Ginseng Root, Red (Panax Ginseng Root; Ren Shen - Kirin) Powdered: 1 lb: V

Chinese REN SHENG, 'root of heaven.' P. ginseng, Asian ginseng, is native to Manchuria and Korea and is cultivated in China, Korea and Japan. The ginseng plant requires 5-7 years to mature from seed. Ginseng has a sweetly aromatic flavour. Its root has long been regarded by the Chinese as a panacea for illness, though it was usually used by them in a prophylactic (preventive) rather than a curative manner. Ginseng's contains ginsenosides, which are believed to increase energy, counter the effects of stress, and enhance intellectual and physical performance. Thirteen ginsenosides have been identified in Asian ginseng. Ginsenosides Rgl and Rbl have received the most attention. Other constituents include the panaxans, which help lower blood sugar, and the polysaccharides (complex sugar molecules), which support immune function. Numerous double-blind studies have confirmed Chinese tradition, objectively demonstrating Asian ginseng"™s ability to lower blood sugar, reduce fatigue and stress, and support the normal function of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis, the hormonal stress system of the body. Ginseng"™s support of the brain's production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) appears to improve mental performance, learning, and memory and sensory awareness, exactly as Chinese tradition has always maintained. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'In China, both varieties are used particularly for dyspepsia, vomiting and nervous disorders. A decoction of ½ oz. of the root, boiled in tea or soup and taken every morning, is commonly held a remedy for consumption and other diseases. In Western medicine, it is considered a mild stomachic tonic and stimulant, useful in loss of appetite and in digestive affections that arise from mental and nervous exhaustion.'