Ginseng: medicinal properties and uses. The miraculous “root of life”: the benefits and harms of ginseng

Chinese medicine, which used the root as early as 3000 BC, endowed ginseng with extraordinary properties that could cure all diseases. Such medicine was valued very dearly, on a par with gold and precious stones. Ginseng roots weighing 200-500 g are of particular value.

Ginseng is a unique long-lived plant, capable of living for 1-1.5 centuries.

Origin

IN natural conditions Ginseng grows in the Russian Far East, Korea, and China. For habitat, the plant chooses mountainous areas with cedar, deciduous and mixed forests. It needs loose, organic-rich soil with moderate moisture. Grows in the shade of trees, thickets of bushes and where there is no direct sunlight.

Name

) belongs to the perennials of the Araliaceae family.

In China, ginseng means “root man.” The name is given for the human-like structure of the root. It is also called stosil, the root of life and the gift of the gods.

Description

The plant (see photo) has straight, rounded single stems. Several leaves at the apex are obovate and sharp edge. The long-petiolate leaves of 5 leaflets are covered with spines along the veins. The thin stem of the plant, hollow when cut, does not grow higher than 50 cm.

The root is spindle-shaped, light yellow in color with weak branching. The central short rhizome forms two rod-like, succulent shoots 20 cm long and 2 cm thick, similar to legs. The upper zone of the rhizome, called the neck, is covered with scars of annual shoots, which determine the age of the root. In the upper part of the neck, a bud is stored for the winter, which will produce shoots next year.

The outer surface of the root is wrinkled and white when cut. It has a peculiar smell and sweetish taste.

In the ground, the root is located at an angle of 45-30°.

During the flowering period, in mid-summer, small, unsightly flowers with a white corolla appear. Sometimes slightly pink or greenish-white. Small flowers with a weak aroma are collected in an umbrella of 15-20 pieces. A couple of months after flowering, with the arrival of autumn, ginseng forms a bright red fruit with 1-3 flat gray-yellow seeds (plant photo).

The method of propagation is exclusively by seed. When sowing seeds, one feature should be taken into account: seedlings will appear only after 1.5-2 years. Flowering of a young plant will occur no earlier than after 3 years.

Healing root

Extraordinary medicinal properties ginseng became legendary. The healing root relieves diseases and can bring a dying person back to life.

The rich chemical composition explains the use of the root in medicinal purposes since ancient times.
It contains:

• resins,
• alkaloids,
• panaxic acid,
• tannins,
• sulfur and phosphorus,
• essential oils,
• phytosterol,
• sugar,
• manganese,
• iron, in
• itamins and microelements,
• saponins,
• panacea oil,
• pectins,
• starch.

There is a general tonic, stimulating and analgesic effect, the ability to increase performance, normalize pressure in blood vessels and blood sugar, remove bile, stimulate function thyroid gland, establish gas exchange processes in the lungs.

Ginseng is effective for nervous disorders, fatigue, and for the treatment of hypotension and depression. The use of ginseng root enhances mental activity and promotes longevity.

Soil preparation

In the area for planting ginseng, moisture stagnation, flooding, and close proximity to groundwater are excluded. A north-eastern or north-western slope is suitable. The rays of the rising and setting sun should be ensured. With strong shading, the roots weaken. 1/10 of daylight illumination is sufficient for development. A young plant needs less light than an adult.

Soil preparation requires special care. Its components must mature for several years to resemble natural taiga.

The soil required is loose, with high permeability of moisture and air, neutral acidity pH 5.7 - 6.8, containing enough organic matter and up to 8% humus.

Soil mixture prepared from:

1. mixtures of forest soil,
2. five-year mullein humus,
3. turfy soil and rotten leaves,
4. sand,
5. lake silt,
6. wood dust,
7. ash.

Ridges 30 cm high and 1 m wide are prepared in 2-3 months. Orientation from east to west is required.
To avoid infection, ginseng should not be planted after potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Features of cultivation

4-year-old plant seeds are suitable for sowing. The collected seeds are freed from pulp and washed. Then ventilate in the shade and soak in a manganese solution for 20 minutes. The prepared seeds are placed in a nylon stocking, after being mixed with coarse sand in a ratio of 1:3. The sand is pre-sifted, washed and fried over a fire.

