Roots and rhizomesTonifyingAcanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma Sue Caulis

Ci Wu Jia (Manyprinckle Acanthopanax)

Q: What are the composition and effects of Ciwujia?

Ciwujia is pungent and slightly bitter, warm in nature, and enters the Spleen, Kidney, and Heart meridians. Its functions are to benefit qi and strengthen the spleen, and tonify the kidney to calm the spirit. It is used for spleen-kidney yang deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, lumbar and knee soreness, and insomnia with excessive dreaming.

Q: What is the dosage of Ciwujia? Can it be used daily as a qi-benefiting tea?

The decoction dose is 9-27 g, and modern use requires physician-determined dosage. It is not a year-round Ciwujia tea. Prolonged use may further injure yin deficiency with fire effulgence, and qi deficiency use should be short-term and professionally guided.

Q: What are the contraindications of Ciwujia? Can pregnant women use it?

Ciwujia is not suitable for yin deficiency with fire effulgence. Pregnant women require physician evaluation. Stop if dry mouth or irritability with heat occur, and seek immediate medical care for severe fatigue or high fever.

Q: Can Ciwujia be taken daily as a qi-benefiting or spirit-calming tea?

It may be used short-term in formulas for spleen-kidney yang deficiency, but yin deficiency with fire effulgence may be further injured. The idea that Ciwujia must benefit qi cannot replace evaluation, and benefiting qi and calming the spirit require physician-determined formulation and dosage.

A practical guide to Ci Wu Jia: what it is, how Traditional Chinese Medicine uses it, the classical formulas it appears in, and who should be careful with it.

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Last reviewed Oct 29, 2026

Quick Facts

Latin Name	Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma Sue Caulis
Chinese Name & Pinyin	刺五加 · Ci Wu Jia
Medicinal Part	Roots and rhizomes
The item	Ci Wu Jia is the dried root and rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus, used raw. It soaks first and goes into the normal decoction.
Nature and channels	Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral. Enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. It tonifies gently and calms the spirit, without being drying or cooling.
Pharmacopoeia line	Tonifies qi and blood, strengthens the spleen and kidney, and calms the spirit. Used for qi-blood deficiency, poor appetite, sleeplessness, and weak aching lower back and knees.
Pattern cues	Tired but not acutely ill. Light, broken sleep. Sallow face with poor appetite. A weak sore lower back.
In this article	Ci Wu Jia versus Ren Shen. Daily gentle tonification versus emergency rescue. Why it pairs with calming herbs. Why exterior fever is a poor match. Why pregnancy and medication overlap need a check. Who should skip it.

What Is Ci Wu Jia?

Ci Wu Jia (刺五加; Cì Wǔ Jiā; Latin: Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma; English: Siberian ginseng root) in the current pharmacopoeia is the dried root and rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus of the aralia family, cut and sun-dried and usually used raw. It is sweet, slightly bitter, and neutral, enters the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney channels, and its core actions are to tonify qi and blood, and to calm the spirit and aid sleep. It goes into a normal decoction after soaking, with no special preparation. The usual amount is 9–27 g. It also appears, in small tea doses, in mild daily routines for fatigue and restless sleep.

It is not Ren Shen. Ren Shen is sweet, bitter, and warm, and it rescues a collapsing original qi in crisis; Ci Wu Jia is mild and neutral, built for slow daily tonification and calming the spirit, not for emergency rescue. Exterior fever, and excess heat in the body, with mouth sores and bound stools, are a poor match. Use caution in pregnancy, and check with a practitioner if you take anticoagulants, sedatives, or blood-pressure medication. A sudden severe fatigue, fainting, or chest pain needs a clinic first.

It is used most often for three patterns:

Qi-blood deficiency: fatigue, sallow complexion, shortness of breath, poor appetite
Heart-spleen dual deficiency: restless sleep, shallow sleep, easy waking, palpitations
Deficient lower back and knees with wind-damp aching limbs

Sweet, slightly bitter, and neutral, it is not a daily “energy tonic” to keep increasing. Tonifying when there is exterior fever or excess heat traps the pathogen in the body.

