The confusion may arise in part from the fact that T. F. L. Nees had, in 1833, expressly included the earlier and legitimate P . pseudo-ginseng under his P . It is recognized as a distinct entity from P. pseudo-ginseng in recent Chinese taxonomic treatments on the genus Panax. They list five varieties under P. pseudo-ginseng. All species of Panax do not produce seng and all seng -producing plants are not in the genus Panax. Likewise, ginseng is a Seng but not all sengs in Chinese medicine are ginseng.
Continuous use leads one to longevity with light weight.
In the1596 classic of the Chinese materia medica Li Shi-zhen's Ben Cao Gang Mu, ginseng is listed in the superior class of herbs. The first description of the plant by a Westerner was provided by Pere Jartoux, a Jesuit missionary stationed in Beijing. His observations, made in 1709, include uses, description, and habitat, plus historical and personal notes. In 1714 Jartoux's account was published in English. Nobody can imagine that the Chinese and Tartars would set so high a value on this root, if it did not constantly produce a good effect.