Ginseng is a popular perennial herb whose root has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, prized for its concentration of active compounds called ginsenosides. Locating this herb depends entirely on the specific variety sought and the form in which it is purchased. Understanding the difference between the main types and their source is the first step toward finding it.
Understanding the Primary Varieties
The term “ginseng” primarily refers to two distinct species that belong to the Panax genus. Panax ginseng, commonly known as Asian or Korean ginseng, is native to regions of China and the Korean Peninsula. Today, this variety is almost entirely sourced from large-scale cultivation to meet global demand.
The second widely recognized species is Panax quinquefolius, known as American ginseng. This variety is indigenous to the deciduous forests of Eastern North America, spanning from Quebec to Georgia and westward. American ginseng is sourced from both commercial farms and wild habitats. The active compounds, ginsenosides, differ slightly between the two, resulting in Asian ginseng being traditionally considered more stimulating, while the American type is often described as having a more cooling effect.
It is important to recognize that some products marketed as “ginseng” are not true Panax species. The most common example is Eleuthero, historically called Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus). This plant belongs to a different genus and contains active compounds called eleutherosides instead of ginsenosides. True ginseng is defined by the presence of ginsenosides.
Retail and Online Purchasing Options
For most consumers, ginseng is found in its prepared commercial form, making retail locations the easiest source. Health food stores and dedicated herbal apothecaries typically stock a wide array of supplements, often featuring standardized extracts in capsule form. These products generally specify the concentration of ginsenosides to ensure consistency of dosage. Pharmacies and drug stores also carry popular brands of ginseng extracts.
Specialty Asian markets are excellent places to find the whole, dried root of both American and Asian varieties. These markets offer the herb in raw forms such as slices, whole dried roots, or powders, which are often used for brewing teas or making traditional preparations. When buying raw root, the product is usually cultivated, as true wild roots are rare and highly regulated.
Online shopping provides the broadest selection, including direct-to-consumer options from specific regional farms. Buyers can find raw roots, powders, teas, tinctures, and liquid extracts. When sourcing online, look for products certified by third-party testing to confirm the species and quality, such as those verified by the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin for American ginseng.
Sourcing Wild and Cultivated Ginseng
The majority of commercially available ginseng is produced through cultivation. Cultivated ginseng is grown in two primary ways: field-grown or woods-grown. Field-grown ginseng is planted in tilled beds under artificial shade structures, allowing for a shorter harvest cycle of three to four years and producing a more uniform, plumper root.
The woods-grown method, often called wild-simulated, involves planting seeds in a natural forest environment without significant human intervention after planting. This process takes much longer, often five to ten years, and yields roots that more closely resemble the appearance and chemical profile of truly wild ginseng.
True wild ginseng is classified as vulnerable or endangered in many areas, particularly American ginseng. It grows in the shady, moist soil of hardwood forests, especially in the Appalachian region. Due to its scarcity, true wild ginseng is subject to strict state and federal regulations, including specific harvesting seasons typically limited to the fall.
Harvesting wild ginseng requires a license in most states, and only mature plants with at least three prongs (leaves) may be collected. Harvesters are legally required to plant the seeds from the collected root in the immediate vicinity to support the species’ survival. The international trade of American ginseng is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This means any wild-harvested root must be certified by the state of origin before it can be exported.