Seeds with cracked seeds are considered ready for sowing. A mixture of seeds and sand is buried 10 cm into the ground at the end of April or beginning of May. In late autumn before the ground freezes and in the spring after thawing, the seeds are removed, ventilated, disinfected and placed back. The soil is kept moist.

The seeds will hatch by autumn next year. They are cleared of sand, treated with potassium permanganate and sown in September or October to a depth of 5 cm with an interval of 3 cm in the row. The rows are spaced at a distance of 10 cm. When planting seedlings, maintain 15 cm between the roots, the row spacing is increased to 20 cm. The norm for bud depth – 5 cm with orientation to the east. The root is positioned at 45°.

In the first year, one leaf with 3 leaflets will appear, the next year 1-2 leaves with 3-5 leaflets. A four-year-old plant has 4 leaves, with an annual increase in the number for the next 2 years.

How to care for a plant

When growing ginseng, you should monitor the looseness and moisture of the soil. Water if necessary. Required humidity soil 60-70%. Weeding and loosening to a depth of 10 cm is carried out manually. Then mulch with a layer of sawdust, old leaves or pine needles.

After the seasonal ripening of the seeds, rhizome growth begins. At this time, the lighting is increased.
For preventive purposes, plants are treated Bordeaux mixture before emergence and at the end of the growing season.

To protect against cold weather, the beds are covered with a 2 cm carpet of vermicompost.

Procurement of raw materials

Ginseng is listed in environmental books different countries. Medicinal raw materials are cultivated on plantations. When cultivating ginseng, it is possible to increase the root mass in 6-7 years. Under natural conditions, due to slow metabolic processes, it takes about 20 years to obtain ginseng root of sufficient mass.

Adult plants 5-8 years old, when the roots have time to gain weight up to 100 g, are subject to collection.

In the fall, the roots are carefully dug out with wooden spatulas so as not to damage the lobes that have grown into the ground. The roots, cleared of lumps of earth, are not washed. They are dried for 2 months. Dry, hard root can be stored for up to 5 years.

Green mass is harvested from 3-6 summer plants with the arrival of September. The leaves are dried in a shady place and stored for 1 year.

Watch also the video

PanaxginsengC.A.Mey

Perennial herbaceous plant up to 80 cm high. Ginseng root powerful rod with thickened side branches. The stem is straight, thin, bare, green or brown-red. The leaves are compound, located on long petioles that have a purple-red hue. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, with a white corolla, collected in a simple umbrella. The fruit is a bright red drupe. Ginseng blooms in July.

Where does ginseng grow?

True ginseng is found in the Far East, in the Primorsky Territory and in the south of the Khabarovsk Territory. Grows in mountain deciduous and coniferous forests in thickets of bushes and ferns.

Ginseng medicinal raw materials

IN medicinal purposes use ginseng roots . Collect ginseng roots in the fall, freed from above-ground parts, thoroughly cleaned of soil and washed in clean water. Peeled ginseng roots cut into 2 - 4 parts and dried at a temperature of 50 0 With good ventilation.

Ginseng chemical composition

Ginseng root contains saponins, organic acids, essential oil, mucus, starch, tannins, pectin, B vitamins such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc.

Ginseng medicinal properties

Real ginseng has a tonic, analgesic effect, stimulates the cerebral cortex, subcortical centers, increases performance, relieves fatigue, normalizes blood pressure, and improves immunity.

Ginseng application

Ginseng preparations are taken for loss of strength after serious illnesses, overwork, exhaustion, anemia. IN folk medicine Ginseng preparations are also widely used to treat chronic skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, pemphigus).

Ginseng root tincture

40-50 grams ginseng root pour cold sweet water. After 3-4 hours, the water is drained, the root is cut into pieces and poured with 500 ml (2.5 glasses) of 40% alcohol, left in a dark place for 3 weeks. Take 10 ml once a day 30 minutes before meals, without drinking anything. For 2 weeks, the tincture is topped up daily with 40% alcohol to the original volume. The course of treatment is 90 days with two breaks of 10 days. The course is repeated every other year.

Radices Ginseng - Rootsginseng

Common ginseng - Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.

