Ginseng FAQ

There are no known adverse side effects of Canadian Ginseng.
Adverse side effects of Korean Ginseng include:

• Irritability
• Confusion/dizziness
• Arrhythmia
• Hemorrhage
• Abdominal pain/diarrhea
• Hypertension
• Skin hypersensitivity
• Recurrence of diabetes.

Many women take Ginseng during the menopausal years, to reduce hot flashes, headaches, insomnia, irritability and other discomforts. Ginseng is well equipped to balance, tone, support the hormone system during this time of change.

Research studies indicate that as a medicinal herb, if taken for at least 3 weeks, the individual should notice improvement. Some people may need to take it for 2 months before noticing the benefits. Therefore the full "tonic" effects of an herb like ginseng will occur only after a period of time. Although most people will notice interim effects within days.  
Methods of using Ginseng:

• May just chew on a piece of dried root.
• Steam root to soften
• Simmer for 1 hour in chicken soup
• Tea (Put 2-3 grams of ginseng root, or 1 teaspoon of powder  in a cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 min. Tea may be served with cream, honey or juice (no sugar).

Ginseng is not recommended for pregnant women or for people with hypoglycemia or high blood pressure.

Ginseng has had a profound effect on health practices in the Orient. This is no coincidence. Generations of use do not continue merely out of habit.
Western medicine is awakening to the values of ginseng and there is a great deal of research being done. Being an herbal medicine, the process for its validity is done backwards – humans have already used it for over 2000 years; now scientists are testing it on animals so they can discover how it works (not if it works).
It seems extremely unlikely that wise cultures would continue to ingest a substance for thousands of years if it didn’t work.

The root takes approximately 3-5 years to reach harvesting maturity. The ginseng plants are generally started from seeds. The seeds are planted in the fall and germinate in the spring. Shade is erected over the beds in the spring to ensure the optimum lighting conditions required by these delicate plants.
Extensive equipment is needed, with hundreds of hours of tender loving labour.
Fully mature roots are dug from the ground and meticulously washed and dried.

American and Canadian Ginseng are also known as Panax quinquefolius.  Canadian ginseng is the most balanced of all the ginseng varieties, and is shown to have twice the concentration of ginsenosides of Korean Ginseng.
Canadian ginseng is considered to be more relaxing, and known to increase the “yin” energy, and has a cooling effect on the body
Korean Ginseng is also known as Panax Ginseng. This is an Asian Root, which has a warming effect on the body. Korean Ginseng is not recommended for menopausal women or people with high blood pressure or hypertension.
Korean is known to increase the “yang” energy. Korean ginseng is considered most suitable for males and older people.
Siberian Ginseng is not a true ginseng, but it is a related plant.

Ginseng stimulates physical and mental activity and helps with fatigue and stress – it helps the body help itself.  Try some Canadian ginseng (caffeine free) tea, or capsules, or chew a piece of root two or three times a day. It’s been used successfully for thousands of years.

In ancient Korea and China, ginseng was used as an aid and /or curative agent for a wide variety of maladies. Here is a partial list of conditions that ginseng was used for, taken from the pharmacology books of Korea and China:

• Weakness or for revitalization of strength,
• Bronchitis & asthma,
• Malfunction of kidneys, spleen, cold hands, and feet,
• Stomach or digestive problems, nausea, arthritis, gout, rheumatism, high blood pressure, insomnia, and erectile dysfunction
• Ginseng is also known to help with stress reduction, control cholesterol.

Ginseng is best known for boosting the immune system, improving mental function, increase physical stamina, enhancing the ability to deal with stress, enhance blood flow, help regulate cholesterol levels, strengthen metabolism, slow degeneration of cells and increase longevity.
Ginseng is not used to directly cure or treat symptoms or medical problems – it is used as a restorative treatment rather than a curative one. Western health care is awakening to the values of ginseng and there is a great deal of research being done.

Ginseng contains a number of active ingredients called ginsenosides, as well as sugars, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
The ginsenosides are the most active ingredient and over 25 different types have been found. Only about 6 of them are thought to have any therapeutic significance. Research suggests that the ginsenosides that may appear inactive actually help to make the “active” ginsenosides more soluble, more easily absorb-able and more bio-available to the body.

Ginseng (also called Panax quinquefolius) is a slow growing herb, that takes 3-5 years to grow. It consists of a light coloured root, with a single stalk, long oval leaves, and bright red berries. However it is only the root that has any medicinal value. Ginseng contains complex carbohydrates called saponins. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer elements. Ginseng is sometimes called an “adaptogen”, meaning it normalizes bodily functions depending on what the individual needs.

Ginseng’s original name is “man root”. Since it resembles the shape of a human body.  Ancient Chinese doctrine states that a plant that resembles a human body part will have a healing effect on that body part. Therefore it is believed that ginseng is able to restore harmony to the whole body.
Many people take ginseng to improve memory concentration and mental clarity.

Store ginseng in a dark dry place, like a pantry or cupboard.