Ginseng is a perennial herb of the genus Panax, in the family Araliceae. Asiatic
Ginseng, P. pseudoginseng, is native to
eastern Asia. Wild American
ginseng, P. quinquefolius, is native to
eastern woodlands. It stands up to 60 cm (2 ft) tall, has leaves up to 15 cm (6 in) long, and bears greenish white flowers. Dwarf ginseng, P. trifolus, is a smaller American species.
The root of the ginseng has for centuries been reputed to be a panacea for cancer, rheumatism, diabetes, sexual debility, and aging. The claims date back to ancient China, and the root was long of great value there; Europe did not hear of it until 1642, when the explorer Alvaro Samedo returned with a report of the restorative properties of Oriental ginseng, which he claimed was being sold for twice its weight in silver.
In 1713, ƒmile Jartoux, a Jesuit cartographer working in northern China, reported ginseng's effectiveness and power among the Chinese. Another Jesuit, Joseph Franois Lafiteau, read the report in Quebec, and after a diligent search found (1718) in the woods near his mission an almost identical species, American ginseng. Demand for the American root grew in China, and many colonists and settlers, including Daniel Boone, hunted it avidly. Millions of pounds were uprooted, dried, and exported in the China trade. Eventually the slow-maturing plant was almost extinct. Cultivation began in the late 19th century, but the Chinese market balked at the cultivated American product, and many investments were lost.
Today China and Korea export ginseng to the West, where its popularity has grown in recent years. Russian scientists claim that it stimulates endocrine secretions and acts as a tonic to the cardiovascular system. Ginseng may enhance immunity and is known to increase blood pressure, which may create problems for people with hypertension.