Ginseng vs. American Ginseng: Differences in Medicinal Properties and Effects

[Voice of Hope March 9, 2024](Editor: Li Wenhan) Since ancient times, ginseng has been regarded as a precious medicinal material. It also has the meaning of longevity and good health. Therefore, ginseng and American ginseng have naturally become nourishing gifts to honor the elders and give gifts to relatives and friends during the New Year. However, although these two star supplements both have the effect of replenishing qi, they are still very different in their medicinal properties and effects, and they are not suitable for everyone.

American ginseng (video screenshot)

Ginseng is the root of the ginseng plant of the Araliaceae family. It is mainly produced in Jilin Province of China and northern South Korea and North Korea. According to the different processing techniques of ginseng, it can be divided into white ginseng and red ginseng.

American ginseng, also known as American ginseng, is the root of the Araliaceae plant American ginseng. It is mainly produced in the United States and Canada in North America.

The two medicinal materials are derived from two plants of the same family, the same genus, and closely related. They have many similar chemical compositions and pharmacological effects. However, the two drugs are very different in their properties and efficacy.

Ginseng is slightly warm in nature, sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and is an important medicine for replenishing qi. It has the effects of tonifying vitality, strengthening the heart and strengthening the body, nourishing the spleen and lungs, calming the nerves and promoting fluid production; American ginseng is cool in nature and sweet in taste, and has the functions of nourishing lung yin, clearing fire, nourishing the stomach and promoting fluid production. Both medicines are sweet in taste, and their sweetness can replenish qi and promote body fluids. This is the similarity between them.

The difference is that American ginseng is cool in nature, can clear away heat and nourish yin, and can produce fluid and quench thirst; ginseng is warm and has a bitter taste, and can help yang; American ginseng can nourish qi and nourish yin; ginseng can nourish qi and nourish yin. In terms of supporting yang, ginseng is better than American ginseng in replenishing qi, and American ginseng is better than ginseng in clearing away heat and promoting fluid production.

Therefore, people with Yin deficiency constitution and Qi deficiency syndrome are best to use American ginseng; those whose physical constitution is more deficient and cold and suffer from Qi deficiency syndrome should use ginseng.

Ginseng (pixabay)

Modern pharmacological research has found that ginseng and American ginseng have extremely extensive pharmacological effects, involving the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, immune system, anti-stress, anti-tumor and metabolism. Because ginseng and American ginseng contain similar ingredients, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides and other active ingredients, their contents and proportions are different, and each has its own characteristic ingredients. These differences lead to differences in the medicinal uses of American ginseng and ginseng.

Cardiovascular Protection American ginseng and ginseng both have cardiovascular protective effects. The ginseng saponins they contain can increase myocardial contractility, increase blood pressure, increase myocardial oxygen supply and improve myocardial work efficiency.

Both ginseng and American ginseng can participate in sugar metabolism and adjust lipid metabolism. The blood-lipid-lowering effect of American ginseng is stronger than that of ginseng, while the blood-sugar-lowering effect of ginseng is significantly higher than that of American ginseng.

Enhance the body’s immune function. Ginseng and American ginseng also contain polysaccharides. Ginseng polysaccharide has relatively certain pharmacological effects on the body’s immune function, hematopoietic function, anti-tumor, and anti-liver damage. American ginseng polysaccharides also have immune-enhancing, anti-tumor and antioxidant effects.

Other functions: Ginseng has a biphasic regulatory effect on the central nervous system. Ginseng saponin can not only excite the central nervous system and fight fatigue, but also has a sedative effect and fight against tension, but its stimulating effect is strong.

Ginseng also has the effect of improving cognitive dysfunction, improving short-term learning and memory ability, reducing cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and protecting brain nerve cells from damage. The central nervous system excitatory effect of American ginseng is weak, mainly inhibitory, and the sedative effect is more prominent.

Ginseng is not a health supplement that everyone can take. Patients with high blood pressure should use it with caution. Healthy people and teenagers should not take supplements. Taking supplements in teenagers can easily cause precocious puberty and estrogen-like effects.

In addition, remember not to take large amounts, otherwise it can induce excitement in the central nervous system and cause symptoms similar to corticosteroid poisoning. Excessive ginseng saponin can inhibit liver cell proliferation and cause liver cell damage.

American ginseng has relatively mild medicinal properties, but improper use can also cause adverse reactions. People who should not use American ginseng include: those with insufficient yang energy, feeling external evils, and incomplete dampness and heat; those with weak middle yang, cold dampness in the stomach, or weak constitution, manifested by pale complexion, floating face, swollen limbs, fear of cold, and heartbeat. Slowness and loss of appetite; impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea, and spermatorrhea in men; dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea in women; developmental delay and indigestion in children, etc.

While taking ginseng or American ginseng, it is not advisable to eat black beans, tea, coffee, radish, grapes and other foods containing tannic acid substances, because tannic acid can combine with the active ingredients of ginseng or American ginseng, reducing its absorption.

Neither ginseng nor American ginseng should be taken for a long time. You should take it in moderation when you feel weak. Remember not to take it for a long time.

tea (pixabay)

Five ways to take ginseng

Slice the ginseng into thin slices and take it twice a day. Take 2 slices each time and put it in your mouth. Chew the residue until it becomes tasteless.

To make tea, cut the ginseng into thin slices, 3 to 6 grams each time, put it in a tea cup or a thermos cup, and soak it in boiling water to drink it as tea. Generally, it can be soaked several times in a row and chewed after the taste fades.

Decoction: Decoct ginseng in water, 3 to 10 grams per day, simmer over slow fire for a long time, take in divided doses or mix with other decoctions.

Soak in wine and drink. Take 30 grams of sliced ​​ginseng, add it to 1000 ml of white wine, seal and soak for 10 days before drinking, 25 ml each time, twice a day.

Medicinal meals can be made with ginseng, duck, goose, yam, lily, etc., put into a casserole and simmered thoroughly, and the ginseng, meat, and soup can be eaten together.

Editor in charge: Li Zhi

This article or program was edited and produced by Voice of Hope. When reprinting, please indicate Voice of Hope and include the original title and link.

2024-03-09 09:09:56

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