Araliaceae family - Araliaceae

Other names:

- real ginseng

- panax ginseng

- root of life

Botanical characteristics. A perennial herbaceous plant reaching an age of 70-100 years or more. It has a succulent tap root, which, as a rule, produces one above-ground stem, at the top of which there is a whorl of 4-5 leaves. The leaves are long-petiolate, palmately compound, the leaflets are elliptical, pointed, finely biserrate. The two lower leaves are much smaller than the others. From the center of the leaf whorl, a simple umbrella emerges on a long peduncle bearing small greenish inconspicuous flowers. The fruits are bright red juicy berry-shaped drupes with two seeds, closely pressed to each other, forming a “red ball”, clearly visible in the fall among the green foliage. It blooms in June, fruits are formed in July-August.

Spreading. It grows wild in Russia in the Far East, in the Ussuri taiga - in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories; It also grows in China, Korea, and Japan. However, wild plants have been practically destroyed and searching for them does not always yield positive results. Work is underway to cultivate ginseng in the Primorsky Territory, the North Caucasus and other places.

Habitat. Under the canopy of broad-leaved trees and shrubs. Shade-loving plant, therefore does not grow in sparse forests with wide access sunlight. It does not grow in wet areas; it likes well-drained soils. Grows in single specimens.

blank, primary processing and drying. The roots are carefully dug up after the seeds have ripened, cleaned from the soil with a soft brush so as not to scratch the surface; washing is not recommended.

Wild ginseng is harvested only under licenses. Only fruit-bearing, well-developed plants with at least three leaves and a root weighing more than 10 g are subject to collection. Depending on the weight, they are divided into five varieties (GOST 10064-62).

Depending on the nature and degree of damage, the roots are divided into two groups: group 1 includes roots that have one additional shoot broken; roots that have artificial or natural damage to up to 5% of the surface of the main body or additional shoots (scratches, skin tears, etc.), roots with a damaged neck, head, but without breaking them. The second group includes roots with breakage of one additional shoot, roots with natural or artificial damage from 5 to 10% of the surface of the main body or additional shoots; roots without a head (bud).

The roots are dried in the sun or in dryers at a temperature of about 50°C, spread out in a thin layer.

In Korea and China, ginseng roots are subjected to a variety of special treatments. Red ginseng, coming from Korea, is obtained by exposure to hot water steam for 30 minutes or more and then drying at 30°C. When cooked, the starch turns into a paste and the dry root acquires a horn-like consistency, becomes hard and heavy (the thin roots are fragile), the color outside and at the fracture is reddish-brown. White ginseng is obtained by simple solar drying. In China, the fresh root is boiled in sugar syrup.

Standardization. The quality of dry raw materials is regulated by the requirements of the State Fund XI.

Security measures. Collection of young roots weighing less than 10 g is not permitted. Although rare, there are specimens weighing 300-400 g from old, 100-200-year-old plants. Ginseng is a rare and valuable medicinal plant, so it must be carefully protected, otherwise it will be completely destroyed in the coming years. Anyone involved in harvesting ginseng must remember that the search for plants should begin no earlier than the first ten days of August; only those plants that bear fruit in a given year should be dug up. Under no circumstances should young plants be dug up, as they are of no value either for procurement organizations or for use as medicinal raw materials at home. Ginseng fruits are collected and embedded in the soil to a depth of 4-5 cm. The root should be dug out of the ground with special bone spatulas, being careful not to tear off the buds or damage the root. Currently, ginseng is cultivated in China, Japan and more widely in Korea, where this branch of medicinal plant growing plays a significant role in the country's economy. In Russia, it is grown in one of the specialized state farms "Ginseng" in the Primorsky Territory. The agricultural technology of ginseng is very unique and differs sharply from the cultivation of many plants. Growing ginseng is only possible if it is protected from the sun. The maximum weight of roots 5-6 years of age is 300 g or more. The roots of 6-year-old (commercial) plants grown on a Primorsky state farm exceed in extrac content active substances roots of the same age of Korean ginseng. The root is collected on plantations from plants aged 5-8 years. In terms of pharmacological action, cultivated ginseng is equivalent to wild ginseng; in addition, it is much cheaper.

