Oriental or Chinese ginseng, Panax ginseng (syn. P. schinseng), acquired an almost mystical reputation in the 1970s and ’80s, though it has fallen out of fashion somewhat since then. Other names by which it is known include Asiatic ginseng and wonder of the world, or just ginseng. American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius (syn. Aralia quinquefolia), is also known as five-fingers, five-leafed ginseng and redberry. It is very similar in both appearance and efficacy to Chinese ginseng, the leaf shape being the only obvious difference, as you can see from the picture, though the Chinese reaches a height of around 2’6″ (80cm), whereas the American has a maximum height of around 12-18″ (30-45cm). Chinese ginseng is shown on the left of the picture, and the American ginseng on the right.
There are many other plants which are sometimes called ginseng including ashwagandha (“Indian ginseng”), which has similar properties but is unrelated. None of the others has the same properties as these two, and most are completely unrelated.
Both species of ginseng require moist shade to grow. The part used is the root, which ideally should be 6-7 years old, although commercially grown ginseng is usually harvested at 3-4 years. Commercial quantities of Chinese ginseng are grown in Korea, and of American ginseng in Wisconsin and Minnesota in the USA and Ontario and British Columbia in Canada. Although it is possible to grow it in the garden if you have a suitably moist shaded area, the long growing period to harvest makes this difficult, and it is probably better to buy it in your nearest Asian supermarket or Chinese herbalists. On the other hand, if you do have a shady area it may be worth growing as a conversation piece, as not much else will grow in shade apart from ferns.
Ginseng leaves are sometimes used for tea, but this has little or no medicinal effect (though commercial products may claim or imply otherwise).
Chinese herbalists distinguish between the two plants as follows: the Chinese ginseng is regarded as yang (male) and the American as yin (female). The American is preferred for younger patients (under 40). There are also two different ways that Panax ginseng may be preserved: either peeled and air dried (white ginseng), or steamed without peeling and then dried (red ginseng). The difference in preparation results in different properties.
To use ginseng, put 30g (1 oz) dried ginseng root slices in a small pan with 570ml (2.5 US cups, 1 UK pint) of cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the liquid reduces by half, then strain before use. The dose is up to 1 US cup a day, split into 3 doses.
In the West, both types of ginseng are used as a tonic for any age group, although in China, Oriental ginseng is not prescribed for anyone under 40, pregnant women or anybody suffering from acute depression, anxiety or inflammatory disease. Chinese ginseng is used to treat disorders caused by old age, and is also protective against the effects of gamma radiation, prevents the buildup of cholesterol, lowers blood sugar and acts as an expectorant. It is also an effective anti-inflammatory and has anti-cancer properties. Red ginseng improves the effect of anti-virals in HIV. It has been found that both Chinese and American types have aphrodisiac effects, improving both libido and performance, according to research by the South Illinois University School of Medicine in 2002. American ginseng is used to treat chronic cough and night sweats, but is generally regarded as interchangeable with Chinese ginseng for most purposes.
Though it’s unlikely that you will choose to grow either of these plants for use as medicine, if you do, you should ensure that you use organic methods to avoid the active constituents being altered or eliminated by chemicals. To find out more about growing organic American ginseng visit the Gardenzone.
Related Posts
American Sweet Cicely
American Valerian
American PennyroyalRelated posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.