Ginseng

Ginseng is a herbaceous perennial plant of genus Panax, ginseng family (Araliaceae), discovered in North America by Joseph-François Lafitau. Six species are known, 2 from North America, 4 from East Asia. Plants grow to 30 cm and have a large, fleshy, often forked root.

Medicinal Uses

Although there seems to be no scientific evidence of medicinal value, ginseng has a long history of medical use, continuing today. The Chinese, in particular, consider its dried root immensely valuable in prolonging life, vitality and sexual potency. American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) occurs in woods of central and eastern North America; however, local demand has resulted in its becoming very rare in the wild. It was once exported to China, but the Chinese found it inferior to their own product. Dwarf ginseng (P. trifolius) grows in moist woods from Ontario to the Maritimes. Ginseng (P. pseudo ginseng), native to Korea and Manchuria, is now cultivated quite extensively in eastern Canada.