When long fatigue or overthinking drains the qi and blood, the heart loses its calm and the spleen loses its drive, so fatigue, poor sleep, and forgetfulness are common. Ci Wu Jia is sweet, slightly bitter, and neutral. It builds qi and blood and calms the spirit, which is why it appears in Wu Jia Pi San (Acanthopanax Bark Powder)–type formulas for deficient lower back and knees, and in An Shen Bu Xin Wan (Spirit-Calming Heart-Building Pill)–type formulas for restless sleep. It builds more gently than ginseng, so it is paired with other calming herbs. An exterior fever or excess heat, with no deficiency, gets worse if more is added.

Ci Wu Jia is not a catch-all energy or sleep herb. In exterior fever, in excess heat, or in pregnancy without guidance, using it alone is a poor match. Raw root or a paired formula, and whether it belongs in a prescription, should be decided by a licensed Chinese medicine practitioner after pattern diagnosis.

Ci Wu Jia: Materia Medica Profile

Identification & Quality Standard

Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma Sue Caulis

Botanical Origin

The dried root and rhizome or stem of Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms (Araliaceae).

Production Regions

Primarily produced in Hebei and northeastern China.

Quality Requirements

Superior medicinal material has an intact cortex, a yellowish-white fractured surface, and a potent aroma.

Macroscopic Features

Rhizome is irregular knotted cylindrical shape, 1.4~4.2cm diameter; externally grayish-brown, with wrinkles; apex has thin branches with adventitious bud. Root is cylindrical with many branches, often twisted, 3.5~12cm long, 0.3~1.5cm diameter; externally grayish-brown or black-brown, rough, with thin skin; peeling-off position is grayish-yellow. Hard texture; fractured surface is yellowish-white and fibrous. Distinctive aromatic odor; slightly acrid and bitter and astringent taste.

Main Regions and Quality Identification

Traditional materia medica and industry experience value the northeastern regions — such as Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning — but actual quality also depends on variety, harvest time, processing, and storage. In appearance, good-quality Ci Wu Jia root is cylindrical, with a grayish-brown surface and longitudinal wrinkles, a hard, brittle texture, a yellowish-white cross-section, a faint fragrance, and a slightly acrid, somewhat bitter taste. The common look-alike is the same-genus Wu Jia Pi (southern Acanthopanax bark): Ci Wu Jia's stem thorns are denser and its root cross-section shows a yellowish-white cambium ring, whereas the southern Wu Jia Pi root is finer with a fainter odor. The difference between raw and processed: the raw is the original sliced herb; the processed is generally the lightly stir-fried slice — crisper in texture with a somewhat stronger odor.

Traditional Properties & Historical Lineage

Nature, Flavour & Channel Tropism

Acrid, Bitter; WarmSpleenKidneyHeart

1. Records in Classic Materia Medica

Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: does not explicitly mention Ci Wu Jia, but the Wu Jia (Acanthopanax) genus plants are mostly listed in the "upper grade," said to "mainly treat heart-abdomen hernia qi and abdominal pain, boost qi, treat paralysis of the feet, children unable to walk, and deep abscesses with yin erosion."
Ming Yi Bie Lu: records that Ci Wu Jia "mainly treats male impotence, wetness under the scrotum, dribbling urine, female genital itching with lower-back and spine pain, pain and bi weakness of both feet, five-slow deficiency emaciation; tonifies the middle, boosts essence, firms the sinews and bones, and strengthens the will and mind."
Ben Cao Gang Mu: records that it "treats wind-dampness flaccidity and bi, and strengthens the sinews and bones."
De Pei Ben Cao: adds that "paired with Du Zhong, it treats lower-back and knee wind-dampness; paired with Suan Zao Ren, it treats insomnia."

2. How Views of Its Nature Changed

Views among physicians differ. Some lean on its tonifying action — holding that it tonifies the middle, boosts qi, and strengthens the sinews and bones, fitting the weak; some stress its wind-expelling, dampness-removing action — used for wind-dampness bi pain; some also point out that it should not be used for those with exterior heat or excess patterns, to avoid the tonification retaining the evil. These differences also make Ci Wu Jia's scope clearer, avoiding casual overuse.

