Panax Ginseng

 

Panax ginseng is believed to have been discovered in the

Manchurian Mountains greater than 5,000 years ago.

It was most likely first consumed as a source of food.

However, archived documents reveal that ginseng was

used and revered by kings, emperors, and wealthy

households in the Far East for medicinal purposes in

pre-historic times. The first written reference of Panax

ginseng as a medicinal herb can be found in Shen

Nong’s Materia Medica (the Ancient Chinese Canon of

Medicine) dated from the 1st century, CE: “Ginseng is a

tonic to the five viscera, quieting the animal spirits,

stabilizing the soul, preventing fear, expelling the vicious

energies, brightening the eye…and prolonging life.”

Traditional Chinese herbal remedies stress the restorative

properties of ginseng root—its ability to re-energize your

chi or life force. In northern China, it is a common

practice for the elderly to take low daily doses of ginseng

throughout the long, cold months of winter in order to

boost their physical endurance and longevity.

The origins of the genus name Panax can be traced

back to the Greek root words pan akos meaning

“all cure”—an aptly named herb for all its purported health

benefits. Acting as an adaptogen, its primary functions

are as an anti-inflammatory agent, an antioxidant, immunity booster, and reproductive health tonic. More reported effects include increased muscle mass, physical vigor, and mental performance (memory, focus, and concentration).

 

Clinical studies have shown that Korean red ginseng can enhance male sexual function and vitality. Combined with gingko, red ginseng can help treat erectile dysfunction as well as low sperm count. Ginseng has also demonstrated positive psychological effects in menopausal women by lessening feelings of fatigue and depression.

 

The part of the ginseng plant used for medicinal purpose is the root. Unlike other common roots found in gardens and grocery stores, ginseng root has an unusual physical appearance. The thicker knob-like top that branches into leg-like appendages gives the rough impression of a human-like figure. According to ancient herbalist beliefs, any plant that bears a resemblance to a certain body part is meant to be good for that body part. Hence, it follows that if ginseng root is shaped like a whole human person, then it must be a unique and powerful herb capable of treating the entire body.

As a slow-growing perennial plant that was historically over-hunted, it is now uncommon to find ginseng in the wild. Ginseng root generally takes four to six years to mature before it is harvested because the quality and potency of ginseng is believed to increase with age. China’s growing demand for ginseng root spurred Korea’s experimentation and cultivation of the world’s first farmed ginseng root in the sixteenth century. Today, both China and Korea have flourishing ginseng farming industries and are major exporters of ginseng products.

 

Nevertheless, Asian ginseng is not the only type of ginseng available as health supplements. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolios) was first discovered in southern Canada by a French explorer and thought to be a rare herb to “invigorate the virile powers.” The Iroquois, Menomonee, Cherokee and Creek tribes all used ginseng for its natural curing powers. Native American folklore reveals that ginseng root was an early medicinal herb used to treat nosebleeds and infertility. It is believed that early American settlers discovered ginseng in the mid 1700’s in New England. Ginseng cultivation methods eventually spread West to Wisconsin, which has now become a leading ginseng producer. Americans were first skeptical of American ginseng, but it has since gained popularity in recent years as an aphrodisiac. America exports an estimated $100 million worth of ginseng per year, mainly to Asia where it is highly valued. Asian herbalists regard American ginseng as having “cooling” powers and that type of ginseng is mainly used to treat fevers as well as digestive and respiratory ailments. In contrast, Asian ginseng such as the Korean red (steamed) ginseng and Chinese white (peeled) ginseng are considered to be “hot” herbs used to re-energize the body and restore overall strength and well-being.