(Popular Herb Series 2/9) American Ginseng: Panax quinquefolius Not to be confused with Panax ginseng which grows in China, Korea, and Japan, American Ginseng is found in the shady hills of Eastern North America. Taking twenty years to reach maturity, ginseng grows very slowly. Harvestable ginseng is only taken after the plant reaches five years' growth. It grows low to the ground, sending up delicate little leaflettes that only get to be a few inches tall and are easily broken if stepped on.
An ancient belief in China holds that ginseng is a whole-body tonic, which stems from the way the root looks like the human body. This alludes to the Doctrine of Signatures, a form of herbalism which states that herbs resembling human anatomy are utilized for that specific body part. Since ginseng root looks like an entire person, the herb would be utilized in this way. One of ginseng’s common names is “root of immortality”, showing just how revered it has been throughout its long history. Because it was (and still is) so highly prized, Panax ginseng has been overharvested and brought nearly to extinction. In the early 1700’s, Jesuites, missionaries who had been to China, became aware that a form of ginseng was growing in abundance in areas just south of Canada. Boatloads began to be shipped to China, fetching a price of $5 per pound- a king’s ransom! By the 1770’s, ginseng had been wiped out along America’s Eastern seaboard.
Today, ginseng still guarantees a high price of $600 or more per pound. Therefore it is extremely important that only cultivated ginseng is bought and used, as it is still highly endangered and as mentioned before, grows very slowly.
Among its uses today, Ginseng is considered an adaptogen- which helps the body resist physical and emotional stress, resist disease and exerts subtle but real generalized strengthening effects, while causing few, if any, side effects.
The adaptogenic value of ginseng is wide and whole-body encompassing. Among its uses are energy increase, enhanced athletic performance, improved mental function, enhanced immunity, and improved general well-being.
Researchers have looked to ginseng for a cancer preventative, to help with the effects of chemotherapy, and improving survival and quality of life in women with breast cancer.
Be aware: Many studies have produced impressive evidence of ginseng’s therapeutic benefits, but adulteration seems to be very common among this supplement. One study evaluated 54 ginseng products sold in health food stores in the United States, and judged that 60 percent of the products were worthless because they contained too little of the herb to have any biological effect. Twenty-five percent contained no ginseng at all. Unfortunately, many ginseng products also utilize roots that are under mature, meaning they have no medicinal benefits. Be sure that the product you buy has a species identified and states that it is made with 6 year old roots.
Ginseng tastes sweetish and is slightly aromatic. It can be used as a powder, tea, tincture, or capsule. Some stores even sell ginseng soft drinks, which give a similar effect to that of caffeine. Capsules are the most commonly consumed preparation- the recommended dose is two 500mg capsules two times per day.
Considering safety, ginseng is a stimulant, and side effects of overdose are seen as a jittery, nervous feeling, nausea or headache. Avoid American ginseng if taking blood thinners, MAOIs, diabetic drugs, or immunosuppressants.
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