Ginseng, Panax, Ren-shen (Ch), Am Panax Ginseng, (Quinquefolium), Family: Araliaceae
Common Names: man root (Eng), kraftwurzel (Ge), ren shen (Che), five fingers, tartar root, cherokee root, red berry, sang/santa root, seed of the earth, panacea, jinshard, garantoquen (Native Am), ninsin.
Traditional Use: Ginseng has been known for all of man’s known history — at least 7,000 years; it has been valued for its remarkable therapeutic benefits for centuries. Ginsengs have been used for over 5,000 years to keep natives of different cultures well. Wars have been fought for control of the forests where it grew. There are even references to “Pannag,” the all-healing ginseng, being used for trade in the marketplace of Israel in The Old Testament. During the 9th century, the Arabs brought ginseng to Europe for its ability to improve stamina and resistance to stress. In traditional Chinese belief, ginseng is the crystallization of the essence of Earth in the shape of man. Considering it the best tonic for old age, the Chinese used ginseng so heavily over the centuries (it takes 6 to 10 years to mature) that Asian ginseng is now extremely hard to get and very expensive. American panax ginseng was one of the most important medicines used by Native Americans, highly esteemed by every native culture with access to it. For the elderly, ginseng was a special tonic that strengthened mental power. Some tribes used it for women to increase fertility and to induce child birth without suffering; others to cure nosebleeds, treat shortness of breath or for men as a “woman catcher.” Finally, in the 18th century the West learned of its stimulating and healing qualities.
Medicinal Parts: root - dried or fresh
Preparation Forms: capsules, tablets, tea, extract. Dosage: about 500 mg daily or 1/2 tsp. powdered root 3x a day. Ginseng benefits are cumulative in the body. Taking ginseng as a tonic for several months to a year is more effective than short term doses.
Nutrition Profile: Ginseng has measurable amounts of germanium for tissue healing. Ginseng’s saponins retard plaque formation on the aorta to help prevent stroke. Ginseng’s polysaccharides protect against alcohol induced ulcers and increase the protective cells in the gastrointestinal lining.
Herbal Healing Actions: adaptogenic, tonic, immuno-stimulant, anti-ulcer and hypoglycemic. The most effective adaptogen of all tonic herbs, capable of stimulating both long and short term energy. A premier brain and memory center stimulant.
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity: Ginseng is a strong tonic for boosting energy and rejuvenation during detoxing. As an adaptogen, ginseng provides energy to all body systems, promotes regeneration from stress and fatigue, and rebuilds foundation strength. Ginseng increases the body’s ability to fight disease. Ginseng is an effective stimulant to the central nervous system, but in a gentler, calmer way than stimulant drugs like caffeine and nicotine, so it also improves sleep and relieves pain. Ginseng can improve memory, concentration, alertness, visual motor control and reaction time. It reduces the risk of heart attacks by thinning the blood, suppresses arrythmias, and helps regulate blood pressure by regulating cholesterol levels in the blood. Ginseng influences carbohydrate metabolism and has the ability to stimulate the removal of sugar from the blood, preventing hypoglycemic blood sugar swings.
Safety Precautions: In large amounts, may cause insomnia or high blood pressure. Avoid while consuming caffeine. Do not take during pregnancy or during acute diseases, high fever, severe inflammation, high blood pressure, high blood sugar or thyroid disease.
Synergy With Other Herbs: With licorice rt. to regulate blood sugar swings. With prince ginseng, kirin ginseng, suma, echinacea angustifolia and purpurea rt., pau d’ arco, astragalus, St, John’s wort, ashwagandha and aralia to energize and restore body defenses. With bee pollen, Siberian ginseng rt., gotu kola, fo ti rt., kirin ginseng, prince ginseng., suma, aralia rt., alfalfa, dong quai to revitalize the system.


