Quoting from http://www.glowlife.com/
According to Chinese legend, it was the emperor Shen Nung who discovered the
ginseng roo around 2700 BC. He was considered to be the father of
agriculture and herbal therapy. He reported that ginseng calms the mind,
brings harmony to the soul, eliminates fears, makes the eyes shine, opens
the heart and clarifies thinking. At this time, ginseng was so prized that
it was reserved for the emperors. This root captured the imagination of
Asians because of its ability to be effective in treating the entire body
and because it resembles the human form. In fact, the word ginseng means
"human root" in Chinese.
Materia Medica of Divine Plowman written in China about 2,000 years ago
records ginseng as the highest quality herb. Ginseng has been exalted in
many folklores and mythology in Asia and by Native Americans. Ginseng is the
most famous Asian herb, and has been in medicinal use for thousands of
years.
The modern story of ginseng began in the early 18th century when Father
Jartoux, a Jesuit missionary working in China, found the potency of this
herb, and published a paper titled "The Description of the Tartarian Plant
Ginseng" in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London in
1714 S (Secrets of Ginseng, by Winifred Conkling, 1999). Ginseng gained
popularity in America, especially during 19th century.
Ginseng's original homeland is the great forest area in the temperate
climate zone between the 38th and 48th parallels--that is between Seoul in
South Korea and Jiamust in northeastern China. This is the area that
produces the ginseng known as Korean Panax Ginseng. That is due to a set of
climatic and soil conditions in this region that is most conducive to
ginseng cultivation. Ginseng requires six years to fully mature. Since the
ginseng root absorbs all of the available nutrients from the soil it grows
in, the land of this region is left idle for 15 years to replenish the
nutrients before another planting occurs. No chemicals are used in the growi
ng of this ginseng.
Today, many different kinds and qualities of ginseng are cultivated in
China, Korea, Japan, America, Canada, Thailand and Russia. This could lead
one to the false conclusion that these ginsengs are all alike. The
efficacies of ginseng depend on the method of cultivation, the length time
it is given to grow and ripen, soil, climate and the method employed to
process it. The result is a difference in their content of active agents, in
their distribution pattern of individual active ingredients, and therefore
in their overall effectiveness.
Which one is the true ginseng ?
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng): Korean Panax ginseng represents the original,
true ginseng with highest potency. Traditionally, Panax ginseng cultivated
in Korea has been respected the most for its highest quality and potency,
and was imported by China, Japan, and many other countries in Asia. Korean
ginseng is considered the "King of all Herbs"
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius): American ginseng is smaller than
Asian ginseng, grows in North America and has been used by Native Americans
to treat various ailments. Currently American ginseng is cultivated in
Canada and US, the majority of which is exported to Asian countries.
Japanese ginseng (Panax japonicus): Often used by Japanese herbalists in
place of Panax ginseng, Panax japonicus contains much less active
ingredients (ginsenosides) than Panax ginseng, and is a low-grade ginseng.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Although it belongs to the
Araliaceae family, Siberian ginseng is not a true ginseng at all. Siberian
ginseng is often sold as a cheaper, less potent alternative to Panax
ginseng.
Sanchi ginseng (Panax notoginseng, or Panax pseudoginseng): Sanchi ginseng
is quite different from Panax ginseng in potency, and has been used for
different medicinal purposes such as hemostatic and pain relief, etc, by
Chinese doctors.
Himalayan ginseng (Panax pseudoginseng subspecies Himalaicus): Himalayans
used this ginseng variant for people with low appetite and as a digestive
aid. Medicinal potency is lower than Panax ginseng.
Dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius): Panax trifolius is a rare variant of
American ginseng, and grows in North America. Native Americans used Panax
trifolius for headaches, cough, indigestion, and other ailments.