Why It Works Valued as a medicine in China for over 2,000 years, Ginseng was once held in such high esteem that only the emperor was allowed to collect it. It has traditionally been used by elderly Asians to boost physical and mental vitality. Only the root is medicinal. The active ingredients in Ginseng are a set of compounds called ginsenosides. These complex chemicals have a variety of effects, ranging from stimulation of the nervous system to reduction of blood sugar levels.
Panax ginseng is native to China, but is also cultivated in Korea, Japan, and Russia.
An almost identical plant, Panax quinquefolius , grows in the United States and was, in fact, exported to China during the 18th Century. Caution is also advisable if you have hypertension, since overuse of the herb can cause an increase in blood pressure. Because of its effects on blood sugar, people with diabetes should be cautious as well. At customary dosage levels, side effects are unlikely. Breast pain and postmenopausal vaginal bleeding have occasionally been reported.