Question:
How and why should we use ginseng root to promote health?
Answer:
A funny thing happened in class this week: I had cooked ginseng tea for my students to sample. During the first half of the 3-hour class, people had been on the quiet side, but after we each drank a small cup of ginseng tea, the energy in the classroom rose to magnificent heights. The voices rang out as we practiced our pinyin pronunciation. The effect was electrifying!
Panax ginseng is one of the most deeply researched and widely used of all Chinese herbs. I have a lot of direct experience using this herb myself and prescribing it to patients. Here are some things to keep in mind:
You can pay hundreds of dollars per pound for large, wild Asian ginseng, but you don’t have to! My suppliers (mainly Mayway and Nuherbs, both in Oakland, CA) sell a very good grade of Kirin white ginseng for about $40 a pound.
Be skeptical about ginseng products that are inexpensive, such as teabags for $2.50 claiming to be “100% pure ginseng” – these are often the so-called Siberian ginseng, which is not a true ginseng at all, but rather Eleutherococcus or Acananthopanax. This herb was named “Siberian Ginseng” as a marketing strategy. It is not a bad product, but it is not ginseng. The amount of active ingredient in a teabag is, I’m afraid, not very great. Read labels.
You may have heard that ginseng is dangerous for people with hypertension, insomnia or nervousness because it can be stimulating, but I have never encountered a problem using white Asian ginseng even in patients with hypertension. Of course, you must let them know that the herb can potentially cause problems, and that they should monitor their blood pressure often while using the herb.
Some people want to use the very stimulating red ginseng (which is usually Korean and has been steamed to make it hotter) because they think it will boost performance, either athletic or sexual. This is usually not a good use of ginseng. People with this motivation often overuse it and are not sensitive to its harmful effects.
What I have found is that white Asian ginseng tea is excellent to promote a nice, manageable boost of energy, and is also very good for mental cognition. It seems to focus the mind, improve the body’s resistance, and remove fatigue, without being overly stimulating. It is said to calm the shen (mind/spirit), and it does this by clarifying the mind. Regular drinkers of this tea develop minds that are clearly focused and rapier-sharp. Almost all people can benefit from its energizing actions if they follow this recipe:
Because ginseng roots are dense and precious, they need to be cooked several times to extract all they have to offer. Place about 30 grams (usually 3-4 medium-sized roots) in a non-metal pan with a very tight fitting lid or even a slow-cooking crock pot or ginseng cooker if you have one. Cover with water to within a couple inches of the top of the pot.
Cook slowly, covered tightly, for at least an hour. Not much steam should escape. When the liquid has reduced by about half and has taken on a golden color, pour it off and save it. Drink some of it. Refrigerate the rest. You can now cook the roots again in the same way, three to four more times. You will notice the liquid is darker at the second and third cookings, and then paler at the fourth. Then the roots will be mushy and ready to discard.
You can refrigerate the roots in between cookings if you don’t have time to cook them four times all at once. Just keep combining the liquid from each successive cooking with what you already have in the ‘fridge. Drink your ginseng tea cold or warm, as you prefer.
Just don’t microwave it. Drink one or two cups per day, ideally first thing in the morning, and any time during the day that you feel an energy slump or want more mental clarity.