Article: Ginseng

?Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Genus: Panax

Ginseng (Panax) is a genus of about five or six species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia and North America, typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenoside.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not considered a true ginseng; instead of a fleshy root, it has a woody root; instead of ginsenosides, eleutherosides are present.

Some other species previously classified in the separate genera Polyscias and Pseudopanax.

Types

• Panax ginseng - Chinese/Korean Ginseng
  
• Panax japonicus - Japanese Ginseng
  
• Panax pseudoginseng

History

The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term rénshēn (simplified: 人蔘; traditional: 人蔘), literally "man root" (referring to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man). It was originally the common name for several plants valued for their medicinal properties; although ginseng is now most often associated with the genus Panax, some researchers believe that the original ginseng used in ancient China may have been a different plant. Although ginseng is often seen as an East Asian medicine, American ginseng has been used by Native Americans for centuries. A wide variety of ginseng is generally available in many Chinese or Korean herbal medicine shops and ethnic Chinese supermarkets.

Modern science and ginseng

It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using modern science. Frequently, there are contradictory results from different studies. Supporters claim that this is due to the wide variety of ginseng quality used in studies. The quality and neutrality of studies from East Asia have also been questioned. Another issue is the profit potential of corporate research since ginseng cannot be patented. As a result, quality studies into the effects of ginseng are rare. Ironically, one of the better studies involving ginseng actually uses a proprietary formula of ginseng ^[1]

Ginseng is highly prized as an adaptogen (a product that does no harm, but increases the body's resistance to stress). Unfortunately, this property is extremely difficult to prove scientifically as well.

A comparative, randomized and double-blind government study does indicate it to be "a promising dietary supplement" when assessed for an increase in quality of life^[2].

Panax ginseng appears to inhibit some characteristics associated with cancer in animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans ^[3].

Ginseng's most common side effects are nervousness and excitability, which usually decrease after the first few days. The ability to concentrate may be decreased, and blood sugar may decrease to abnormally low levels (causing hypoglycemia). Because ginseng has an estrogen-like effect, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take it, nor should children. Occasionally, there have been reports of more serious side effects, such as asthma attacks, increased blood pressure, palpitations, and, in postmenopausal women, uterine bleeding. To many people, ginseng tastes unpleasant.

Ginseng can interact with anticoagulants, aspirin (ECOTRIN, ASPERGUM), other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, digoxin (LANOXIN), estrogen replacement therapy, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs—used to treat depression), and drugs that decrease blood sugar levels (hypoglycemic drugs, used to treat diabetes).

Common classification

Ginseng roots in a market in Seoul, 2003

• Panax ginseng Chinese/Korean ginseng (root)

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Ginseng promotes Yang energy, improves circulation, increases blood supply, revitalizes and aids recovery from weakness after illness, stimulates the body

The ginseng root can be double steamed with chicken meat as a soup. (See samgyetang.)

• Panax quinquefolius American ginseng (root)

Ginseng that is produced in the United States and Canada is particularly prized in Chinese societies, and many ginseng packages are prominently colored red, white, and blue.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine American Ginseng promotes Yin energy, cleans excess Yang in the body, calms the body. The reason it has been claimed that American ginseng promotes Yin (shadow, cold, negative, female) while East Asian ginseng promotes Yang (sunshine, hot, positive, male) is that, according to traditional Chinese medicine, things living in cold places are strong in Yang and vice versa, so that the two are balanced. Chinese/Korean ginseng grows in northeast China and Korea, the coldest area known to Chinese in the old time, so ginseng from there is supposed to be very Yang. And originally, American ginseng was imported into China via subtropical Canton, the seaport next to Hong Kong, so Chinese doctors believed that American ginseng must be good for Yin, because it came from a hot area. However they did not know that American ginseng can only grow in temperate regions.

The ginseng is sliced, a few slices are soaked in hot water to make a tea.

Most North American ginseng is produced in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia and the American state of Wisconsin, according to Agri-food Canada. P. quinquefolius is now also grown in northern China.

A randomized, double-blind study shows that American ginseng reduces influenza cases in the elderly when compared to placebo^[1].

Wild ginseng

Wild ginseng is ginseng that has not been planted and cultivated domestically, rather it is that which grows naturally and is harvested from wherever it is found to be growing. It is considered to be superior to domestic ginseng by various authorities, and it has been shown to contain higher levels of ginsenoside. Wild ginseng is relatively rare and even increasingly endangered, due in large part to high demand for the product in recent years, which has lead to the wild plants being sought out and harvested faster than new ones can grow (it requires years for a ginseng root to reach maturity).

Red ginseng

Red ginseng

Red ginseng is Panax ginseng that has been heated, either through steaming or sun-drying. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle. This version of ginseng is associated with stimulating sexual function and increasing energy. Red ginseng is always produced from cultivated roots, usually from either China or South Korea. Some imported cultivated ginseng has tested positive for pesticides.

A double-blind, crossover study of Red ginseng's effects on impotence show a marked positive effect^[4].

A study shows that Red ginseng reduces the relapse of gastric cancer versus control^[5].

A study of ginseng's effects on rats show that while both White ginseng and Red ginseng reduce the incidence of cancer, the effects appear to be greater with Red ginseng ^[6].

Ginseng alternatives

These plants are sometimes referred to as ginseng, but they are either from a different family or genus.

• Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
• Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Prince ginseng)
• Angelica sinensis (Female ginseng, aka Dong Quai)
• Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng, aka Ashwagandha)
• Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng)
• Lepidium meyenii (Peruvian ginseng, aka Maca)
• Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Southern ginseng, aka Jiaogulan)

See also

• Traditional Chinese medicine
• New Age
• Food therapy
• Poor man's ginseng