Guest writer for Wake Up World
Korean (Panax) Ginseng is one of Nature’s true Super Herbs, otherwise known as the root of immortality or Asian/Oriental Ginseng. This herb has a very positive effect in making the whole body healthy. If you take it daily, it can balance all of the systems in the body and make you healthier in almost every way.
Korean ginseng is considered an energizer, stress reducer. It has been used traditionally to ward off fatigue and stress. It’s also used as a general tonic to invigorate a person mentally and physically.
It is considered to be an “adaptogen”. An adaptogen is a substance that can increase resistance to stress of any kind, either mental or physical and can invigorate the user in a non-specific way.
The root must be at least six years old to be effective. The older the root, the better it is for improving your health. Also the price is directly related to the age of the root. The older the root, the more it costs per ounce. Wild roots are very rare and command a great price. Some older varieties have been known to go for tens of thousands of dollars.
Korean ginseng has been used to lower cholesterol, reduce stress, decrease stress and boost energy, treat diabetes, treat depression and sharpen the mind and memory. It is a herb that really does a lot for you.
History Of Korean Ginseng
Panax ginseng was discovered and first used around five thousand years ago in the Manchuria, China mountains. First used as food, it soon was discovered that the people eating it were experiencing an increase in strength and a better resistance to stresses of all kinds. The root is a fleshy, multi branched and man-shaped. It has become a symbol of overall health to the Chinese people.
According to Chinese legend, emperor Shen Nung discovered ginseng around 2700 BC. The Chinese considered him to be the father of herbal therapy. It was Shen Nung who said that the ginseng root can be used to calm the mind, bring the soul into harmony, eliminate fears and clarify thinking. Only the emperors could use ginseng at that time, as it was considered too special for the common man.
It’s considered an “Ultimate Tonic”. Numerous books have been written about ginseng. It is probably the best known herb in the world. The extreme popularity of ginseng eventually lead to it’s over-harvesting to the point that wild ginseng at one time was more valuable per ounce than gold!
The good news about the powerful herb soon spread throughout the world and ginseng was traded with other cultures. Korea started to harvest the root around the 1900”²s and now supplies the herb to many people in the world today.
It’s believed to be helpful in preventing illnesses like cancer and arthritis and can also lower high blood sugar. It’s a great remedy for people suffering from fatigue.
This type of ginseng really shines as an immune booster, helping prevent ailments caused by viruses and bacteria and can be taken at the onset of the common cold to reduce it’s severity and duration.
Korean ginseng relaxes the lungs and prevents constriction of the airways. It can be taken as a remedy for asthma and other types of lung problems.
Many students take this kind of ginseng while studying and taking tests as it is believed to sharpen concentration and memory and make learning new subjects easier.
For many years, Korean ginseng has been used to boost fertility in men and increase sperm count by activation specific hormones in the body. It improves blood circulation in the body and helps one recover from illness more quickly.
Korean ginseng is useful for aging adults as it is thought to prevent senility. It’s strengthening and energizing effect are also important to keep the body active well into old age.
Nutritional Composition
Korean ginseng contains contains Vitamins A, E, and B12, sulfur, calcium, iron, manganese, thiamin, riboflavin, tin, niacin, phosphorous, sodium, potassium and magnesium.
Korean Ginseng also contains many saponins, called ginsenosides and panaxosides. Ginsenosides have been studied extensively and have numerous actions, including: stimulation of the immune system, balancing blood sugar, inhibiting tumor growth, stabilizing blood pressure, and stimulation of bone marrow production, detoxifying the liver, and many other tonic effects. Ginseng also contains many other active substances and nutritional components.
The body’s glands, such as the adrenal glands secrete hormones such as adrenaline. Other glands secrete their own important hormones. Ginseng regulates all these glands and puts them in better working order. They in turn control the body’s organs, helping them to stay balanced and work properly.
Precautions and Side Effects
Korean ginseng should not be taken if pregnant or nursing without the consent of your doctor. Avoid large doses or prolonged use if you have high blood pressure. Korean ginseng can warm the body and is best taken in the colder months. American and Siberian Ginseng are considered cooling, and are better suited for the warmer months. High doses of Korean ginseng can sometimes cause irritability.
In ancient Asian spritual practices, Yang would be considered the Sun element and Yin the cold. Korean Ginseng is considered a Yin herb and this is why it is recommended to be consumed more in the Winter months than at warmer times of the year.
The recommended dosage of this herb is 2 grams a day, not alot (1/2 a teaspoon) and resultantly this makes it quite cheap to add to your diet. With 100 grams (200 days supply) priced at roughly £10 (or $17) theres alot of reasons to give the ‘root of immortality’ a chance at helping you as nature intended.
Article Sources:
- nutriherb.net/korean-ginseng
- herballegacy.com/Holland_History
- livestrong.com/article/433443-what-does-korean-ginseng-do
Also by James Hartley:
About the Author
James Hartley is a passionate whole foods and holistic healing enthusiast who encourages others to empower themselves with the knowledge of Nature’s greatest gifts, by sharing his research through his blog and online indexing collective,
A spiritualist who from an early age awakened to the dualistic nature of the world we live in; filled with an endless array of toxins but conversely a plethora of nutritious and healing foods that Mother Earth has to offer which in essence he believes hold the keys to immortality and peak health.
James’ online presence is here to serve everyone as a reminder that not only are there an almost infinite amount of natural foods that can be consumed to aid both prevention and treatment of any given problem but that with the correct diet we can completely revolutionise and energise our lives.
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