Ginseng is another name for the Renshen herb. Its other name is Panax ginseng, it has many different names such as Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Japanese ginseng or Korean ginseng, it is a species of plant whose root is the original source of medicinal remedy ginseng It is a perennial plant that grows in the mountains of East Asia. It is best grown in cool, shady, locations. It needs 3-6 years to produce roots, that can be used to treat people.
Western medicine is not convinced that the plant is of ant great benefit to the plant medicine kingdom. Yet eastern philosophy is very happy to use its properties to aid the healing process for the world. It has been in the Chinese Pharmacopeia since 196 AD. The herb is very wildly use by people to improve their health, as it is a sweet, slightly warming herb that affects the spleen, lung and heart meridians that it enters. It is known for its activation of Qi (Chi) energy, good for treating exhaustion, aids tonifying the Yang organs (Qi), helps to activate the promotion of generating body fluids so activates thirst. Nourishes blood, aids the induction of calming and tranquillisation of the mind. In this process the mind is in an optimal space to concentrate, so improving intellect, by stimulating neurologic pathways. It also has the potential to aid in Diabetes, Asthma, and many other conditions. The roots are mainly used in TCM, the leaves and stems also contain a larger amount of the phytochemicals other than the roots and are easier to harvest. The constituents include steroid saponins known as ‘Ginsenosides’, but the effects of these ginseng compounds still have not been studied with as much high-quality clinical research as would be liked, or it is said to not have been researched.