Panax ginseng is a plant that grows in Korea, northeastern China, and far eastern Siberia. People use the root to make medicine. Do not confuse Panax ginseng with other plants sometimes referred to as ginseng like American ginseng, Blue Cohosh, Canaigre, Codonopsis, Eleuthero, or Panax Notoginseng. These are different plants with different activities.
Panax ginseng is taken by mouth to improve memory and thinking skills, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
In manufacturing, Panax ginseng is used to make soaps, cosmetics, and as a flavoring in beverages.
Panax ginseng contains many active substances. The substances thought to be most important are called ginsenosides or panaxosides. Ginsenosides is the term coined by Asian researchers, and the term panaxosides was chosen by early Russian researchers.
Panax ginseng is often referred to as a general well-being medication because it affects many different systems of the body.
