Microsoft word - ginseng

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Oriental ginseng is more stimulating than white
Oriental ginseng
Cultivation: Ginseng is native to northeastern
China, eastern Russia, and North Korea, but is
now extremely rare in the wild. Ginseng
cultivation requires great skill. It is propagated
from seed in spring and requires rich, moist,
but well-drained soil. The plant takes at least 4
years to mature. The root is then normally
harvested in autumn, washed, and steamed
before being dried.
History: Ginseng is the most famous Chinese
herb of all. It has been valued for its
remarkable therapeutic benefits for about 8,000
years and was so revered that wars were fought
for control of the forests in which it thrived.
An Arabian physician brought ginseng back to
Europe in the 9th century, yet its ability to improve stamina and resistance to stress Panax ginseng
became common knowledge in the West only in the 18th century. It was used extensively by Family: Araliaceae
Names: Korean Ginseng, Chinese ginseng,
monopolized the rights to harvest it and wars have been fought over it. A 2,500 year old Chinese myth from the Province of Sheni tells of villagers hearing a loud voice calling them Description: a perennial growing to 3 feet with
from underneath a plant shaped like a man, oval, toothed leaves and a cluster of small which they named Jen-shen or Ren-shen, green-yellow flowers. Red and white ginseng meaning “man root.” It is said to be a are not plant species, but rather are terms used manifestation of Tu Ching, the Spirit of the to describe the processing that the root has Ground, the Chinese went on spiritual quests to undergone. All ginseng roots, when picked and find ginseng, reciting an ancient chant before dried are white. Processing the root with steam digging it. I is also told that ginseng is found is what makes it red. In addition to changing its where a bolt of lightning strikes a clear spring, color and preserving it, the process makes the ginseng more warm." Consequently red cohesiveness and earth solidity produces this crystallized essence. Constituents:
pan-axos meaning all-healing. It is from the ginsenosides, acetylenic compounds, panaxans, same word as panacea, which means cure-all. va-pang-suis and their profession was Action: adaptogenic, tonic, stimulant
extremely dangerous. They were preyed upon by vicious bandits called the White Swans, who Energetics: warm, sweet, slightly bitter
killed many of them to get the root. The only redeeming feature of these bandits was that Meridians/Organs affected: spleen, lungs
they believed that no prospector should be Medicinal Uses:
bordered flag to the unfortunate victim to for generations to be a panacea by the Chinese signify to other bandits that he had already disorders, such as acute inflammatory diseases, for which it is not recommended. It usually is expensive pieces of root that they can afford. not taken alone, but combined in formulas with sometimes lined with lead to “preserve the investigators, Russian I.I. Brekhman, coined radiations emitting from the root”. Inside, the the term “adaptogen” to describe ginseng’s root itself is carefully wrapped in silk or tissue ability to regulate many different functions. It paper. It will be taken home and nugget-sized can have different responses, depending on pieces will be boiled in a little silver kettle what an individual needs. Studies show that designed specifically for the purpose. Or the root may be kept in brandy for years, the family efficiency and resistance to stress and disease. eking out the precious liquid by taking it in little sips and offering a little to the most observed according to Rorschach. Studies done at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science in The Jesuits were responsible for the real Beijing, China, showed that the ginsenosides start of trade in American ginseng. In 1704, a increase protein synthesis and activity of French explorer returned to Paris with what neurotransmitters in the brain. They are also turned out to be American ginseng he’d found probably responsible for ginseng’s dual role of in southern Canada. Jesuits officials (who sedating or stimulating the central nervous maintained a substantial missionary presence in system, depending on the condition it is being China) sensed a potential commercial bonanza, taken to treat. Studies also show that ginseng and instructed their missionaries in Canada to improves carbohydrate tolerance in diabetics. Canadian Jesuits shipped some to their Canton ginseng along with alcohol, their blood alcohol brethren who sold it for $5 a pound. For the level was 32% to 51% lower than that of the next 25 years, Canadian Jesuits shipped tons of American ginseng to China. They kept the trade a secret to protect their monopoly but immune system of both animals and humans. It eventually word leaked out and by the 1740s revs up the white blood cells (macrophages and colonists were scouring the countryside for the natural killer cells) that devour disease-causing plant. By the late 1770s, ginseng fever had virtually wiped out the plant along the Eastern production of interferon, the body’s own virus- seaboard. The search for ginseng played a key fighting chemical, and antibodies, which fight bacterial and viral infections. It reduces cholesterol, according to several American studies. It also increases good cholesterol. Ginseng has an anticlotting effect, which are experiencing a “collapse” of your “chi”, reduces the risk of blood clots. It reduces blood sugar levels. Ginseng protects the liver from the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol, and varies. In China, ginseng is best known as a other toxic