American Ginseng, as it is known as "green gold" and serves both medicinal and dietary purposes!

American ginseng, as it is known as "green gold" and serves both medicinal and dietary purposes!

Legend has it that around 1670, French missionary Arthus traveled to the Liaodong region of China to preach. He heard numerous tales about the "ginseng herb" from local legends. Later, with the assistance of Native Americans, the French discovered a wild plant resembling Chinese ginseng in the Atlantic coastal forests of the Montreal area. This plant, harvested from the Atlantic wilderness, was named "American ginseng." Due to its effects of replenishing qi, nourishing yin, clearing heat, and generating body fluids, American ginseng has long been regarded as a precious medicinal plant.

In November 2023, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued an announcement, adding nine substances including American ginseng to the list of materials that are traditionally considered both food and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

1. "Green Gold" —— American Ginseng

American ginseng is native to Quebec, Canada and Wisconsin, USA. After years of introduction and cultivation, it is now distributed in high-altitude mountainous areas of southern provinces and regions such as Jilin, Beijing, Shandong, and Fujian in China. The underground roots of American ginseng are composed of main roots, branch roots, fibrous roots, adventitious roots, and rhizomes (reed heads), while the overground parts are composed of stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. 

During the Qing Dynasty, American ginseng was introduced to China. According to the "Supplement to Materia Medica", American ginseng is a "cool and refreshing" ginseng with a bitter and slightly sweet taste, and a cool nature. It has the effects of nourishing yin and tonifying qi, generating fluids and quenching thirst, relieving irritability, clearing deficiency fire, supporting normal qi, and resisting fatigue. The French once hired Native Americans to harvest large quantities of American ginseng and transport it to China for sale. At that time, the price of American ginseng in the Chinese market was equivalent to gold, so it was once known as "green gold".

2. The Multiple Benefits of American Ginseng

The main active ingredients of American ginseng that exert pharmacological effects include saponins, amino acids, trace elements, polysaccharides, etc. It can inhibit Alzheimer's disease, improve cardiovascular health, and play an extremely important regulatory role in the body's metabolism and immune system.

1) Inhibiting Alzheimer's disease:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common degenerative disease. American ginseng has anti AD biological activity, and saponins, as the main active ingredient of American ginseng, have shown strong anti AD effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. It is understood that saponins can inhibit the production and deposition of amyloid beta protein (Aβ), tau phosphorylation, cell apoptosis, and cytotoxicity, and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, thereby inhibiting the development of AD.

2) Improving cardiovascular system:

Research has shown that American ginseng saponins have significant improvement effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, especially in cardiovascular diseases. American ginseng saponins have anti cardiomyocyte apoptosis, arrhythmia, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity. In addition, other studies have shown that Panax quinquefolium saponins can reduce the incidence rate of myocardial infarction.

3) Anti fatigue:

The American ginsenoside in American ginseng have significant anti fatigue effects and can improve the physical and mental health of the human body. Research has shown that saponins from American ginseng can promote protein synthesis and glycogen storage, improve muscle endurance and adaptability. Meanwhile, it can also increase the secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline, enhancing the body's responsiveness.

4) Boosting immunity:

American ginsenoside have the function of regulating the immune system, which can enhance the body's immunity and improve disease resistance. Research has found that American ginsenoside can increase the activity and quantity of lymphocytes, promote the function of macrophages, and enhance the body's ability to resist infections. At the same time, it can also increase immunoglobulin levels in the serum and improve the body's antibody levels. Therefore, American ginsenoside are widely used in immunomodulatory and immune enhancing drugs.

5) Lowering blood sugar:

Several human studies have shown that American ginseng can reduce the blood sugar level of patients with type 2 diabetes, and can reduce the fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood sugar levels. A study found that type 2 diabetes patients who took American ginseng before drinking high sugar drinks had a small increase in blood sugar levels. Other studies have shown that American ginseng can prevent diabetes related complications by reducing stress.

3. Market & Application

At present, the main products for American ginseng are dietary supplements, which can be divided into sliced, powdered, capsule, etc.

Dairyland has launched a type of American ginseng powder that can be mixed into oatmeal or yogurt, as well as added to coffee and pancakes. This product helps improve attention and relieve fatigue.

Source: Amazon

NusaPure has launched a vegetarian ginseng capsule, with each capsule equivalent to 5000 milligrams of ginseng root powder. This product can be used to enhance the human immune system

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Source: Amazon