Ginseng, Siberian, (Eleuthero), Eleutherococcus Senticosus (Wujiashen)
Common Names: eleuthero, wujiashen, prince of tonics, ciwujia, devil’s shrub, touch-me-not, ussurian thorny pepper bush.
Medicinal Parts: root
Preparation Forms: tea, liquid and powdered extract, capsules, herbal wine. Dosage: Take 2 capsules dried herb 2-3 times daily; or take 1 dropperful of tincture two to three times daily.
Traditional Use: Originally used in China for over 4,000 years as a general tonic for vitality, mental clarity and virility. Its greatest tradition comes from Russian history. It was the Soviet Union in modern times who brought world wide attention to Siberian ginseng for clinical use. A 15 year Russian study with over 20,000 people chronicled Siberian ginseng’s ability to boost energy, relieve fatigue, reduce PMS irritability and menopause symptoms. Russian scientists also gave it to their athletes to increase their performance during Olympic games. In 1986 following the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, it was given to the people to aid in exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals.
Nutrition Profile: Assists carbohydrate metabolism to normalize blood sugar levels in diabetics. Effective in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. A highly complex herb - contains ginsenoids, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, saponins, lignans, sterols, B complex vitamins, vitamins A, D and E, selenium, amino acids, minerals and enzymes. Its glycosides provide antioxidant influence and overall resistance to chemical factors. Its generous amount of germanium preserves oxygen and stimulates immunity.
Herbal Healing Actions: A prime adaptogen and tonic, Siberian ginseng helps prevent infection and maintain well-being making highly useful for avoiding disease and recovering from illness. It was used by Russian astronauts to help their transition into weightlessness in space. Immuno-stimulant, antispasmodic, antirheumatic. Eleuthero accelerates body recovery after intense activity, decreases lactic acid build-up and increases resistance to developing injury. Siberian ginseng increases oxygen uptake, a highly desired quality for those who suffer from respiratory disorders. Traditional Chinese medicine uses Siberian ginseng is a primary herb for insomnia.
Cleansing Properties & Detox Activity: Siberian ginseng exhibits many of the rejuvenative, adaptogen properties of its cousin panax ginseng in terms of energy and endurance and raising sexual potency. It is an all-body tonic and an energizer which combats depression and fatigue, and helps the body rebuild system strength after mental or physical exhaustion. It should be a prime part of any immune rebuilding herbal combination to increase body resistance to disease, especially heart disease. In fact, Siberian ginseng promotes an enormous increase in the number of immune cells (particularly natural killer cells) to support the immune system against infections of all types. It is an excellent nutritive tonic for both the adrenal and circulatory systems, helping the body withstand heat, cold, infection and radiation.
Safety Precautions: Not recommended for persons with hypertension. Avoid caffeine while using. Some people may experience insomnia when consuming large doses. Avoid during pregnancy, high blood pressure or when taking major drug medication.
Synergy With Other Herbs: With kava kava, kirin ginseng, American ginseng, prince ginseng, dong quai, fo-ti rt., suma, kola nut and gotu kola for mental inner energy. With American ginseng, Chinese kirin ginseng, prince ginseng, fo-ti rt., suma, gotu kola, wild oat tops and sarsaparilla for active physical energy.


Ginseng: (Imperial wild) (Ching Chun Bao)
Part used: root.
Effective forms: tea, capsules, extract.
Therapeutic profile: usually designated as the "king of ginsengs," these roots are old with a great deal of panax concentration; extremely rare and expensive. Roots are usually ten or more years old when harvested.
Primary uses: the strongest representer of ginseng stimulating tonic effects; usually part of a male regeneration and stimulating combination formula. Often chewed before athletic contests or workouts.

Ginseng: (Prince) Pseudostellaria heterophylla, (Pal Zi Shen) -
Part used: root.
Effective forms: tea.
Therapeutic profile: a tonic and stimulating herb with ginseng-like properties.
Primary uses: as a fast-acting stimulant after fatigue, and effective appetite suppressant during dieting.
Secondary uses: as an oral tonic, especially where there has been depletion and wasting; especially beneficial for wasting dryness of the lungs.
Contra-indications: Should not be used in persons with acute disease, high fever and severe inflammations.

Ginseng: (Tienchi) Panax pseudoginseng
Part used: root. Effective forms: tea, liniment, compress.
Therapeutic profile: a Japanese herb with ginseng-like tonic properties, valuable for its ability in acute conditions to curtail internal bleeding from injuries and wounds. Internally, to dissolve blood clots and circulatory obstructions.
Primary uses: as a blood and cardiac tonic particularly for athletes that greatly increases stamina without overtonification; as a hemostatic for hemorrhaging and abnormal bleeding (may be taken internally or applied directly); to keep circulation clear in cases of embolism and phlebitis.
Secondary uses: as an external hemostatic linament for sprains and injury trauma.