The latter herb is actually not ginseng at all, but the Russian scientists responsible for promoting it believe that it functions identically.
Asian ginseng is a perennial herb with a taproot resembling the human body.
Chinese herbalists believe that each form has its own particular benefits. Ginseng is widely regarded by the public as a stimulant, but according to everyone who uses it seriously that isn't the right description. In traditional Chinese herbology, Panax ginseng was used to strengthen the digestion and the lungs, calm the spirit, and increase overall energy. When the Russian scientist Israel I. Brekhman became interested in the herb prior to World War II, he came up with a new idea about ginseng. He decided that it was an adaptogen.