substances. In a pilot human study, stimulant, tonic herb for athletes and those ginseng improved liver function in 24 elderly subject to physical stress, and as a male people suffering from cirrhosis. Ginseng can aphrodisiac. It is also a tonic for old age, and is minimize cell damage from radiation. In two traditionally taken by people in northern and studies, experimental animals were injected central China from late middle age onward, with various protective agents, then subjected helping them to endure the long hard winters. to doses of radiation similar to those used in cancer radiation therapy. Ginseng provided the over the past 20-30 years in China, Japan, best protection against damage to healthy cells, Korea, Russian, and many other countries. Its suggesting value during cancer radiation remarkable “adaptogenic” quality has been significantly improves the body’s capacity to particularly beneficial for the elderly. As cope with hunger, extremes of temperature, and people age, the senses of taste and smell mental and emotional stress. Furthermore, ginseng produces a sedative effect when the addition, the intestine’s ability to absorb body requires sleep. The ginsenosides that are nutrients declines. Ginseng enjoys a reputation responsible for this action are similar in as an appetite stimulant and one study showed structure to the body’s own stress hormones. it increases the ability of the intestine to absorb Ginseng also increases immune function and nutrients, thus helping prevent resistance to infection, and supports liver undernourishment. This is a yin tonic, taken in China for fevers and for exhaustion due to a chronic, wasting disease such as tuberculosis. been recognized as effective n reducing alcohol It can help coughs related to lung weakness. In the 1960s, a Japanese scientist, Shoji Shibata, hangovers. A clinical experiment demonstrated at the Meiji College of Pharmacy in Tokyo, that ginseng significantly enhanced blood identified a unique set of chemicals that are alcohol clearance in humans. In regards to largely responsible for ginseng’s actions. They cancer, a number of experiments have shown are saponins, biologically active compounds that ginseng can help restore physiological that foam in water. Ginseng’s unique saponins balance within the system and significantly reduce the side effects when used along with anticancer drugs. For diabetes, when patients beneficial effects on metabolic function, are treated with ginseng at the early stages, immunity, mood, and physiological function at conditions can return to normal. In advanced the most basic cellular level. It doesn’t benefit stages, the blood glucose level is significantly everyone; recent studies of elite athletes reveal lowered. When combined with insulin, insulin that it has no demonstrable effects on athletic requirements are reduced while still effectively performance. Yet in older people, studies show lowering blood glucose level. Other symptoms that it reduces fatigue, improves performance, such as fatigue and decreased sexual desire are and boosts mood. This makes sense in classic terms because why would world-class athletes, with superior yang energy, want to take a root taken in small amounts over a long period of for people with “devastated” yang? But if you time, improves regulation of the adrenals so are recovering from a drawn-out illness, feeling that stress hormones are produced rapidly when fatigued, or feeling the effects of age—if you needed. Whole root is best. Extracts, even beginning of each season, supplemented by those that contain specific guaranteed-potency other appropriate culinary-medical herbs, to ginsenosides, don’t have some of the other prepare the body and mind for the changing compounds in ginseng that may be beneficial. It’s not recommended to take even good quality Traditionally, different forms of ginseng extracts for more than 2-3 weeks at a time, but have different “energies.” The strongest, most the whole ginseng root, in small amounts can “yang” is red Korean, followed by red Chinese; this is ginseng that has undergone a process that may concentrate ginsenosides. American Science at Hokkaido University in Sapporo, ginseng is purported to have a cooler, milder, ginsenoside, Rb2. In mice given lung tumors, Pharmacological studies confirm that red “oral administration of ginsenoside Rb2 caused a marked inhibition of both neovascularization ginsenosides that stimulate the central nervous system than white ginseng does and that Neovascularization, also called angiogenesis, is the tendency of tumors to create tiny blood stimulatory, more sedating ginsenosides. vessels that feed their malignant growth. between P. pseudo-ginseng and P. notoginseng, about 2,000 patients admitted tot eh Korea and whether or not they do differ notably in Cancer Center Hospital in Seoul to another constituents is not clear. P. quinquefolius was 2,000 noncancer patients. Those with cancer discovered in the 18th century by Jesuit were about half as likely to use ginseng as colleagues of Pere Jartoux, who deduced that those without cancer. Cancer risk was lower similar plants might exist in North America. It with those who took ginseng for a year but was first collected for export to China by much lower for those who took ginseng for up to 20 years. Fresh ginseng, white ginseng Chinese medicine in 1765. Regarded as more extract, white ginseng powder, and red ginseng yin than P. ginseng, P. quinquefolius is given to were all associated with reduced cancer risk. children and young people, for whom P. ginseng would not be appropriate. ginseng for a month on, a month off. Whole Remedies: Capsules: for nervous exhaustion, root, in food or tea, can be taken