Core Efficacies & Traditional Applications

Traditional Functions

Boosts qi and fortifies the spleen, supplements kidney and calms the spirit.

1. First Direction: Tonifying Qi and Blood

Traditional action: tonify qi and blood — used for the weakness, sallow complexion, and easy fatigue of qi-blood insufficiency.
Typical signs: mostly seen in the long-term overworked and post-illness weak — fatigue and lack of spirit, shortness of breath with little speech, dizziness, and poor appetite.
Usual combinations: often paired with the qi-tonifying herbs Huang Qi, Dang Shen, and Bai Zhu to strengthen the qi-blood tonifying action; with blood deficiency, the blood-nourishing herbs Dang Gui and Shu Di are added.
Who should not self-use: those with exterior heat and fever, internal real heat (such as mouth sores and dry, bound stool), and excess distension — self-use may worsen the condition.

2. Second Direction: Calming the Spirit and Aiding Sleep

Traditional action: calm the spirit and aid sleep — used for the insomnia, dreams, and poor memory of heart-spleen dual deficiency.
Typical signs: mostly seen in the over-stressed and long-term overthinking — difficulty falling asleep, shallow sleep, easy waking, memory decline, and palpitations.
Usual combinations: often paired with the spirit-calming herbs Suan Zao Ren, Bai Zi Ren, and Yuan Zhi to strengthen the spirit-calming action; with qi-blood insufficiency, Long Yan Rou and Da Zao are added.
Who should not self-use: the insomnia of liver depression transforming into fire (shown as irritability, bitter mouth, and dry throat) and the insomnia of phlegm-heat disturbing the interior (shown as chest oppression, nausea, and a thick greasy tongue coating) — self-use may be off-pattern.

3. Classic Pairing: Ci Wu Jia With Suan Zao Ren

The common pair is Ci Wu Jia with Suan Zao Ren. Ci Wu Jia excels at tonifying qi and blood and calming the spirit gently; Suan Zao Ren excels at nourishing the heart, calming the spirit, and astringing sweat. Combined, the two both tonify and nourish qi and blood and strengthen the spirit-calming, sleep-aiding action — fitting the insomnia, dreams, and fatigue of heart-spleen dual deficiency. This pairing needs the physician's pattern diagnosis — do not pair casually on your own.

Modern Research

Modern research offers useful context, but Traditional Chinese Medicine prescribes on whole-pattern diagnosis rather than isolated compounds.

1. Main Chemical Constituents

The constituents detected in the plant include eleutherosides (such as eleutheroside A, B, C, D, and E), flavonoids, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and volatile oils. In in vitro experiments, some constituents show a certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action; in animal experiments, these constituents show an effect on improving the fatigue state of mice and prolonging their swimming time. Human clinical research currently mainly focuses on observing its effect on sleep quality — no clear treatment conclusion has yet been formed.

2. Current Research Directions

Current research mainly focuses on the mechanisms of its active constituents:

Observation of its regulating effect on the nervous system.
Its effect on the body's antioxidant capacity.

In experiments, some constituents may help improve the sleep cycle of animals — but more human studies are still needed to verify the clinical effect.

3. Limitations of Current Research

Lab results are not clinical efficacy — in vitro and animal results cannot be directly equated with the effect after human use, because the physiological mechanisms of animals and humans differ.
Extracts and monomers are not the same as traditional decoction pieces — experiments mostly use purified monomers or extracts, while daily use is the slice — the dose and absorption mode differ; they cannot be compared directly.
Doses and preparation methods vary between studies — some studies use high-dose extracts, while the clinically common slice dose is lower — the results are not interchangeable.
A single component does not define the whole herb — Ci Wu Jia's action is the result of many constituents working together; a single constituent's effect cannot represent the whole herb's overall function.

