2017). More in notoginseng side effects.
For circulation, stroke recovery and bruises, notoginseng is the Panax species with the trials.
References
- Wu L et al. 2023. Efficacy and Safety of Panax notoginseng Saponins in the Treatment of Adults With Ischemic Stroke in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open.
- Gao Y et al. 2022. The efficacy and safety of the Xuesaitong soft capsule in the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Palliat Med.
- He L et al. 2011. Radix/rhizoma notoginseng extract (sanchitongtshu) for ischemic stroke: a randomized controlled study. Phytomedicine.
- Li Y et al. 2017. Effect of Panax notoginseng preparations on platelet function. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi.
- Wang W et al. 2021. Combination of Panax notoginseng saponins and aspirin potentiates platelet inhibition with alleviated gastric injury via modulating arachidonic acid metabolism. Biomed Pharmacother.
- Duan L et al. 2018. Efficacy and safety of oral Panax notoginseng saponins for unstable angina patients: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Phytomedicine.
- Song H et al. 2017. Panax notoginseng Preparations for Unstable Angina Pectoris: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phytother Res.
- Hua Y et al. 2021. Xuesaitong injection treating acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore).
- Yang XD et al. 2022. Intervention of Compound Xueshuantong Capsule on the incidence of heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction after PCI based on the combination of disease and syndrome: A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore).
- Tang X et al. 2020. Panax notoginseng preparations as adjuvant therapy for diabetic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pharm Biol.
- Liu DY et al. 2002. Clinical observation on treatment of postpartum hemorrhage by xuesaitong soft capsule. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi.
- Wu X et al. 2024. Identifying an effective Chinese herbal medicine for reducing postoperative hidden bleeding and stabilizing blood volume following intertrochanteric femur fracture: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Orthop Surg Res.
- Zeng X et al. 2026. Processing-driven chemical transformations and pharmacological shifts in Panax notoginseng. J Ethnopharmacol.
- Liang MT et al. 2005. Panax notoginseng supplementation enhances physical performance during endurance exercise. J Strength Cond Res.
- Pumpa KL et al. 2013. The effects of Panax notoginseng on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in well-trained males: a double blind randomised controlled trial. Complement Ther Med.
- Liang MTC et al. 2012. Effects of Panax notoginseng (Chinese ginseng) and acute exercise on postprandial glycemia in non-diabetic adults. J Complement Integr Med.
Nothing here is medical advice. If you take prescription medication, talk with your doctor before adding notoginseng.
