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 ETYMOLOGY
The word Panax in Greek translates as "to cure all disease" and is derived from Pancea, the goddess daughter of Aesculapius and Epione. Ginseng is the modified form of the Chinese word meaning "man-root," which describes its often pronged-shaped root that resembles the two legs and body of a human.
BOTANICAL INFORMATION
Family: Araliaceae
Description:Ginseng is a perennial plant that can reach up to 5 ft. in height with palmate leaves arranged in a verticillate fashion. The plant bears small, green flowers that grow in clusters, and the fruit appears as bright red berries. The root is the part of the plant most commonly used and consists of a main body with several lateral branches. It can grow to be quite large and appears golden in color. The taste of Ginseng root is often initially bitter but ends with a sweet aftertaste to match its nectarous aroma.
Habitat: Wild Ginseng is found in the temperate zone of the Far east and is cultivated all across China, Korea, Japan, and the Ukraine.
Cultivation: The cultivation of Ginseng is particularly long and laborious: it takes approximately 7 years for the roots of cultivated Ginseng to reach 70-100g in weight. It can take the same species in the wild 150-200 years to reach the same weight.
Harvest Time:
The root is usually harvested in the autumn.
ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS: Ginsenosides
MODE OF ACTION
Actions: Ginseng exhibits both tonic and adaptogenic actions, stimulates cognitive function (aids in attention, memory, etc.), improves physical performance, functions as an immune stimulant, and exhibits low hypoglycaemic activity.
Precautions: Taken in an excessive doses, Ginseng may lead to restlessness and insomnia. Ginseng is not recommended for patients that are hypertensive, suffer from heart disease, children under the age of 12, and women who are nursing or pregnant. In general, Ginseng should not be taken continuously, but instead should be used as potent treatment for a set amount of time.
COMMON INDICATIONS
As a medicinal herb: As a tonic/adaptogen for those experiencing stress and/or performing intense physical activity. Suggested for fatigue, general nervousness and weakness, convalescence, and disorders associated with aging.
Traditional use:
Ginseng is one the oldest medicinal plants out of East Asia and has been traditionally prescribed for multiple, disparate conditions. Within its reputation is the belief that it maintains youth, prolongs life, and acts as an aphrodisiac.
PREPARATION AND USE
Internal Use: The suggested daily dose is in the range of 20-30mg of the main active constituent, ginsenosides, which is the equivalent to 1-2g of the bulk herb.
Cosmetic Use: Ginseng can be used to increase the elasticity and tone of aging skin and to alleviate symptoms of dryness and roughness. It is a useful ingredient in bath products, lotions, and shampoos.
HISTORY AND LEGENDS
For over 2000 years Ginseng root has held a place of honor in Chinese medicine. Descriptions of Ginseng have been uncovered in what is believed to be the oldest discovered Chinese pharmacopoeia to date, written in the first century AD during the Han dynasty. According to records, wars were fought over land which produced Ginseng. The myth of the first people to discover Ginseng has many variations. One version tells of the entire village of Shantang, a province in Shensi, being alarmed by strange cries. One day the villagers gathered in an effort to determine the origin of the noise. The sounds led them under a bush where a massive human-shaped root was shouting to attract attention. In other variations, the root and its uses were discovered in dreams. What these variations have in common however is that it was not that humans that discovered Ginseng, but it was in fact the Ginseng that made itself known to humans.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
References
“Ginsenosides chemistry, biosynthesis, analysis, and potential health effects.” Adv Food Nutr Res. 2009;55:1-99
“Vascular effects of ginseng compounds” Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2008 Sep-Oct;71(5):58-68.
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