Comparing Similar Herbs

1. What They Share

Choosing Ren Shen as the similar herb, the two share these points:

Both have the main action of tonifying qi and blood, usable for the regulation of the weak.
Both are used for the traditional patterns of fatigue and sallow complexion from qi-blood insufficiency.
Both may appear in the formulas or food therapy of weakness regulation.
Both need constitution and dose considered — overuse is not allowed.

2. The Key Differences: Ci Wu Jia vs. Ren Shen

Nature and flavors: Ci Wu Jia is neutral with sweet and slightly bitter flavors — gentle in nature, leaning neither cold nor hot; Ren Shen is warm with sweet and slightly bitter flavors — leaning warm, fitting those of a deficiency-cold constitution.
Focus: Ci Wu Jia excels at gentle tonification and calming the spirit to aid sleep — more prominent in regulating the sleep problems of deficiency; Ren Shen excels at greatly tonifying the primordial qi and restoring the pulse to rescue collapse — more significant for the critical condition of primordial-qi collapse; in daily regulation it leans more to qi-boosting and rescue, not gentle spirit-calming.
Qi tendency: Ci Wu Jia's action leans balanced tonification — regulating the spleen-stomach qi movement and avoiding the qi stagnation of tonification; Ren Shen's action leans warm tonification — raising the body's yang qi, fitting the qi sinking of primordial-qi insufficiency.
Best fit: Ci Wu Jia fits the fatigue and insomnia with dreams of long-term overwork and post-illness weakness — relatively mild symptoms; Ren Shen fits the great primordial-qi loss of severe or chronic illness — pale complexion, cold limbs, and a nearly imperceptible pulse — critical manifestations.
Not suitable: Ci Wu Jia is not for those with exterior heat and fever or real-heat patterns; Ren Shen is not for those with excess or heat patterns — especially those with irritability and mouth sores — misuse may worsen the condition.
Use scenes: Ci Wu Jia is more used in daily regulation, short-term weakness recovery, or as an ingredient of food therapy; Ren Shen is more used as the lord or minister in formulas, or in emergency use — less as a long-term daily medication.

3. One-Sentence Summary

Simply put, Ci Wu Jia leans toward gentle tonification and calming the spirit to aid sleep — fitting daily weakness regulation; Ren Shen leans toward greatly tonifying the primordial qi — fitting critical primordial-qi insufficiency. Both can be used for weakness regulation, but they are not interchangeable.

Classical Formulas Containing Ci Wu Jia

Classic Formula 1: Wu Jia Pi San (Acanthopanax Powder)

Combination logic: In Wu Jia Pi San, Ci Wu Jia serves as a minister, paired with Wu Jia Pi, Du Zhong, and Niu Xi. Ci Wu Jia mainly plays the tonify-liver-kidney, strengthen-sinews-and-bones role, working with the sinew-strengthening actions of Du Zhong and Niu Xi to jointly solve the lower-back and knee soreness and limb pain of liver-kidney insufficiency. Ci Wu Jia cannot be used alone in this formula, because alone it cannot attend to the overall actions of expelling wind and dampness and tonifying the liver and kidney.

Traditional use: traditionally used for the lower-back and knee pain, weak lower limbs, and walking difficulty of liver-kidney insufficiency with wind-dampness bi blockage.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires the doctor's pattern diagnosis and standard care — do not self-apply just because the formula name relates to "wind-dampness"; adjust the use according to the specific pattern.

Classic Formula 2: An Shen Bu Xin Wan (Spirit-Calming Heart-Tonifying Pill)

Combination logic: In An Shen Bu Xin Wan, Ci Wu Jia serves as an assistant, paired with Dan Shen, Wu Wei Zi, and Suan Zao Ren. Ci Wu Jia plays the tonify-qi-and-blood, gentle-spirit-calming role, working with the heart-nourishing, spirit-calming actions of Suan Zao Ren and Wu Wei Zi to assist the insomnia and poor memory of heart-spleen dual deficiency. Ci Wu Jia alone cannot reach the multi-herb synergistic spirit-calming effect of the formula.