External signs. Translated from Chinese, ginseng means “root man.” The name is given for the resemblance of the root to a human figure. According to GOST and State Fund XI, a large root weighing 300 g consists of a cylindrical root collar, densely covered with scars from fallen stems, expanded on top and forming a head. A spindle-shaped main root extends from the neck - the “body” (up to 20 cm long), in the lower part it branches into two processes that form “legs”, and 2-3 branches growing away from the “body” form “arms” at the top. How more root It resembles a human figure, the more valuable it is. Root from cultivated plants up to 25 cm long, taproot, large, 0.7-2.5 cm in diameter, with 2-5 large branches, less often without them. The “body” of the root is thickened, with pronounced annular outgrowths. The outer surface of the root is wrinkled. The color is yellowish-white. The root fracture is even. When the root is soaked, the wrinkles disappear and the surface becomes smooth. The smell is specific. The taste is sweet, pungent, and bitter when chewed. The content of extractives extracted with 70% ethanol must be at least 20%

Microscopy. A cross section of the root is characterized by a wide bark; The elements of xylem and phloem are arranged in narrow radial strands separated by wide, multirow medullary rays. The phloem contains secretory canals with yellow and light yellow contents; in the outer cortex there are another 2-3 rows of secretory channels with drops of red-brown content. Xylem consists of narrow vessels arranged radially in one, less often in two rows, and small cells of woody parenchyma. Starch grains are round, simple or 2-6 complex. Individual cells contain drusen of calcium oxalate.

Qualitative reactions. When a drop of concentrated sulfuric acid is applied to the ginseng root powder, a brick-red color appears after 1-2 minutes, turning into red-violet, and then violet (glycosides).

Numerical indicators. The content of extractive substances extracted with 70% alcohol is not less than 20%; moisture no more than 13%; total ash no more than 5%; roots that have darkened and turned brown from the surface, no more than 10%.

Chemical composition. Ginseng root contains a mixture of triterpene tetracyclic saponins of the dammarane series - panaxosides (ginsenosides). In addition, the roots contain essential oil (0.25-0.5%), pectin substances (up to 23%), vitamins B1, B2, etc., micro- and macroelements, starch (up to 20%), daucosterol .

Storage. In warehouses, the root is stored packaged in 1 kg bags in plastic bags, placed in 10 kg boxes in tightly knit wooden boxes lined with paper. When unpacking the boxes, the roots are transferred to glass jars with a lid. Shelf life: 2 years 6 months.

Medicines. Tincture.

Application. For many centuries, ginseng root has been used in all countries Far East. He is credited with all-healing properties. Ginseng root is also widely used in all countries of the world. The work of DVSC scientists has established that the plant has a tonic, stimulating and adaptogenic effect in cases of physical and mental fatigue, disorders of the cardiovascular system, hypofunction of the gonads, neurasthenia, and after suffering debilitating diseases.

Works on the study of ginseng and its analogues. The difficulties of growing ginseng on plantations and the extremely insignificant reserves of the wild (relict) plant in nature prompted the search for new plants, analogues of ginseng, in the Far Eastern flora. The search for such plants - analogues of ginseng - was carried out on the principle of botanical relationship, while plants of the same Araliaceae family were studied. As a result of a lot of work, scientists from the Far East Scientific Center in Vladivostok and VILR have proposed plants with tonic properties: high echinopanax (zamanikha), Aralia Manchurian and Eleutherococcus (however, it does not contain saponins). Currently, a lot of work is being done to study ginseng leaves (St. Petersburg Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute, V.L. Komarov BIN RAS and the Ginseng state farm) and the prospect of their use as a root substitute has emerged. The issue of a raw material base based on ginseng plantations for the medical industry has been studied. Triterpene mycosides - ginsenosides and flavonoids - were found in the leaves of ginseng, as well as in the root. The content of the total glycoside fraction in the leaves turned out to be higher than in the roots. Thus, ginseng cultivated in the Primorsky region can be a promising raw material for the production of medical preparations; in addition, it opens up the possibility of waste-free use of the plant

Ginseng - genus perennial herbs, belonging to the Araliaceae family and including a little more than 10 species. IN natural conditions its representatives can be found on the territory North America, Russia (Siberia, Altai, Ural) and some countries East Asia(China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam). Common or real ginseng is one of the most famous medicinal plants. It is specially cultivated for medicinal purposes, since natural reserves are limited and cannot satisfy the demand for it. Ginseng root has adaptogenic and tonic properties, strengthens the body, increases immunity and resistance to various diseases. Eastern traditional medicine actively uses this plant for more than 2000 years and believes that it prolongs life and preserves youth. Due to its valuable healing properties and the similarity of the root shape to the human body, ginseng has received the following names among the people: root of life, salt of the earth, gift of immortality, divine herb, stosil, etc.

