Ginseng Facts - Your Online Source for Information on Ginseng
Ginseng Facts
Ginseng has been around for thousands of years so there are more ginseng facts than you can count.
Millions of Chinese use ginseng daily.
Asian ginseng and American ginseng are both known as “true ginsengs.”
Asian ginseng is thought of as warm and American ginseng is thought of as cool.
Ginseng is both a stimulant and stress-reducer at the same time.
Ginseng root turns red after it has been steamed for 10-12 hours and dried.
Native Americans, as well as the Chinese, have used ginseng for centuries.
Ginseng facts tell us that the first American ginseng was exported to China in the 1700s.
American ginseng is classified as threatened and endangered, and every state as regulations on its use. You must have a license to sell, import or export ginseng.
Ginseng has sold for as much as $1000 per pound. It averages around $400 per pound.
It takes six to seven years for ginseng roots to mature.
The most valuable ginseng roots are those which look to have the shape of a man.
Ginseng absorbs many minerals from its many years growing in the ground.
Ginseng contains ginsenosides, which are compounds resembling steroids.
Westerners tend to be very skeptical of the benefits of ginseng.
Ginseng is said to improve both mental and physical performance. In athletes it is said to improve oxygen uptake.
One of the most popular ways to take ginseng is in tea.
Ginseng facts reveal that people with high blood pressure should not use ginseng.
Some common side effects of ginseng include insomnia, heart palpitations, asthma, infections and various forms of inflammation.
Ginseng should not be used by pregnant women or children.
Ginseng is the most well-known herb in the world.
Asian ginseng is good for people who are recovering from an illness and need to regain strength.
American ginseng is good for people who have type A personalities, and who are often hot and full of energy.
Ginseng’s effects come from saponins (ginsenosides and panaxosides) and polysaccharides. These are best obtained from the plant’s roots. When bought in processed form, such as tea or supplements the amount of saponins may vary greatly depending on the brand of ginseng.
In China, ginseng has been used for 7000 years.
The word panax means “all healing.”
Ginseng is grown in Russia but it is not in the same plant family as Asian and American ginseng.
Ginseng roots can live for more than one hundred years.
Ginseng is said to increase concentration and memory. Studies done in China show that the chemicals in ginseng affect the neurotransmitters of the brain.
Ginseng needs shade in which to grow. Most wild ginseng grows in hardwood forests, underneath the cover of the trees.