 Panax is a genus of 11 species of slow-growing
perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the
Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly Korea, northern China, and eastern
Siberia) and North America, typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis,
discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. Ginseng is
characterized by the presence of ginsenosides.
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.
Etymology
The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term renshen, literally "human
root" (referring to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs
of a human). The difference between renshen and "ginseng" is explained by the
fact that the English pronunciation derives from a Japanese reading of these
Chinese characters.
The botanical name Panax means "all-heal" in Greek, and was applied to this
genus because Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine.
History
Renshen was originally the common name for several plants valued for their
medicinal properties, but it is most specifically associated with genus Panax.
Its use can be traced in Chinese herbals from around AD 600; although herbals of
that date do not survive in full, they are quoted in the later manual Bencao
gangmu by Li Shi Zhen. At that early date renshen (evidently Panax ginseng) was
a trade and tribute item imported from Manchuria to China. Claims that Chinese
use of ginseng goes back 3,000, 5,000, 7,000 or 10,000 years are sometimes made,
but they are entirely speculative.
American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, has been used by native peoples of
central and eastern North America for at least 290 years (probably for much
longer, but this, again, is speculative). It was especially familiar to speakers
of Iroquoian and Algonquian languages.
Because of increasing scarcity in east Asia, cultivation of Panax ginseng was
developed in Korea around 1700, but cultivation is not easy. Panax quinquefolius
began to be systematically harvested for commercial export to China in the early
18th century. This in due course led to shortage in North America also, and
commercial cultivation of Panax quinquefolius was developed in the United States
in the mid 19th century.
A wide variety of ginseng is generally available in many Chinese or Korean
herbal medicine shops and ethnic Chinese/Korean supermarkets, but details must
be studied carefully as several other plants are misleadingly called "ginseng".
In the serious trade, wild Panax ginseng from China, like Wild Chang Bai
Mountain Ginseng, is hard to get and fetches very high prices ; next comes
cultivated Panax ginseng from China or Korea, followed by the much cheaper
cultivated Panax quinquefolius from Illinois, Wisconsin and other states.
Traditional Uses
The rhizome is taken orally as an adaptogen, aphrodisiac, stimulant, and in the
treatment of type II diabetes, including sexual dysfunction in men.
Modern Science and Ginseng
As with herbalism in general, ginseng's medical efficacy remains controversial.
It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using modern
science, as there are contradictory results from different studies, possibly due
to the wide variety and quality of ginseng 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.
Ginseng is promoted as an adaptogen (a product that increases the body's
resistance to stress), one which can to a certain extent be supported with
reference to its anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties, although animal
experiments to determine whether longevity and health were increased in the
presence of stress gave negative results.
A comparative, randomized and double-blind study at the National Autonomous
University of Mexico does indicate it to be "a promising dietary supplement"
when assessed for an increase in quality of life.
Panax ginseng appear to inhibit some characteristics associated with cancer in
animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans.
Ginseng, Nitric Oxide, and Reproductive Activity
A 2002 study by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (published
in the annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) found that in laboratory
animals, both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory
performance. These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone
secretion, but to direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on
the central nervous system and gonadal tissues. In males, insenosides can
facilitate penile erection by directly inducing the vasodilatation and
relaxation of penile corpus cavernosum. Moreover, the effects of ginseng on the
corpus cavernosum appear to be mediated by the release and/or modification of
release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells and perivascular nerves. Animal
studies lend growing support for the use of ginseng in the treatment of sexual
dysfunction and provide increasing evidence for a role of nitric oxide in the
mechanism of ginsenoside action.
Side Effects
One of ginseng's most common side-effects is the inability to sleep. Other
side-effects include nausea, diarrhea, euphoria, headaches, epistaxis, high
blood pressure, low blood pressure, mastalgia, and vaginal bleeding.
Common Classification
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.
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.
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 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. A
double-blind, crossover study of Red ginseng's effects on impotence show a
marked positive effect. A study shows that Red ginseng reduces the relapse of
gastric cancer versus control. 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.
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)
Wisconsin and Trade
Since about the 1980s, Wisconsin has been known for its high quality ginseng
through out the world. Wisconsin farmers and their supporters since then have
combated against other producers (China and Canada) and trademark piracy.
They've done this through creating the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin but has had
little success. Wisconsin ginseng may have high quality but does not produce
enough to be a major competitor.
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