All Shennong Gold ginseng products meet and surpass USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) standards.

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WHAT IS AMERICAN GINSENG?

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a plant native to the hardwood forests of eastern North America. Historically, American ginseng was and is still used by Native American peoples in their traditional medicine practices for digestive problems, pain relief, respiratory conditions, fever reduction, in poultice form to stop bleeding, and even as an aphrodisiac.

American ginseng is closely related to Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) which is native to northeastern China, Korea, and parts of eastern Russia and Siberia. Both American ginseng and Asian ginseng are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Interestingly, ginseng is used in both traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Native American medicine for many of the same things — digestive problems, pain relief, replenishment of Qi (energy), stress relief, boosting the immune system, etc.

WHAT IS TEA BALL CUT?

Our Tea Ball Cut is a special grind made from ginseng roots which is a great size for making tea. Roots are are ground into granules of 2-4mm, perfect for use with a tea ball or other infuser. This cut (grind) is also an excellent choice to add to soups, stir fry and rice dishes as it softens easily in a short period of time. This smaller size of ginseng is very helpful for the elderly.

GINSENG – THE “KING OF HERBS”

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng is referred to as the “King of Herbs.” It is the most vital medicinal herb used to keep the body “in balance” and thus enhances a person’s health and contributes to prolonging their life.

According to the Shennong Bencao Jing (Shennong's Materia Medica) , the power of ginseng supplements the five viscera: the spleen, liver, kidney, heart, and lung. Ginseng serves as a nutritive aid by improving the ability of the spleen to draw out nutrients from foods and distribute them to the other organs, even though ginseng itself does not provide any nutrients.

The Shennong Bencao Jing is the first written compilation of herbal knowledge anywhere in the world and includes the first written record of ginseng as a medicinal agent. This book's content and the founder of the Chinese medicine tradition is attributed to Shennong, a mythological figure who lived about 4,500 years ago. He is also known as the Divine Farmer, credited with developing agriculture in China. Shennong was said to have tasted 70 different herbs each day, determining which ones were useful for humans and is credited for discovering both ginseng and tea.

GINSENG IS A “SWEET” HERB — BUT TASTES BITTER

The Shennong Bencao Jing classifies ginseng as a “sweet” herb. This is partly based on the idea that sweet is the underlying inherent taste within the herb that reflects its actions. Like other sweet herbs (which often taste bitter), it is believed that ginseng will supplement the spleen, calm irritation, and nourish the body.

USA-GROWN AMERICAN GINSENG IS ALWAYS SAFE TO CONSUME

In the United States, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Adminstration) has set as the standard that ginseng must be pesticide free regardless of whether grown in the USA, imported, or exported.

Some ginseng roots, powders, and products not grown in the United States contain residues of pesticides – specifically procymidone and quintozene. Procymidone is known to cause cancer and is illegal to use in the USA.

Caution: While procymidone and quintozene pesticides are not permitted for ginseng cultivation in the USA and Europe, there are no such restrictions in other countries. For example, quintozene is registered for use on ginseng in Canada and both procymidone and quintozene are used extensively throughout Asia. Quintozene in particular has been a staple of ginseng cultivation in Asia ever since ginseng cultivation became a major international business.

HOW MUCH GINSENG SHOULD YOU TAKE?

IMPORTANT: Consult your doctor if you take any prescribed medications or have any specific medical conditions.

In China the recommended dosage of ginseng for medicinal purposes has been consistent from ancient times up to the present at several grams per day. The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China officially lists 3-9 grams as the dosage for ginseng in decoction (tea) form. In the West the amount of ginseng suggested to be taken by Western doctors is relatively miniscule by comparison which results in little to no benefit.

In general, you will find most knowledgeable users of American ginseng take about 5g per day, often in a tea or added to their food.

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For international shipments, please contact us.

FDA Disclosure

Any statement regarding the health and/or medicinal value of any Shennong Gold product on this site is a statement and/or claim that has not been evaluated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Such statements and/or claims have not been evaluated as a treatment for any specific disease or medical condition, as to whether they work, what the proper dosage may be if they do work, how they could interact with other drugs, or whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns.