Ginseng


Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax, such as Korean ginseng, South China ginseng, and American ginseng, typically characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin.
Although ginseng has been used in traditional medicine over centuries, modern clinical research is inconclusive about its medical effectiveness. There is no substantial evidence that ginseng is effective for treating any medical condition, and its use has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a prescription drug. Although ginseng is commonly sold as a dietary supplement, inconsistent manufacturing practices for supplements have led to analyses showing that ginseng products may be contaminated with toxic metals or unrelated filler compounds, and its excessive use may have adverse effects or untoward interactions with prescription drugs.

Etymology

The English word "ginseng" comes from the Hokkien Chinese jîn-sim. The first character means "person" and the second character means "plant root"; this refers to the root's characteristic forked shape, which resembles the legs of a person.
The botanical genus name Panax, meaning "all-healing" in Greek, shares the same origin as "panacea" and was applied to this genus because Carl Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine as a muscle relaxant.

History

One of the first written texts covering the use of ginseng as a medicinal herb was the Shen-Nung Pharmacopoeia, written in China in 196 AD. In his Compendium of Materia Medica herbal of 1596, Li Shizhen described ginseng as a "superior tonic". However, the herb was not used as a "cure-all" medicine, but more specifically as a tonic for patients with chronic illnesses and those who were convalescing.
Control over ginseng fields in China and Korea became an issue in the 16th century.

Ginseng species

Ginseng plants belong only to the genus Panax. Cultivated species include Panax ginseng, Panax notoginseng, and Panax quinquefolius. Ginseng is found in cooler climates – Korean Peninsula, Northeast China, and Russian Far East, Canada and the United States, although some species grow in warm regions – South China ginseng being native to Southwest China and Vietnam. Panax vietnamensis is the southernmost Panax species known.

Wild and cultivated ginseng

Wild ginseng

Wild ginseng grows naturally in mountains and is hand-picked by gatherers known as simmani. The wild ginseng plant is now almost extinct in China and endangered globally. This is due to high demand for the product in recent years, leading to the harvesting of wild plants faster than they can grow and reproduce. Wild ginseng can be processed to be red or white ginseng. Wild American ginseng has long been used by Native Americans for medicine. Since the mid-1700's, it has been harvested for international trade. Today wild American ginseng can be harvested in 19 states but has restrictions for exporting.

Cultivated ginseng

Cultivated ginseng is less expensive compared to rarely available wild ginseng.
Wild cultivated ginseng is planted on mountains by humans and is allowed to grow like wild ginseng.

Ginseng processing

Ginseng seed normally does not germinate until the second spring following the harvest of berries in the fall. They must first be subjected to a long period of storage in a moist medium with a warm/cold treatment, a process known as stratification.
Korean ginseng is available commercially as fresh, red, and white ginseng; wild ginseng is used only where available.

Fresh ginseng

Fresh ginseng, also called "green ginseng", is non-dried raw product. Its use is limited by availability.

White ginseng

White ginseng is peeled and dried ginseng. White ginseng is fresh ginseng which has been dried without being heated. It is peeled and dried to reduce the water content to 12% or less. White ginseng air-dried in the sun may contain less of the therapeutic constituents. Enzymes contained in the root may break down these constituents in the process of drying. Drying in the sun bleaches the root to a yellowish-white color.

Red ginseng

Red ginseng is steamed and dried ginseng, which has reddish color. Red ginseng is less vulnerable to decay than white ginseng. It is ginseng that has been peeled, heated through steaming at standard boiling temperatures of, and then dried or sun-dried. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle.

Production

Commercial ginseng is sold in over 35 countries, with China as the largest consumer. In 2013, global sales of ginseng exceeded $2 billion, of which half was produced by South Korea. In the early 21st century, 99% of the world's 80,000 tons of ginseng was produced in just four countries: China, South Korea, Canada, and the United States. All ginseng produced in South Korea is Korean ginseng, while ginseng produced in China includes P. ginseng and South China ginseng. Ginseng produced in Canada and the United States is mostly American ginseng.

