Ginseng is a short perennial plant of the Araliaceae botanical family. It grows naturally on the slopes of ravines and shady, well drained, mountainous hardwood forests. The creamy yellow or white root is the part which is consumed. It resembles a parsnip, with rootlets that branch off and sometimes can be likened to a human form. It is then commonly known as the "man" root.
Ginseng is most commonly used medicinal herb in the Orient and has been used by the Chinese for some 4000years. Korea leads the world in Ginseng cultivation and the product from there is generally recognized to be of prime quality. Other species are the North American type grown in the USA and Canada, and Siberian Ginseng which grows in Korea and China.
It takes six years for the Gingeng root to reach full maturity. It can live for over 100 years old, and one record details a 400 year old specimen. During its growth period, Ginseng absorbs almost all the minerals and nutrients in the soil, to the extent that the seed bed cannot be replanted for 10- 15 years, and then only after extensive soil testing. Ginseng contains phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, calcium, pottasium, sulphur, mangenese, silica and sodium. It is also rich in vitamins B1 and B2.

Its uses
In ancient Korea and China, Ginseng was used as an aid and/or a cure for a wide variety of maladies, such as weakness, bronchitis, asthma, T.B, cold hands and feet (bad circulation), stomach or digestive problems, diabetes, colds and so on. The list is endless!.
Serious research began in Europe in the early 1950's and interestingly enough, reports support what the Orientals beleived 4000 years ago.
Dr Breckhman of the USSR reported 'Ginseng stimulates both physical and mental activity', and 'Ginseng strengthens and protects the human organism when undergoing severe and/or physical strain'. Based on his findings, Ginseng has been made an integral part of the Russian space programme.
Other evidence supports the following: 'Ginseng stimulates carbohhydrate metabolism in the liver; increases or decreases blood pressure according to the need of each subject; stimulates the adrenal cortex; improves the ability to remember, accelerates learning and even regulates brain activity; benifits insomnia and sleep disturbances, and has benificial effects on tissue and cellular growth.'
Many people take Ginseng to combat fatigue and get an energy boost. In recent years many doctors have been prescribing Ginseng based pharmaceutics. Ginseng contains six glycosides called panaxosides and six sapogenins which are attached to the glycosides. The sapogenins:

• mildly increase endocrine activity
  
• mildly increase metabolic activity
  
• mildly stimulate the circulatory system
  
• mildly stimulate the digestive process