Traditional use: traditionally used for the insomnia and dreams, palpitations and poor memory, and dizziness and tinnitus of heart-spleen dual deficiency with qi-blood insufficiency.

Modern note: modern clinical use requires the doctor to differentiate the pattern according to the specific condition — do not buy and take on your own; adjust the dose and combination according to your own situation.

Formulas vs. Single Herbs

A formula is the joint result of many herbs — a single herb cannot simply replicate a full formula's effect. The doses and combinations in a formula are holistic — the pairing of different herbs mutually strengthens or checks, reaching a more precise regulating action. The common misunderstanding: a herb that works in a formula means taking it alone produces the same effect — in fact, the single herb's action is relatively single and cannot replace the formula's overall function. Do not build formulas from online articles.

Diet & Daily Home Use

1. Home Tea

Tea — Ci Wu Jia Da Zao Cha: Ci Wu Jia slices 5 g, Da Zao 3 pieces (pitted). Put the two into a cup, steep in boiling water, cover 10 minutes, and drink; it can be re-steeped until the flavor fades. Suited to daily qi-blood regulation — for the fatigue and sallow complexion of qi-blood insufficiency, or the mild insomnia and poor memory of heart-spleen dual deficiency. Not for those with exterior heat and fever, or real-heat patterns (such as mouth sores and dry, bound stool). Suggested: 3–4 times a week; do not drink continuously every day.

2. Decoction and Processing Differences

The difference between the raw and the processed: the raw Ci Wu Jia is the original sliced herb — hard in texture, needing a somewhat longer decoction time; the processed is generally the lightly stir-fried slice — crisper, releasing its active constituents more easily in decoction. Ci Wu Jia needs no pre-boiling, late addition, bag-boiling, or dissolving — at home, put the slices into the pot, add enough clean water, soak 30 minutes, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and decoct 20 minutes. Different forms cannot be converted directly — for example, the effect of 10 g of the slice cannot be directly equated with the effect of 1 g of the Ci Wu Jia extract.

3. Dosage and Course

The common dose in traditional prescriptions is 9–27 g; the food-therapy dose is generally 3–10 g. The food-therapy dose is lower than the medicinal — fit for light daily regulation, but it cannot replace drug treatment. Long-term continuous use of Ci Wu Jia is not advised — generally no more than 4 consecutive weeks; for long-term regulation, consult a physician or pharmacist. Special groups — such as pregnant women, children, and the elderly — need the dose and course adjusted under professional guidance.

Contraindications & Safety Warnings

1. Who Should Avoid It

Exterior heat and fever — such as high fever, irritability, dry, bound stool, and scanty dark urine.
Excess distension — such as abdominal distension and pain, and indigestion.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding — a lack of sufficient safety data — use cautiously.
Children and the elderly — weaker body function — use under a physician's guidance; do not self-take.
Liver or kidney impairment — consult a doctor before considering use, to avoid adding to the liver-kidney burden.
Allergy to Araliaceae (ginseng-family) plants — may be allergic to Ci Wu Jia — avoid use.
Those in special treatment — such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy — consult a doctor first, to avoid interacting with the treatment drugs.

2. Interactions and Diet Notes

Ci Wu Jia may interact with anticoagulants (such as warfarin), blood-pressure medications, glucose-lowering medications, and sedative-hypnotics — for example, it may strengthen the anticoagulant effect or affect the action of blood-pressure medications — those taking such drugs should consult a doctor or pharmacist first. There is no sufficient evidence of a general "food clash" between ordinary foods, but certain herbs can interact with specific drugs — those on medication should consult a doctor or pharmacist first. In daily diet, avoid eating large amounts of spicy and greasy food at the same time, to avoid affecting the absorption of Ci Wu Jia.

3. Adverse Reactions and Overdose Risk

Ci Wu Jia has relatively few adverse reactions, but overdose may bring "shang huo" signs — such as mouth sores, sore, swollen throat, and irritability. If marked discomfort, allergy signs (such as rash, itching, and breathing difficulty), persistent vomiting, altered consciousness, or rapidly worsening symptoms appear, stop at once and seek medical care — do not self-treat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ci Wu Jia

What is Ciwujia? Is it the same as Wujiapi or Renshen?

