Question
What are the benefits and effects of ginseng? Who can eat ginseng?
Answer
Ginseng is a nutritional supplement that is well-known for its ability to strengthen and nourish the body. The use of ginseng in prevention and treatment of diseases has a long history in China. Its effects have been highly praised by countless medical scholars both ancient and modern, and have been proven by modern scientific research. The earliest work to give ginseng a high evaluation of its pharmacological effects was the “Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica.” This is the first classic text on pharmacology in China. The book classifies 365 commonly used medicinal materials into three grades, selecting those with excellent nutritional supplement and strengthening effects and no toxicity or side effects as top grade. Ginseng is one of the top grade medicinal materials. It clearly states that ginseng “replenishes the five zang-organs, calms the spirit, stops palpitations, expels evil spirits, clarifies vision, and opens the mind to wisdom.” These few sentences fully illustrate that ginseng’s replenishing effects are multifaceted. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that ginseng’s main effect is to greatly replenish vital energy. In the “Great Compendium of Materia Medica,” Su Shou records a passage that says, “To test the authenticity of ginseng, two people should run together, one with ginseng in his mouth and the other without. After running three or five li (about 1.5 km), the one without ginseng will surely be gasping for breath, while the one with it will breathe normally.” This method was used to distinguish between genuine and inferior ginseng. It is said that during the time of Hong Chengzhong’s defeat, he was captured by Qing troops and went without food for several days before suddenly regaining his strength after drinking a small pot of ginseng soup from Empress Dowager Bo Li Zhi. While these accounts exaggerate the effects of ginseng, they do indicate that it does have good replenishing properties. The “Materia Medica for Children and Adults” mentions that ginseng can be taken by people who are weak in constitution, have poor memory, or suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. However, it is not suitable for those with high fever or inflammation. Ginseng should be taken with caution during pregnancy and should not be taken in large quantities for a long period of time to avoid adverse effects.