Ginseng takes up to six years to grow before it can be harvested, and once it has been harvested, the same earth cannot be used to grow ginseng for 20 to 25 years. Needless to say, it is a costly crop. However, because of increasing world-wide demands for the benefits derived from this wonder plant, its continued cultivation and availability at affordable prices is guaranteed. There are six species of ginseng in the world. Four are found in Manchuria and Korea and two found in North America, with the best being in Ontario.
All species are similar.
However, ginseng indigenous to Ontario, Panax Quinquefolius , is considered to be the best in the world. The active ingredients in Ginseng are Ginsenosides and are what gives the plant its valuable properties. Many Native American nations have also used ginseng for Medicinal and Health purposes for centuries. In the early 1700's, a Jesuit priest named Joseph Francois Lafteau discovered Ginseng among the Iroquois in Ontario and by 1716, the first shipment of root was on its way to China. Health Benefits of Ginseng Ginseng is considered to restore the body's balance - like blood pressure, blood sugar and energy.