Ciwujia is the dried root and rhizome or stem of Eleutherococcus senticosus, Latin name Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma seu Caulis. It is a common Chinese medicine centered on benefiting qi and strengthening the spleen, and tonifying the kidney to calm the spirit. Wujiapi dispels wind-damp and strengthens sinews. Renshen greatly tonifies original qi. They cannot be used interchangeably in equal amounts. Prescribe as Ciwujia. Caution in yin deficiency with fire effulgence.

What are the composition and effects of Ciwujia?

Pharmacopoeial name Ciwujia, Latin Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. Pungent and slightly bitter in taste, warm in nature, enters the Spleen, Kidney and Heart meridians. Functions to benefit qi and strengthen the spleen, and tonify the kidney to calm the spirit. Used for spleen-kidney yang deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, lumbar and knee soreness, and insomnia with excessive dreaming. Benefits qi and calms the spirit.

How to choose between raw and processed? Can Wujiapi replace it?

Root and rhizome are used raw. Wujiapi emphasizes dispelling wind rather than strongly calming the spirit, and cannot replace it in equal amounts. Commercial products are standardized; do not adjust arbitrarily.

What is the dosage of Ciwujia? Can it be used daily as a qi-benefiting tea?

Decoction, 9-27g. Modern use requires physician-determined dosage. It is not a year-round "Ciwujia tea." Yin deficiency with fire effulgence will be further injured by prolonged use. Qi deficiency requires short-term, physician-determined dosage and cannot replace evaluation.

What are the contraindications of Ciwujia? Can pregnant women use it?

Not suitable for yin deficiency with fire effulgence. Pregnant women require physician evaluation. Stop if dry mouth or irritability with heat occur. Seek immediate medical care for severe fatigue or high fever.

Can Ciwujia benefit qi, strengthen the spleen, and calm the spirit?

It can assist spleen-kidney yang deficiency, fatigue, poor appetite, lumbar and knee soreness, and insomnia with excessive dreaming. It benefits qi and strengthens the spleen, and tonifies the kidney to calm the spirit, but is not a specific remedy for all qi deficiency or all insomnia.

Can Ciwujia be taken daily as a qi-benefiting or spirit-calming tea?

Spleen-kidney yang deficiency can be used short-term in formulas; yin deficiency with fire effulgence will be further injured. The idea that "Ciwujia must benefit qi" cannot replace evaluation. Benefiting qi and calming the spirit requires physician-determined formulation and dosage.

How to choose between Ciwujia, Wujiapi, Renshen, Huangqi, and Xiyangshen?

Ciwujia benefits qi and calms the spirit, suited to qi deficiency with insomnia. Wujiapi dispels wind-damp and strengthens sinews. Renshen greatly tonifies original qi. Huangqi tonifies qi and raises yang. Xiyangshen tonifies qi and nourishes yin. Choose Ciwujia for benefiting qi; Wujiapi for strengthening sinews; Renshen for tonifying qi; Huangqi for securing the exterior; Xiyangshen for nourishing yin. Pattern differentiation applies, but large doses of Ciwujia are contraindicated in yin deficiency with fire effulgence.

How is Ciwujia commonly modified? What is a representative usage?

Modifications depend on the pattern. Add Huangqi for fatigue; add Suanzaoren for insomnia. Specify Ciwujia; do not substitute Wujiapi in equal amounts for calming the spirit.

How to select and store Ciwujia?

Choose regular Chinese medicinal materials with intact root and rhizome. Discard if moldy, damp, or abnormal in odor. Store in a dry place. Purchase "Ciwujia"; do not substitute Wujiapi or Renshen in equal amounts for benefiting qi, strengthening the spleen, and calming the spirit.

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Medical Disclaimer — This article is provided for educational purposes only and describes traditional Chinese medicine concepts. It is not medical advice, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using any herb, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a diagnosed condition.