But it was not until the early 1980's that ginseng production witnessed exponential growth due to the lure of lucrative profits. Yin is the mild, cool force, while yang is the strong, hot force. The equilibrium of these two forces maintains the peace and health of the universe and the same is thought to apply to the human body. It is believed that when yin and yang become unbalanced, the body becomes more prone to sickness and disease. Traditional usage has led to the belief that ginseng can be used to balance the yin and yang levels in the human body.
Asian ginseng is believed to represent the yang and is proclaimed as a good tonic for the blood.
Based on the above premises, Asian and North American ginseng are not substitutes. Rather, they complement each other. Each is described as having unique effects. While Asian ginseng is said to have a heating effect that invigorates, stimulates and heals the body, especially when the body is depleted, North American ginseng is said to have a cooling effect that relieves stress, calms the body, and strengthens the internal organs. Ginseng production in Canada has increased 18 fold in 12 years, from 106 MT in 1987 to 1864 MT in 1998.