subject: Ginseng - Cure All [print this page] The word ginseng comes from a Chinese word which means "man root", because the plant itself looks like a pair of legs. It is a very important herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It belongs to the Panax genus family, the plant"s Greek name, which means "cure-all" and generally grows in cooler climate.
It was used not only by the Chinese but also by the Americans and Asians. American ginseng is used for treating fever and respiratory tract disorders as it comprises of the cooling properties in it and the Asian ginseng is used for circulation improvement due to the heating properties in it. It contains active compounds which are like the steroid compounds and is called "ginsenosides". The world"s two largest producers of ginseng are America and China but the Chinese believe that the American ginseng is different from their own since their ginseng is "Yang" and Americans" is "Yin". According to the Chinese Yin and Yang must be balanced and so there is a lot of demand for the American ginseng. It is eaten raw or can be prepared in different ways; one of the most popular varieties is the red ginseng. It is prepared by heating up the ginseng in the sun until it is turned red, and is then marinated in herbs.
For long term benefits, it is recommended to take a dosage 500 to 1500 milligrams per day and for therapeutic usage, a dosage of 2000 milligrams is recommended. But since, it has many side effects, it is always better to take an advice of a professional.
The word ginseng comes from a Chinese word which means "man root", because the plant itself looks like a pair of legs. It is a very important herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It belongs to the Panax genus family, the plant"s Greek name, which means "cure-all" and generally grows in cooler climate.
