Ginseng

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Ginseng | image = Panax quinquefolius.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Panax quinquefolius foliage and fruit | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Magnoliopsida | ordo = Apiales | familia = Araliaceae | genus = Panax | genus_authority = L. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Panax ginseng - Chinese/Korean Ginseng
Panax japonicus - Japanese Ginseng
Panax pseudoginseng - Himalayan Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius - American Ginseng
Panax trifolius - Dwarf Ginseng
Panax vietnamensis - Vietnamese Ginseng
Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus }}

Ginseng (Panax) is a genus of about five or six species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia and North America, typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenoside.

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.

Some other species previously classified in Panax are now treated in the separate genera Polyscias and Pseudopanax.

1 History
2 Modern science and ginseng
3 Common classification
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

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History

The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term rénshēn (simplified: 人参; traditional: 人參), literally "man root" (referring to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man). It was originally the common name for several plants valued for their medicinal properties; although ginseng is now most often associated with the genus Panax, some researchers believe that the original ginseng used in ancient China may have been a different plant. Although ginseng is often seen as an East Asian medicine, American ginseng has been used by Native Americans for centuries. A wide variety of ginseng is generally available in many Chinatown herb shops and ethnic Chinese supermarkets.

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Modern science and ginseng

It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using modern science. Frequently, there are contradictory results from different studies. Supporters claim that this is due to the wide variety of ginseng quality used in studies. The quality and neutrality of studies from East Asia have also been questioned. Another issue is that there is no profit to be achieved from researching ginseng because it cannot be patented; therefore, pharmaceutical companies have no incentive to research ginseng. 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 Template:Ref label

Ginseng is highly prized as an adaptogen (a product that does no harm, but increases the body's resistance to stress). Unfortunately, this property is extremely difficult to prove scientifically as well.

A comparative, randomized and double-blind government study does indicate it to be "a promising dietary supplement" when assessed for an increase in quality of lifeTemplate:Ref label.

Panax ginseng appears to inhibit some characteristics associated with cancer in animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans Template:Ref label.

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Common classification

Image:Ginseng in Korea.jpg

Panax ginseng Chinese/Korean ginseng (root)

Alleged effects: 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. (See samgyetang.)

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.

Alleged effects: 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 to China from 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 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 placeboTemplate:Ref label.

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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).

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Red ginseng

Image:Red ginseng.JPG Red ginseng is Panax ginseng that has been heated, either through steaming or sun-drying. This version of ginseng is associated with stimulating sexual function and anti-cancer benefits. In this context, regular, non-heated ginseng is referred to as White ginseng.

A double-blind, crossover study of Red ginseng's effects on impotence show a marked positive effectTemplate:Ref label.

A study shows that Red ginseng reduces the relapse of gastric cancer versus controlTemplate:Ref label.

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 Template:Ref label.

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Ginseng alternatives

These plants are sometimes referred to as ginseng, but they are either from a different family or genus.

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Prince ginseng (Pseudostellaria heterophylla)
Female ginseng (Angelica sinensis, aka Dong Quai)
Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera, aka Ashwagandha)
Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata)
Peruvian ginseng (Lepidium meyenii, aka Maca)
Southern ginseng (Gynostemma pentaphyllum, aka Jiaogulan)

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References

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| author=McElhaney JE et al | title=A placebo-controlled trial of a proprietary extract of North American ginseng (CVT-E002) to prevent acute respiratory illness in institutionalized older adults | journal=J Am Geriatr Soc | year=2004 | volume=52 | issue=1 | pages=13–19 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=14687309}}

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| author= Caso Marasco A, Vargas Ruiz R, Salas Villagomez A, Begona Infante C. | title= Double-blind study of a multivitamin complex supplemented with ginseng extract | journal=Drugs Exp Clin Res. | year= 1996 | volume= 22 | issue= 6 | pages= 323–329 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9034759&dopt=Abstract}}

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| author= Shin HR, Kim JY, Yun TK, Morgan G, Vainio H | title= The cancer-preventive potential of Panax ginseng: a review of human and experimental evidence | journal= Cancer Causes Control | year= 2000 | volume= 11 | issue= 6 | pages= 565–576 | url= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10880039&dopt=Abstract}}

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| author=Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, Nam KY, Ahn TY. | title=A double-blind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary report | journal= Journal of Urology | year= 2002 | volume= 168 | issue= 5 | pages= 20–21 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12394711&dopt=Abstract}}

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| author= Suh SO, Kroh M, Kim NR, Joh YG, Cho MY. | title= Effects of red ginseng upon postoperative immunity and survival in patients with stage III gastric cancer. | journal=American Journal of Chinese Medicine. | year= 2002 | volume= 30 | issue= 4 | pages= 483–94 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12568276}}

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| author= Yun TK, Lee YS, Lee YH, Kim SI, Yun HY | title=Anticarcinogenic effect of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and identification of active compounds. | journal=Journal of Korean Medical Science | year= 2001 | volume= 16 | issue= S | pages= 6–18 | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11748383&dopt=Abstract }}

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