Ginseng — The King of The Herbs

Ginseng is the most famous Chinese herb and arguably its most potent. The benefits of ginseng are nothing short of legendary. Ginseng is particularly helpful to men that are experiencing fertility-related issues. It is believed to be by many researchers nature’s natural Viagra pill but it’s so much more than that. If cayenne pepper is the prince of the herbs, ginseng is its undisputed king. Ginseng is a powerful dietary supplement that should be a part of everyone’s daily health regime.

About Our Friend Ginseng

Oriental ginseng (panax ginseng), American ginseng, (panax quinquefolium), Siberian ginseng, (eleutherococcus senticocus), and Korean ginseng, which is generally regarded as from the same family as Oriental ginseng. However, there has been another strain found in Vietnam called Panax vietnamensis or Vietnamese ginseng.

Oriental ginseng (also called (panax ginseng) is the most well-known type of ginseng although there are many others including Korean ginseng (called insam in Korean meaning three men), American ginseng, (panax quinquefolium) and Siberian ginseng (eleutherococcus senticocus). The Chinese version or panax ginseng has been used by the Chinese for over 5,000 years.

They composed the name ginseng from two words meaning “Man Plant” due to its likeness to the human body. Fundamentally, there are two major ginseng species; Asian or panax ginseng and American ginseng. By the way, the name of panax derived from Greek, means “all cure” (pan means all, ax means cure).

Panax ginseng is native to wooded areas of northeastern Asia, where it has been cultivated since 2,000 BC. Korean or Chinese ginseng is a small perennial, which grows in moist forests and has been used in Korean for centuries as well

Ginseng is a small, perennial plant of the Araliaceae botanical family. It grows naturally on the slopes of ravines and shady, drained mountainous hardwood forests. The ginseng plant grows between 7 to 21 inches in height when wild. The root is a dirty yet creamy yellow or white resembling a parsnip with rootlets that branch off, that resemble the shape of a human body. The root is the part that is consumed and where the most nutrition is.

Using today’s technology, ginseng can be found in most herb and alternative medicine shops and is effective in treating some diseases and health problems. Types of ginseng usually range between $10 and $100 but can go higher. Panax Ginseng is a popular herb today because it has fewer side effects and no toxic effects. Different kinds of ginseng cure different kinds of medical or health issues. As a common rule, ginseng should be protected from too much light and moisture in order to preserve its effectiveness.

Nowadays, most people have never heard the word ginseng; much less are they likely to recognize the plant or know anything of its history. However, ginseng root as a cultivated crop is not as highly regarded as wild ginseng by its consumers. Korea and China are the major producers of Oriental ginseng, and believe it or not the state of Wisconsin is the primary United States producer of American ginseng, although Canadian production has increased in the past few years as well..

The Health Benefits of Ginseng

The plant has been used for thousands of years for its healing qualities and is revered for its many benefits. In the USA today and around the world, ginseng’s exceptional qualities and health benefits are now widely known and accepted not to mention studied by clinical researchers — especially in the orient, which is much more acceptance of alternative health foods and measures than the eminently practical west tends to be.

Continuing, ginseng is considered to be an adaptogen. Ginseng grows very slowly; reproductive maturity requires five to eight years, sometimes more but it’s worth the wait. Ginseng can also lower blood sugar as well. It’s often been looked upon by naturalist or herbalist practitioners as a panacea or cure all due to its incredible benefits.

One of its most popular benefits of interest to you reader is that it helps relieve the fatigue due to aging or even during exercise itself. One martial artist friend of mine used to train with a large sliver of it in his mouth as he believed it gave him extra strength and endurance. Some of the other benefits of ginseng are that it also strengthens the libido and serves as a general tonic to the whole human instrument. It also fights off aging as it is teeming with antioxidants.

For women, ginseng helps relieve menopause symptoms. As alluded, this Phytoestrogenic herb is also used for effectively as an aphrodisiac and for improving sexual functioning, increasing physical stamina and sexual prowess in both men and women. It also helps improve blood flow and helps regulate blood pressure One of its greatest benefits is that it helps to slow down the degeneration of cells in human body.

It also reduces stress, calm nerves and strengthen the immune system. Another beneficial aspect of this king of the herbs is that it also increases your metabolism and it stimulates both physical and mental activity. Believe it or not, ginseng usage has been credited with helping to reduce short-term memory loss. Lastly, ginseng helps to maintain excellent body functions.

Conclusion

In summary, the ancient Chinese believed that the root of the ginseng plant was the crystallization of the essence of the earth in the shape of a man and that ginseng had mystical even supernatural power at rejuvenating, recuperative, revitalizing, and curing action upon the human being. In today’s modern society, ginseng has been advocated for virtually every purpose including general health, fatigue, immune function, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cognitive function, viral infections, sexual function, and athletic performance.

Ginseng’s major attraction is its putative therapeutic compounds; its curative powers are highly regarded as well and should be a part of anyone’s supplement regime. It can be taken in many forms including capsule, raw, as tea or as part of a multi-vitamin supplement.