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American Ginseng

(Panax quinquefolius L.)  
Family: Araliaceae
Synonyms: Five finger root, sang, ninsin, panax, panang, redberry, ¹ tartar root, man's health, ² root of life, santa root, seed of earth. ¹   The name Panax is derived from the Greek Panakos meaning panacea. ²   The Chinese name means "man-root". ²

Downloadable PDF of this information sheet

Plant characteristics

 
Panax quinquefolius is indigenous to North America (1). It grows in rich hardwood forests in shady, well-drained locations (1,2).
The perennial grows 1-2 feet tall on a simple, smooth stem with a 1 foot spread (2,3). The 3 leaves are divided into 3-7 oblong, sharp-toothed leaflets up to 6 inches long (3,4). It bears umbel-shaped, greenish white flowers in June-July, followed by crimson berries, each with 1-3 seeds (1,4,5). The root, the medicinal part of the plant, is spindle-shaped and fleshy (2). It grows slowly and does not reach harvest size for 4 years or more (1). Collectors can tell the age of the root by counting the leaf scars on the neck, or rhizome (4).

Ginseng requires 75% shade , either in the woods or constructed with shade cloth (3). It is hardy to zone 3 and is cultivated in Wisconsin (4). It prefers a loamy soil with lots of humus and plenty of compost and mulch (3). It is prone to fungal diseases, which are less of a problem with good drainage (3). The seeds are harvested in the fall; the root in the fall of the fifth year or beyond (3). Harvest decisions may depend on disease pressures (3)

Herb chemical constituents and properties

Biologically-active chemicals : saponins (ginsenosides), alcohols, and volatile oil (6).
The American Botanical Council is conducting an evaluation of ginseng products: the Ginseng Evaluation Project (GEP) (7). This evaluation should be available in 2005 (8). The National Toxicology Program is undertaking short-term toxicology and long-term carcinogenicity studies of ginseng (8).
 
Herbal properties: adaptogen, aphrodisiac, carminative, demulcent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypertensive, hypoglycemic, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge (9)

How herb was used traditionally

Ginseng is considered to be a substance that increases ability to cope with stress, which increases resistance to trauma and disease (6). Herbalists have used American ginseng for indigestion (1) and loss of appetite (2) and to improve vitality and concentration in old age (10).

Preparation and dosage:
 
·  Simmer 3-6 g of dried root in 720-960 ml of water for 45 minutes or steep 1-2 g in boiling water for 20 minutes daily.
 
·  Dry powder, 1 g three times daily
 
·  Dry extract capsules, 330 mg three times daily

Safety issues

Side effects: High doses can result in ginseng abuse syndrome, with morning diarrhea, rash, insomnia, nervousness, and high blood pressure (8)
 
Adverse events: none reported for P.quinquefolius.
 
Precautions/contraindications:
·  Use caution in diabetics, as it can lower blood sugar and lessen need for other medications.
·  Use caution when taking with antipsychotic drugs and monoamine oxidase inhibiters (MAOIs)
·  Do not use when pregnant, as one component has caused birth defects in rats.
·  Safety in nursing mothers is unknown
·  May increase the effects of caffeine (12)

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