Mysterious Ginseng

Posted on February 1, 2008 - Filed Under Health and Fitness

Ginseng has always
mystified me. My earliest
recollections of this
peculiar herb are linked
to my grandfather who
was raised in the hills of
Tennessee where “digging
sang” was an important
source of
supplemental income.

I recall walking
through the woods
with him, digging
up the roots which
later would be
dried and sold at astounding prices. Unfortunately, I was never
able to consistently spot the distinctive pattern of leaves when
searching for this plant, which only added to the mystery.

Years later when I became aware of the Cayce readings
that prescribed ginseng, the mystery deepened even more. In
over one hundred and thirty readings Cayce extolled the therapeutic
virtues of ginseng, agreeing with the ancients that ginseng
is “the basis of the stimulation of life in its very essence
in the body of man.” (636-1) Another reading is even more
explicit in its depiction of the inherent vitality of this plant:
“Wild Ginseng, which is as an essence of the flow of the vitality
within the system itself. It is an electrifying of the vital
forces themselves.” (404-4) One reading (5596-1) noted that ginseng acted upon the glands of the
body, especially the pineal gland (another
mysterious entity!).

In addition to its vitality-enhancing
qualities, Edgar Cayce recommended
wild ginseng root as a stimulant to the
entire glandular and digestive systems.
Combined with ginger and lactated pepsin,
ginseng was also commonly recommended
for colitis and intestinal problems.

Although the readings did not
specify national sources (e.g., American,
Chinese, Korean, Manchurian, etc.),
there was a consistent insistence on
“wild” ginseng.

Ginseng Basics

The name ginseng is derived from the
Chinese word jen-shen, which describes
the shape of the root and means
“manlike.” The manlike or spindleshaped
root produces a straight stem
with three large compound leaves, each
composed of five serrated leaflets. The
flowers, which bloom in June and July,
are tiny green-white to light pink blossoms.
Bright red berries are produced
in late summer.

Ginseng has a long history of use in
China where it has been used for centuries
as a cure-all with properties reputed
to increase longevity and vitality. Also
native to the Americas, ginseng was used
by certain North American Indian tribes
to relieve nausea and as an ingredient in
love potions. Today, ginseng is used extensively
to increase body strength and
vitality. It is also used for stress management
based on its reputation for reducing
fatigue, depression, and anxiety.
American ginseng is native to the
woodlands of eastern and central North
America. The wild American ginseng
that my grandfather dug once grew in
profusion but now has become quite
rare. Cultivated varieties grown in
shaded fields are common in the Eastern
United States and Canada. Even the regions
of China that are traditionally
known for the quality of their wild ginseng
have succumbed to the modern
pressures of supply and demand that
push for the cultivation this precious herb.

Wild Ginseng

Cayce’s insistence on “wild” ginseng
is consistent with ancient Chinese medicine.
The traditional Chinese position is
that slower growing wild plants, which
are harvested at an older age, absorb
more vital power from the natural environment.
Cultivated ginseng, which does
not have to compete with other woodland
plants for nutrients or water, grows
much faster and is harvested at an earlier
age before it has accumulated its full
vital potential.

This theory is supported by obvious
differences in appearance. Wild ginseng
root is dark tan in color, relatively small,
light in weight, and gnarled in appearance
with many concentric growth rings
that are forked (resembling the human
form). Wild ginseng root typically has a
long neck.

Cream-colored cultivated roots tend
to be large, smooth, and heavy with a
shape resembling a carrot. Furthermore,
the domesticated variety usually has a
short neck.

Intensely cultivated ginseng is vulnerable
to fungal diseases that are controlled
by vigorous use of fungicides. The possibility
of pesticide residues in cultivated
crops is a major concern for health-conscious
consumers.

With the rarity of wild ginseng and
health concerns associated with the cultivated
crops, some ginseng farmers have
adopted a middle ground of planting ginseng
in a wild setting and allowing it to
develop naturally. Wild simulated ginseng
has the appearance (and presumably
the vital potency) of truly wild ginseng
at a reduced price.

Ginseng Supplements

In the United States, the dried root of
ginseng is typically consumed as an ingredient
in a dietary supplement. This
makes ginseng largely unregulated in
terms of potency and pesticide residues.
The presence of ginseng in a laboratory
sample is determined by levels of a
distinctive chemical called ginsenoside.
Researchers who analyzed twenty-five
ginseng products from a California health-food store found that the level of
ginsenodsides varies greatly in powders
and capsules (a fifteen-fold difference)
and even more in liquid extracts (thirty-six
fold difference). Most of the products
failed to list their ginsenoside levels
on the label. When listed, the measured
ginsenoside levels ranged from 11 percent
to 330 percent of the stated amount.

Another study that focused on pesticides
and heavy metals found significant
levels of hexachlorobenzene - a potential
human carcinogen - in one of five
products labeled as containing “Korean
Ginseng.” Two other pesticides,
quintozene and lindane, were also found
to be above acceptable levels. None of
the products were contaminated with
heavy metals.

Variability is not uncommon in the
unregulated American dietary supplement
industry. European herbal suppliers are
generally much more closely regulated.
Here are some tips to keep in mind if
you are considering using ginseng:

Buy from reputable suppliers of dietary
supplements.
Insist on wild or wild simulated
sources.
Most importantly, monitor your own
response to the herb. Trust your intuition
as to the potency of the product that
you have purchased.

Hopefully, the ginseng that you obtain
will be dug by a benevolent
“wildcrafter” such as my grandfather.

A word of caution: Ginseng may interact
with certain medications such as
the blood-thinning drug Coumadin. Research
reported in the Annals of Internal
Medicine (July 2004) indicates that
ginseng may reduce that drug’s effectiveness.
As a general principle, it is always
a good idea to be alert to possible
herb/medicine interactions.

David McMillin has written numerous articles for the Association for Research and Enlightenment, founded by Edgar Cayce in 1931. McMillin’s articles on holistic health and alternative healing have helped members for many years.

Tags: alternative health, edgar cayce, ginseng, herbs, holistic health, organic, plants

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