• Other Common Names of Panax Ginseng : Ren Shen, Asiatic ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Guigai, Japanese Ginseng, Korean Red ginseng, Ninjin, Panax schinseng, Red Ginseng, Seng, Oriental ginseng.
• Other Asian ginseng variety: Japanese ginseng (P. japonicus) and sanchi or tienchi ginseng (P. notoginseng). These plants all have somewhat different properties.
• Available forms: dried root, liquid extract, powder, capsule and tablet.

Ginseng which literally means "root of man" is one of the world's best known herbal remedy, it has been used in Asia for more than 5,000 years as tonic and rejuvenator. Panax ginseng is one variety of ginseng that is most prized by the Chinese, the name "panax" comes from the Greek word "panacea", meaning "cure all". The medicinal properties of panax ginseng are found in both the leaf and its light tan root; which sometimes resemble a human body. A portion that looked like a man would command a higher price than an entire bale of nondescript roots.

The panax ginseng plant grows best in the cooler regions of the Northern Hemisphere and reaches a height of about one foot. The ginseng plant has yellowish-green umbrella-shaped flowers that grow in a circle around a straight stem, with its five leaflets joined together at one point, it blooms in midsummer. The fruit is a bright crimson berry containing one to three wrinkled seeds the size of small peas. Wrinkles around the neck of the root tell how old the plant is; when the root is mature it is 2-4 inches long, 1 inch thick. The roots of the plants become forked when they mature after 5-7 years.

Medicinal Benefits:

• Panax ginseng herb is considered "adaptogen" because of its unique ability to normalize whatever is out of balance in the body.
• Panax ginseng works to stimulate and improve the working of the brain with it's oxygenation properties. It is therefore beneficial in promoting physical and mental alertness.
• Panax ginseng is believed to increase women's level of hormones therefore recommended for menopausal symptoms.
• Panax ginseng not only inhibits the production of cancer cells but actually converts the abnormal cells into normal ones.
• Panax ginseng possesses a stimulatory effect on sexual function in males and females that is why ginseng has reputation for enhancing sexual desire.
• Panax ginseng increases sperm production with a marked decrease in erectile dysfunction. It may be taken by mouth or applied topically, directly to the penis to treat erectile dysfunction in men.
• Panax ginseng helps lower the blood alcohol content by reducing absorption from the stomach.
• Panax ginseng decreases harmful LDL cholesterol and increases beneficial cholesterol HDL levels.
• Panax ginseng stimulates weight and tissue growth and thereby enhances the body's resistance to disease.

Safety: Panax ginseng is a mild herb and is considered safe.The recommended daily dose is small and large doses of ginseng are not recommended or necessary. Taking large doses of ginseng in combination with stimulants, including caffeine, is also not recommended.

Side Effects: Side effects associated with taking Panax ginseng are generally mild and temporary. They usually diminish after a few days and they may include: Blood pressure changes, Breast pain, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Headache, Heart rate changes, Insomnia, Itching, Loss of appetite, Mood changes, Nervousness.

Important Note:

• Studies recommend that ginseng should not be used continuously for periods of time longer than three months. The recommended period of use is one month followed by a rest period of two months.
• Ginseng is best avoided by those with high blood pressure or anxiety conditions and during pregnancy.
• Panax ginseng has been shown to increase the time blood needs to clot. When it is taken with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs, the effect of the drug may be increased, possibly resulting in uncontrolled bleeding.
• It is important to know that taking ginseng is not a substitute for other medical interventions. Always ask for your doctors approvable if you are planning to take other herbal remedies.