Panax ginseng
Ginseng
a perennial member of the Panax genus in the family Araliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Panax
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.8 m
- Spread
- 0.7 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - chewed. This probably refers to its medicinal uses. A tea is made from the root.
- Plant part
- Root
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Ginseng has a history of herbal use going back over 5,000 years[6]. It is one of the most highly regarded of herbal medicines in the Orient, where it has gained an almost magical reputation for being able to promote health, general body vigour and also to prolong life[5]. The root is adaptogen, alterative, carminative, demulcent, emetic, expectorant, stimulant and tonic[1][2][3][5]. It both stimulates and relaxes the nervous system, encourages the secretion of hormones, improves stamina, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels and increases resistance to disease[6]. It is used internally in the treatment of debility associated with old age or illness, lack of appetite, insomnia, stress, shock and chronic illness[6]. Ginseng is not normally prescribed for pregnant women, or for patients under the age of 40, or those with depression, acute anxiety or acute inflammatory disease[6]. It is normally only taken for a period of 3 weeks[6]. Excess can cause headaches, restlessness, raised blood pressure and other side effects, especially if it is taken with caffeine, alcohol, turnips and bitter or spicy foods[6]. The roots are harvested in the autumn, preferably from plants 6 - 7 years old, and can be used fresh or dried[6]. A dose of 10ug/ml of ginseng saponins has been shown to be significantly radio-protective when it is administered prior to gamma-irradiation[5]. The leaf is emetic and expectorant[5].
- Product or use
- Adaptogen
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Emetic
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Nervine
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Korea.
- Light
- partial sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow in a shady position in a cold frame preferably as soon as it is ripe, otherwise as soon as the seed is obtained. It can be very slow and erratic to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a shady position in the greenhouse or frame for at least their first winter. Make sure the pots are deep enough to accommodate the roots. Plant out into their permanent positions in late summer. Division in spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a moist humus rich soil in a shady position in a woodland[4]. Ginseng is widely cultivated and also collected from the wild in the Orient for its root which is commonly used as a medicine[3]. The root is prepared in a number of different ways, including by steaming it for 4 hours in wicker baskets over boiling water[4].
References
Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31