Ginseng in Chinese Medicine

Ginseng Imperial Tonic

In recent years Western culture has become increasingly interested in aspects of Asian culture and medicine. North Americans and Europeans have been won over to the healing effects of the Ginseng Root, which has been accepted in Asia for centuries. It is being taken as a tonic to enhance vitality, to increase stamina and to build up resistance to the psychological and physical stresses of modern life.

The curative powers of Ginseng are said to be unique in the way they affect the whole body. This harmony, expressed as the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, is held to be essential to a healthy body, and a peaceful spirit. There are three main types of Ginseng. The properties of each Ginseng are quite different and their uses are not always interchangeable.

American Ginseng click here

Chinese Ginseng click here

Korean Ginseng click here

When on Ginseng therapy you should avoid drinking tea, eating turnips and avoid taking Iron supplements. When preparing foods and tonics with Ginseng you must avoid pots made of iron.

Research has even shown that Ginseng is effective in maintaining and even restoring the cells capacity to function and therefore may reduce a number of symptoms of old age. Ginseng root is rare and most highly regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as precious herb. True Ginseng is costly, Wild Ginseng, more so. There are three principal kinds of true Ginseng. American, Chinese and Korean.

Western Medicine and Ginseng

Western medicine evaluates the effectiveness of Ginseng in a complementary way. The active ingredients in Ginseng are complex carbohydrates called saponins or ginsenosides. Individual ginsenosides appear to have separate effects. Whereas one particular ginsenoside stimulates the central nervous system, another may sedate the central nervous system. Other ginsenosides produce such effects as balancing metabolic processes, decreasing blood sugar, improving muscle tone, stimulating the endocrine system and maintaining proper hormone levels. Research has even shown that Ginseng is effective in maintaining and even restoring the cell's capacity to function and therefore may reduce a number of symptoms of old age. Ginseng root is rare and most highly regarded in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as precious herb. True Ginseng is costly, Wild Ginseng, more so...

Ginseng is a perennial herb normally growing 60-80 cm. in height. The root is fleshy and aromatic. The stem of the plant is erect, simple, rarely branches, has deep red leaves and has a fruit that is a small berry, again normally red in color. Today Ginseng is widely grown in northeastern China, Taiwan, North Korea, and the USA. The part of the Ginseng most widely used is the root, which is grayish white to amber yellow in color, with a wrinkled and furrowed surface. The taste is sweetish at first, with a bitter after taste.

Korean Ginseng is the most fiery or "hot", Chinese Ginseng is less fiery but still "hot" or "heaty", while American Ginseng is believed to have relaxing or "cooling" properties. All Ginseng's' strengthen and improve endurance.

Tienchi or Pseudo-ginseng sometimes referred to as "Siberian" or "Asian" Ginseng is not a true Ginseng, but a closely related plant with other beneficial properties than the true Ginseng's. Tienchi is said to be effective for some heart conditions and general pain relief.

Ginseng Combinations

Ginseng may be used by itself, in combination with other precious herbs including, Cordyceps and Wild American Ginseng, Chinese Ginseng -Royal Jelly Tonic and Deer Antler and Chinese Ginseng Tonic - a powerful anti-inflammatory for people experiencing fatigue. Ginseng also play a major part in many Chinese patent Medicines including Tien Wang Pu Hsin Tan - a famous combination often refereed to as "the King of Heaven Pills".