Ginseng Plant Description

Types

• American and Asian ginseng are the two most common species. A few other herbs belong to the ginseng family. Siberian Ginseng is a close relative but does not belong to the Panax genus.

Habitat

• American ginseng grows in the mountains of the eastern United States and Canada. Asian ginseng grows on mountain slopes in China and Korea.

Characteristics

• American ginseng grows about one foot high and has three leaves with small, yellow flowers and red berries. The root is slow-growing, generally two to three inches in length, and yellow or brown in color. Asian ginseng is generally larger but similar in appearance to American.

Medicinal Uses

• Research does not fully support many of the health claims of ginseng, but according to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence suggests that ginseng may promote a healthy immune system and regulate blood sugar levels. Further research is required for conclusive results.

Regulations

• To prevent over-harvesting, most states in the U.S. require the plant to be at least five years old before harvesting. If selling wild ginseng, a harvesting permit must be obtained, typically from a state's Department of Natural Resources.