Ginseng

About Ginseng

Ginseng refers to the roots of plants in the genus Panax, most notably Asian or Korean ginseng Panax ginseng and American ginseng Panax quinquefolius. The genus name derives from the Greek panacea, meaning cure all, and the forked, humanlike shape of the root added to its reputation in East Asian medicine. American ginseng was identified in North American forests in the early eighteenth century and became a major export to China. The principal active compounds are ginsenosides, a diverse family of triterpene saponins with differing and sometimes opposing effects. Korean red ginseng is steamed and dried, which alters its ginsenoside profile. Ginseng is classed as an adaptogen and has been studied for fatigue, cognition, immune function, blood sugar, and erectile dysfunction, with modest and inconsistent results, and product quality varies widely. It can interact with warfarin, MAOI antidepressants, and diabetes medications, and a ginseng abuse syndrome of insomnia, nervousness, and raised blood pressure has been described with heavy use.