Uses

Ginseng may be included in energy drinks or herbal teas in small amounts or sold as a dietary supplement.

Food or beverage

The root is most often available in dried form, either whole or sliced. Ginseng leaf, although not as highly prized, is sometimes also used.
In Korean cuisine, ginseng is used in various banchan and guk, as well as tea and alcoholic beverages. Ginseng-infused tea and liquor, known as insam cha and insam-ju is consumed.

Dietary supplement

Although ginseng is commonly sold as a dietary supplement, concerns have been raised about manufactured ginseng products containing toxic metals or filler materials, such as rice or wheat.
In 2012, Chinese health regulators reclassified ginseng root as a dietary herb that can be used in health foods without prior approval, as long as no specific health claims are made for it; previously, it had been classified as an herbal drug whose inclusion in health foods required prior approval and licensing. Ginseng-infused teas and energy drinks are consumed today in China and neighboring countries as a kind of tonic for vitality, especially by men 50 and older, who might use them on a daily basis. Sliced bits of the dried root are also used in soups and other hot dishes.

Traditional medicine

Although ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, modern research is inconclusive about its biological effects. Preliminary clinical research indicates possible effects on memory, fatigue, menopause symptoms, and insulin response in people with mild diabetes. Out of 44 studies examined between 2005–2015, 29 showed positive, limited evidence, and 15 showed no effects., there is insufficient evidence to indicate that ginseng has any health effects. However ginsenosides, unique phytochemicals of the Panax species, are being studied for their potential biological properties.
Although the roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves and stems contain larger quantities of the phytochemicals than the roots, and are easier to harvest. The constituents include steroid saponins known as ginsenosides, but the effects of these ginseng compounds have not been studied with high-quality clinical research as of 2019, and therefore remain unknown.

FDA warning letters

As of 2019, the United States FDA and Federal Trade Commission have issued numerous warning letters to manufacturers of ginseng dietary supplements for making false claims of health or anti-disease benefits, stating that the "products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the referenced uses" and are illegal as unauthorized "new drugs" under federal law.

Safety and side effects

Ginseng generally has a good safety profile and the incidence of adverse effects is minor when used over the short term. Concerns exist when ginseng is used chronically, potentially causing side effects such as headaches, insomnia, and digestive problems.
The risk of interactions between ginseng and prescription medications is believed to be low, but ginseng may have adverse effects when used with the blood thinner warfarin. Ginseng also has adverse drug reactions with phenelzine, and a potential interaction has been reported with imatinib, resulting in hepatotoxicity, and with lamotrigine. Other side effects may include feeling anxious, insomnia, fluctuations in blood pressure, breast pain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, or diarrhea. If taken with other herbal supplements, ginseng may interact with them or with prescribed medicines or foods.

Overdose

The common ginsengs are generally considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts. One of the most common and characteristic symptoms of an acute overdose of P. ginseng is bleeding. Symptoms of mild overdose may include dry mouth and lips, excitation, fidgeting, irritability, tremor, palpitations, blurred vision, headache, insomnia, increased body temperature, increased blood pressure, edema, decreased appetite, dizziness, itching, eczema, early morning diarrhea, bleeding, and fatigue.
Symptoms of severe overdose with P. ginseng may include nausea, vomiting, irritability, restlessness, urinary and bowel incontinence, fever, increased blood pressure, increased respiration, decreased sensitivity and reaction to light, decreased heart rate, cyanotic facial complexion, red facial complexion, seizures, convulsions, and delirium.

Other plants sometimes called ginseng

True ginseng plants belong only to the genus Panax. Several other plants are sometimes referred to as ginseng, but they are from a different genus or even family. Siberian ginseng is in the same family, but not genus, as true ginseng. The active compounds in Siberian ginseng are eleutherosides, not ginsenosides. Instead of a fleshy root, Siberian ginseng has a woody root.