thumb|right|200px|A root of cultivated [[Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng)]]
Ginseng () is the root of plants in the genus Panax, such as South China ginseng (P. notoginseng), Korean ginseng (P. ginseng), and American ginseng (P. quinquefolius), characterized by the presence of ginsenosides and gintonin.
Ginseng has been used in the traditional medicine of Korea and China for centuries, although there is no clinical evidence that it has any therapeutic effects. There is no substantial evidence that ginseng is effective for treating any medical condition and it has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat or prevent a disease or to provide a health benefit. Although ginseng is sold as a dietary supplement, inconsistent manufacturing practices for supplements have led to analyses of some ginseng products contaminated with unrelated filler compounds, and its excessive use may have adverse effects or untoward interactions with prescription drugs.
Etymology
The English word "ginseng" comes from the Teochew Chinese (; where this transliteration is in Pe̍h-ōe-jī). The first character (pinyin rén; or ) means "person" and the second character (; ) means "plant root" in a forked shape.
Ginseng species
Genus
Ginseng plants belong only to the genus Panax. The wild ginseng plant is almost extinct in China and endangered globally. This is due to high demand for the product in recent years, leading to the harvesting of wild plants faster than they can grow and reproduce (a wild ginseng plant can take years to reach maturity). Wild ginseng can be processed to be red or white ginseng.
Wild American ginseng has long been used by Native Americans for medicine. Since the mid-1700s, it has been harvested for international trade.
Cultivated ginseng
thumb|170px|Cultivated [[Panax ginseng|Korean ginseng (P. ginseng)]]
Cultivated ginseng () is less expensive than the rarely available wild ginseng.
Fresh ginseng
Fresh ginseng (), also called "green ginseng", is non-dried raw product.
White ginseng
White ginseng () is peeled and dried ginseng. It is ginseng that has been peeled, heated through steaming at standard boiling temperatures of , and then dried or sun-dried. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle.
Production
Commercial ginseng is sold in over 35 countries, with China as the largest consumer. In 2013, global sales of ginseng exceeded $2 billion, of which half was produced by South Korea. In the early 21st century, 99% of the world's 80,000 tons of ginseng was produced in just four countries: China (44,749 tons), South Korea (27,480 tons), Canada (6,486 tons), and the United States (1,054 tons). Ginseng produced in Canada and the United States is mostly P. quinquefolius.
As of 2020, global P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius production each sum to an approximate 7,000 tons on a dry-weight basis. On a dry-weight basis, 70% of P. ginseng and 30% of P. quinquefolius is produced in China; 60% of P. quinquefolius is produced in Canada; and 10% of P. quinquefolius is produced in the US. P. ginseng is also cultivated in Japan.
Uses
Food or beverage
The root is most often available in dried form, either whole or sliced. In Korean cuisine, ginseng is used in various banchan (side dishes) and guk (soups), as well as tea and alcoholic beverages. Ginseng-infused tea and liquor, known as insam-cha () and insam-ju ('ginseng liquor') is consumed.
<gallery>
File:Insam-twigim.jpg|insam-twigim (ginseng fritters)
File:Korean soup-Samgyetang-11.jpg|samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup)
File:Insam-cha and yugwa.jpg|insam-cha (ginseng tea) and yugwa (rice puffs)
File:Insamju (ginseng liquor).jpg|insam-ju (ginseng liquor)
File:Korea-Sokcho-Sansamju-Wild ginseng wine-02.jpg|sansam-ju (wild ginseng liquor)
</gallery>
Ginseng may be included in energy drinks or herbal teas in small amounts or sold as a dietary supplement.
Historical use
One of the first written texts covering the use of ginseng as a medicinal herb was the Shen Nong Pharmacopoeia, written in China in 196 AD. In his Compendium of Materia Medica herbal of 1596, Li Shizhen described ginseng as a "superior tonic". However, the herb was not used as a "cure-all" medicine, but more specifically as a tonic for patients with chronic illnesses and those who were convalescing. Control over ginseng fields in China and Korea became an issue in the 16th century.
In folk belief
In Chinese folk tales from the northeastern regions, ginseng is said to transform into children, often depicted with skyward-reaching braids, sometimes tied with red ribbons, and occasionally dressed in dudous. In these stories, a ginseng child will typically enter a house to play with another child. However, if the adults tie a red ribbon around the child's feet, the child vanishes. When they follow the ribbon, they find it tied to a blade of grass, and upon digging, they uncover a ginseng root.
Animal feed
A tincture of Korean ginseng is approved by the EFSA for use in horses, dogs, and cats as a sensory additive (animal feed flavoring). Within the provided dose limits, the tincture is considered non-toxic. A dried extract of Korean ginseng was declined by the EFSA, since its manufacturer cannot provide data on its complete composition.
Effectiveness
Clinical research
Although ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, there is no good evidence from clinical research that it causes any improvement of health or lowers the risk of any disease. Research indicates there are no confirmed effects on memory, fatigue, menopause symptoms, or insulin response in people with mild diabetes.
Although the roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves and stems contain larger quantities of the signature phytochemicals than the roots, and are easier to harvest.
Plant tissue culture has also been used to produce a fast-growing biomass, an alternative to naturally-formed ginseng root. The hairy-root approach using Rhizobium rhizogenes produces higher levels of signature phytochemicals such as ginsenosides compared to the suspended cell and adventitious root approaches.
FDA and warning letters
Ginseng supplements are not subjected to the same pre-market approval process in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pharmaceutical drugs.
FDA mandates that manufacturers must ensure the safety of their ginseng supplements before marketing, without the necessity to substantiate the safety and efficacy of these supplements in a pre-market scenario.
The FDA has classified ginseng as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS), indicating its general tolerability in adult populations.
Side effects
Ginseng generally has a good safety profile and the incidence of adverse effects is minor when used over the short term.
Ginseng supplements can be complex, often containing multiple constituents. It is not uncommon to observe discrepancies between the ingredients listed on the product label and the actual components or their quantities present in the supplement. and a potential interaction has been reported with imatinib, resulting in hepatotoxicity, and with lamotrigine.
Risk of overdose
The common ginsengs (P. ginseng and P. quinquefolia) are generally considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts. One of the most common and characteristic symptoms of an acute overdose of P. ginseng is bleeding. Symptoms of mild overdose may include dry mouth and lips, excitation, fidgeting, irritability, tremor, palpitations, blurred vision, headache, insomnia, increased body temperature, increased blood pressure, edema, decreased appetite, dizziness, itching, eczema, early morning diarrhea, bleeding, and fatigue.