for a longer period of time, a year or more. Good whole Soup: is a common way of taking ginseng in ginseng root is thick, long, and intact. Commercially grown ginseng root is often very soft and, when you break it, spongy. This is Tablets: are a convenient way of taking inferior. Good ginseng, is compact; the roots ginseng. Take for short-term stressful events, are much harder, with plenty of wrinkles around the top. The best ginseng root is at least Decoction: Take 3-10 g in 500 ml as a general five or six years old. To determine the age, count the scars, each one represents a year. Tincture: use for diarrhea related to weak digestive function. For asthma and chronic beneficial as a tonic than concentrated extracts or supplements. In China, Korea, and other Asian countries, there is a tradition of cooking with ginseng, of integrating it into the diet. It is Indications: nervous exhaustion; lack of appetite, night sweats; cold extremities; strengthening soup or stew. Once might make recuperation after surgery, long illness, or childbirth; short-term memory loss; impotence; stroke; diabetes; hypertension; anemia; heart and broth into soup bowls, stir, and serve. palpitations; adrenal deficiency; immune gastritis; morning sickness; deficient energy; Chocolate Peanut Butter Ginseng Cookies
Incompatibles: with iron and other metal compounds and utensils; amethyst; Veratum nigrum; opium; dairy products; tea; white Toxicity: Ginseng is a safe herb with low
toxicity, but too much can cause headaches, cake mix, eggs, oil and ginseng. Stir in insomnia, heart palpitations, or a rise in blood chocolate chips and roll batter into 1" balls. pressure in some people. Don’t take with high Place onto lightly greased baking sheet and flatten slightly. Bake 9 - 11 minutes. Cool cookies for one minute and place on wire rack. Culinary Uses: Small amounts of ginseng are
chopped and added to sops and stews in the Orient, where the difference between foods and Sex Muffins
Recipes:
Double Boiled Chicken with ginseng
1 small chicken, about 1½ lb or 3 chicken for 4 hours. Drink warm. (The Family Herbal spices and ginseng in a bowl. In the meantime, slowly melt chocolate and butter together in top Ginseng Steamed with Chicken Legs
of double boiler, stirring mixture until melted ingredients in the bowl along with the honey, milk and egg whites. Stir just enough to blend. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake in preheated 400F oven. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cut each chicken leg in half at the joint; Tossed Ginseng Salad
with a heavy cleaver chop each half into 2 1 small head of lettuce or cabbage, coarsely pieces, including bone. Place chicken chunks in a Pyrex or ceramic bowl, add sliced ginseng 1 fresh ginseng root, thoroughly cleaned and and ginger, add wine or sherry. Place bowl in a steamer basket or steamer-wok, and steam over 1 small red or white onion, sliced into rings high heat for 1 hour. Sprinkle pepper and 1 or 2 green onion stalks, julienned 1" minced spring onions into individual soup Several spinach leaves torn into small pieces bowls, then ladle chicken chunks, ginseng pulp, Condiments such as soy sauce, sugar, sesame seeds or black pepper. Serve with oil and vinegar or your favorite Ginseng and Beef
dressing. Flavor with condiments of your Fresh ginseng root, thoroughly cleaned and 1/2 pound tenderloin, cut into narrow strips or Steamed Chicken Breast with Ginseng
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 6 ounces Marinate beef with a mixture of soy sauce, sherry and sugar. Stir-fry meat in oil. Add ginseng and fry briefly while adding the seasoning of sherry, pepper, garlic powder, and garnish. Add chicken and cover. Marinate sugar and soy sauce to taste. Add green onions in refrigerator for one or more hours. Remove chicken. Pour marinade into pot with fitted steamer. Add water to 3/4" depth and bring to simmer. Place chicken in single layer on Deep-Fried Ginseng
steamer, cover tightly and steam over high heat 12 - 15 minutes. Sprinkle with sliced green Sex Muffins
3/4 to 1 cup of water ( or use your favorite 1 tbsp. ginseng powder (equal to contents of 15 Mix egg yolk with cold water. Add flour and salt and mix lightly. Add ginseng slices to coat. Deep fry and serve with dipping sauce References:
The Book of Ginseng, Stephen Fulder, Healing 6 ounces mini chocolate chips or raisins Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix flour, baking powder, spices and ginseng powder in Anderew Chevallier, Dorling Kindersley, 1996; bowl. Meanwhile, slowly melt chocolate and butter in top of double boiler until smooth. Facts About Ginseng: The Elixir of Life, Add melted chocolate to dry ingredients. Add honey, milk and egg whites and stir just enough to blend. Pour into greased muffin tins and The Family Herbal Cookbook, Cecilia Tan, bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Cool two minutes Ginseng: The Myth & The Truth, Joseph P. Hou, Wilshire Book Co., 1978; ISBN: 0-87980-367-3 Tonics, Robert A. Barnett, 1997, HarperPerennial, ISBN: 0-06-095111-7 HERBALPEDIA™ is brought to you by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network, PO Box 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575-0245; 717-393-3295; FAX: 717-393-9261; email: [email protected] URL: http://www.herbalpedia.com Editor: Maureen Rogers. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Material herein is derived from journals, textbooks, etc. THGMN cannot be held responsible for the validity of the information contained in any reference noted herein, for the misuse of information or any adverse effects by use of any stated material presented.

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