Chemistry and Biological Activities of Selected Popular Chinese Herbs in the US Market-5 - 農業知識入口網

5. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. May)

Ginseng (Panex ginseng C. A. May) is the most valuable TCM herb. It is not only widely used by Asian countries, such as China, Korea and Japan, but also widely used in many western countries. For thousands of years, ginseng has been used as a tonic to increase nonspecific resistance against a wide array of various stress agents, to prevent and cure many health conditions, and has been used as an emergency medicine to save dying patients. In the US, it is marketed to improve mental performance in times of stress, to enhance overall health and vitality, to improve resistance to the damaging effects of stress, and to increases endurance. Ginseng is used and marketed as a major tonic, stimulant, and immune booster. Ginseng is available in the US market in a myriad of products as a powder, extract (7% ginsenosides and 15% ginsenosides extract), or combined with other herbs such as American ginseng, Rhodiola, Siberian ginseng and various vitamins. The dosage varies based upon each of its formulations.