Panax Ginseng is also called Korean ginseng and medicinal ginseng, the most well known plants of the Araliaceae family. People have been using the roots for perpetual youth and longevity medicine since ancient times. Its characteristic is that the root ends are divided into 2 or more strands. Because its shape looks similar to a person, it was named "人参(ninjin: person)".
Panax Ginseng, one of Asia's most wonderful plants, has been cultivated in China for several thousand years. One of its characteristics is that its roots, which are called "essence (Fleur de Vie) of life," have a human-like shape. In China, it is well known and used as a cure-all medicine having an energizing effect to keep users youthful. Panax Ginseng activates the physical functions of the entire body and includes so many nutrients. Polysaccharides, including more than 25 kinds of ginsenoside, saponin glycoside, vitamins and minerals are contained in good balance, and are believed to help with health maintenance. It is most suitable for modern people who are lacking energy. We recommend to use Panax Ginseng when you are stressed, irregular life continues, and feel fatigued.
How to Identify. Features
The seeding time of Panax Ginseng is around November , and it germinates in April of the next year. After germination, a few palmate leaves consisting of three small leaves germinate, they will consist of five small leaves when growing up. One long flower stalk grows from the root of the leafstalk after three or four years and bears a large number of yellowish white florets on the tip. From the end of July to the beginning of August, it bears some slightly flat round red fruits with white seeds inside of them.
A collection and methods for coordination Place of production
Panax Ginseng is a perennial plant which belongs to Araliaceae family, and has been called "medicinal ginseng" and highly valued for a long time.
In the Fukushima Aizu district of Tohoku Japan, it is cultivated on about 60 ha as of 2013, and the Saku area in Nagano and One Island in Shimane are its main production centers.
Because it does poorly in direct sunlight, it is cultivated under sunshades, such as those made from cheesecloth. The above ground part withers in autumn and only its roots survive the winter until a new stem emerges the following spring. It needs 4-6 years to harvest after sowing the seed. The plant is uprooted after 5 or 6 years around September / October, and the roots are washed with water to remove soil and then dried in the sun. The roots become yellowish white, therefore they are called "白参(Hakujin： white beard)" .
The color turns amber when dried after blanching. It is called "紅参(Kojin: red beard)" in the Japanese pharmacopeia. Hakujin and Kojin are classified differently according to their medical efficacy.
The effect of a medicine, how to use
Panax Ginseng has been considered to be a representative of tonics for reinforcing in mentally and physically. It had been used for perpetual youth and longevity, and invigorating. However, its wide efficacy such as, increase of internal metabolism function and endocrine promotion, mind stability action and nucleus excitement action have been come to be known.
Especially its action to promote the secretion of adrenalcortical hormones is an indirect effect which helps the body produce it's own hormone, which is different from taking hormones when suffering from a hormone deficiency , therefore, it can be thought of as an ideal crude drug.
Other
Panax Ginseng was known as a precious medicine during the Edo era.
It belongs to the Araliaceae family and is distributed throughout the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, Northeast China and Siberia, but today is mostly cultivated.
Wild Asian ginseng is distinguished from cultivated types and called Noninjin (wild ginseng).
It was cultivated in the medicinal plant garden (1716-1736 征薬園: Seyaku-en) of the direct management by the Shogunate in the Edo era. Later the seeds and saplings were distributed to each daimyo(Japanese feudal lord).
The name came from this and now it is known as Otane Ninjin (Panax Ginseng).
Details
| Japanese Name | Otane-ninjin (Chosen-ninjin, Korai-ninjin) オタネニンジン（御種人参・朝鮮人参・高麗人参） |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer |
| Family Name | Araliaceae |
| Flowering Season | June |
| Fruit Harvesting | End of July - August |
| Herbal Medicine | Ginseng |
| Components | Its triterpene glycoside and ginsenoside Rg1 Rb1 strengthen immunity and improve body balance. |
| Usage | Tonic, Potency |
| Description | "It is important herbal medicine categorized among the higher herbs in the Shennong Ben Cao Jing (Chinese book on agriculture and medicinal plants) and is also used in Chinese medicine prescriptions in many forms. (Sho-saiko-to, Juzen-daiho-to and Hochu-ekki-to, etc)" |
| Meaning of Scientific Name | Panax : (pan, all)+(acos, medicine) means "catholicon" , ginseng : Ninjin(Ginseng), |
| Medicinal Part | It is a native perennial plant in Korea and Manchuria. Its flowering season is between May and June. Hakujin (white beard)which are the roots, which are blanched and dried, has been highly valued as a Chinese tonic since ancient times. On the other hand, Kojin (red beard) which are the roots, which turn red after being steamed and dried, has been distinguished from Hakujin in Chinese medicine. The main component is a Dammarane-type saponin such as ginsenoside Rg1 Rb1. |