Ginseng

Ginseng relieves stress, improves stamina, regulates blood pressure and enhances immunity.

In 1711, a Jesuit missionary stationed in China gave the West its first glimpse of ginseng. "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," he wrote.. Almost 300 years later, ginseng, perhaps remains a mystery.

Ginseng refers to at least three different plants. The mother of all ginseng is the Asian variety, Panax ginseng which is prescribed in 2,000-year-old Chinese texts to "quiet the spirit and increase wisdom." A close cousin is American ginseng (P. quinquefolius). Just to confuse matters, a distantly related plant called Eleuthero, or Siberian ginseng, has recently become popular as a cheap substitute for "real" ginseng. Russians are known to feed this herb to their cosmonauts and their athletes.

Benefits of Ginseng All three types of ginseng are traditionally used as tonics - to strengthen and regulate body functions and thus treat a host of ailments. Some of the fleshy roots look vaguely like a human figure, which possibly explains their reputation as a body-wide cure-all.

Experts agree that ginseng contains a variety of compounds called ginsenosides. Various ginsenosides have been shown in test tube and animal studies to have contradictory effects. Some of these chemicals appear to raise blood pressure; others seem to lower it. Some act as sedatives, others as stimulants. Some herbalists argue that the complex nature of ginseng is exactly what makes it a good tonic - that is, a remedy that helps the body achieve balance, warding off damage from disease and other stresses.