Different types of Ginseng
Red Korean Ginseng or White Korean Ginseng?
Ginseng gained popularity in treating diseases, in Asia, including Korea, China, Japan, and other South Asian countries.
the value of ginseng production is approximately $5,900 million, with $2,870 million (48.6%) in China, $2,489 million (42.2%) in South Korea, $478 million (8.1%) in Canada, $54million (0.9%) in the USA.
What is ginseng?
Ginseng is a Chinese perennial herb also known as “man-root”. It has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Depending on each country, Ginseng can be found in functional food products, dietary supplements, health supplements, cosmetics, and medicines.
In 2018, global ginseng production was about 86,223 tons based on fresh ginseng.
Different types of Ginseng
Ginseng is the root of plants in the genus Panax, such as:
- Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng),
- Panax notoginseng (South China ginseng)
- Panax pseudoginseng (Himalayan ginseng)
- Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng)
- Panax trifolius (Dwarf ginseng)
- Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng)
These types of ginseng contain ginsenosides (or panaxosides )which are steroid glycosides found only in ginseng from the Panax genus.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is often mistaken for ginseng. It is not.
We often hear red and white ginseng
White ginseng is fresh, peeled, and air-dried (not heated). But red ginseng, after peeling, has been steam heated at 100 c and dried or sun-dried.
Red ginseng has more potential for anticancer activity than white ginseng, likely because of the abundant amount of rare ginsenosides.
Some research suggests that red ginseng has more bioactive components than white ginseng.
Ginseng benefits
Ginseng is well known for boosting libido and improving sexual dysfunction in men. It is one of the best alternatives to pharmaceutical pills.
In Chinese medicine it is used for other pathologies; to treat diabetes, with antihyperglycemic effects.
Ginseng extracts affect the central nervous system; They have tranquilizing effects, are antipsychotic, and protect against stress ulcers.
More studies need to be conducted to uncover ginseng’s effects.
Daily dosage should be 200 milligrams of Panax ginseng extract or 0.5–2 grams of dry root. When given as a capsule, dosages of ginseng usually range from 100–600 milligrams a day.
Conclusion
You should know the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal supplements, always check your supplement quality before taking any.
