Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius

Some Other Names: Wild American Ginseng, American Ginseng Root, Five Fingers, Ginseng Americain, Man's Health, Garantoquen, Jin-chen, Red Berry, Tartar Root, Wonder of the world

Habitat: (Panax quinquefolius) Perennial herb, native to Eastern N. America found from Maine to Georgia, west to Oklahoma and Minnesota, growing in rich soils in cool woods. Cultivation: Ginseng requires a deep moist humus rich soil in a shady position in a woodland, growing well on north-facing slopes and in deep cool woodland areas. Seeds should be sown in a shady position in a cold frame or greenhouse, and spend least their first winter there. Plant into their permanent positions in late summer or early spring. It has a large, thick, fleshy, whitish, root, growing 3 to 4 inches in length, specimens have been found twice this size. Most roots are spindle shaped with smaller appendages. The stem is simple and erect, on average about 1 to 2 foot high, bearing three to five large, palmate, leaves in a whorl atop the stem, each leaf is long stalked, divided into five finely-toothed, short petiole, leaflets, and a single, terminal umbel, with a few small, yellowish or light green flowers which grow on a short stalk from the center of the whorl of leaves. The fruit is a cluster of bright red berries. Flowers bloom in June and July. Gather the roots in Fall after the berries or seeds have fallen away. Dry for later herb use. The wild supply is quickly being diminished due to over harvesting for export to china and other countries, in some areas it is illegal to harvest during certain months of the year.

Properties: Ginseng herb has a long history of use as an alternative medicine going back over 5,000 years, and appears on several continents (origin unknown). Panax Ginseng is Asian in origin, where as Panax quinquefolius is native to North America. The later (Panax quinquefolius) is known to be a stronger and better quality Ginseng than the Asian variety. It was known and used extensively in Native American medicine. The root is adaptogen, alterative, cardiotonic, demulcent, panacea, sedative, sialagogue, stimulant, tonic and stomachic. Ginseng has been studied over the past 30 years in many countries, it’s remarkable ability to help the body adapt to mental and emotional stress, fatigue, heat, cold, and even hunger is confirmed and documented! The major constituents in Ginseng are Triterpenoid saponins, Ginsenosides (at least 29 have been identified), Acetylenic compounds, Panaxans, and Sesquiterpenes. Individual ginsenosides have separate effects which interact with the body’s metabolic system. For example, one particular ginsenoside stimulates the nervous system, while another sedates the nervous system. Other ginsenosides produce these effects in balancing the metabolic processes, improving muscle tone, stimulating the endocrine system, decreasing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and maintaining proper hormone levels. Taken over an extended period it is used to increase mental and physical performance. It is medicinal and therapeutic for the whole body. A very powerful medicinal herb, it encourages the secretion of hormones, improves stamina, and increases resistance to disease. The ginsenosides that produce these effects are very similar to the body’s own natural stress hormones. Ginseng acts within the body to help cells convert oxygen into energy, by doing so it reduces stress, restores energy, strengthens the immune system, and improves memory. It is used in the treatment of debility associated with old age or illness, lack of appetite, insomnia, stress, shock and chronic illness. Ginseng also increases immune function, resistance to infection, and supports liver function. The leaf is emetic and expectorant. The root is often candied and used as a an edible medicinal kind of candy.

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Folklore: The roots are called Jin-chen by the natives of China, meaning 'like a man,' in reference to their looking like the human form. The American Indian name for the plant, garantoquen, has (strangely) the same meaning and uses, seeing how each race had no knowledge of the existence of the other. The American Indians attributed much magic power to Ginseng. The Seminole Indians using it as a Love Medicine, rubbed it on the body and clothes to bring back a divorced wife.

Dosage: This seems to vary, some say 1000 mg. a day, others more or less! I gather my own supply, just break off a small piece of the dried root (aspirin size) and swallow it with the daily vitamins.