Botanical description

The places where ginseng grows in natural conditions are dense shady, coniferous, broad-leaved, cedar, hornbeam and mixed forests. It occurs singly or in small groups. It is suitable for well-drained, moderately moist fertile soils rich in fertilizers. The plant does not tolerate well high humidity air and direct sunlight. Reproduction is carried out by seeds. Ginseng is a long-liver, its age can reach 100 – 150 years.

Interesting: The plant greatly depletes the soils on which it grows, so when grown in artificial conditions After collection, it is recommended to plant it in the same place no earlier than 10 years later.

The root of ginseng is taproot (length up to 25 cm, diameter up to 3 cm), fleshy, wrinkled, yellowish-white on the outside, fusiform, with large branches (up to 6 pieces). When freshly broken, it is smooth, white, and has a sweetish odor. The root shape is cylindrical with pronounced thickenings in the form of rings in the upper part, the number of which increases with age. The rhizome is short, narrowed, transversely wrinkled, located at the top of the root, and has scars from fallen stems. At its top there is a wintering bud, from which an above-ground shoot develops. By the age of 100 years, the mass of the plant root is 300–400 g.
The stem is straight, single, thin, up to 60–70 cm long, in cross section round, hollow inside, sprouts from a wintering bud. It dies off every year. The leaves are palmately compound, on long petioles (6–8 cm), consisting of 5 long elliptical or obovate leaflets with a wedge-shaped base, a pointed apex and finely serrated edges. On top they are covered with sparse hairs. The two lateral lower leaves are smaller than the upper ones (length 2 – 3 cm, width 1 – 1.5 cm), and the middle one is the largest (up to 15 cm in length and up to 4 cm in width). At the top of the stem they form a whorl of 2–5 pieces.

Flowering occurs in mid-summer, 8–10 years after seed germination. The flowers are bisexual and staminate, there are 5 stamens, a pistil with a lower ovary and two styles. The flowers are small in size (up to 2 mm in diameter), white in color, and shaped like stars. They are most often collected in 10-20 pieces in an inflorescence, a simple umbrella with a diameter of 2-3 cm at the top of a flower arrow emerging from the center of the leaf whorl. They self-pollinate and have a pleasant aroma.

The fruits, which are juicy bright red two-locular or less often three-locular spherical drupes up to 10 mm long, ripen in late summer - early autumn. Each nest contains one wrinkled seed of cream or white color, 3–6 mm in size, shaped like an irregular circle or disk.

Chemical composition

The beneficial properties of ginseng are due to the variety of active chemical compounds it contains. Main medicinal raw materials is the root of the plant, but sometimes the aerial parts are also used. He contains:

• alkaloids;
• resins;
• vitamins (ascorbic, nicotinic, pantothenic, folic acids);
• minerals (S, P, Mg, K, Ca, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Mo, Cr, Zn, Ti)
• tannins;
• mucus;
• triterpene saponins (ginsenosides or panaxosides);
• polyacetylenes (falcarinol, panaxinol, falcarintriol, panaxidol);
• amino acids and oligopeptides;
• polysaccharides (pectins, starch);
• phytosterols;
• fatty acid;
• essential oils (mainly sesquiterpenes).

Important: It has been established that the highest content of microelements in ginseng root is found towards the end of the growing season.

Procurement of raw materials

Wild ginseng is collected only with special permission in limited quantities (10 - 15 g). Accordingly, such pleasure is not available to every herbalist.

The roots are harvested during the reddening of the fruit. The roots are carefully dug up, the above-ground parts are cut off and thoroughly cleaned of foreign impurities. Then they are steamed for 60 minutes and hung dry for one to two months. After drying, the weight of the root decreases by 2–4 times and it acquires a light brown color. The product prepared in this way is called “yellow root.” Steam treatment does not need to be done, in this case the roots are washed cold water, dried in special dryers at a temperature of no more than 60 ° C and then a “white root” is obtained.

The most popular remedy is “red root”. To obtain it, after collecting and cleaning, the roots of the plant are boiled for 1 hour in water, then pierced with needles and boiled for 3 hours in a solution of cane sugar, and then baked over an open fire and dried in the sun until completely hardened.

Finished raw materials should be stored in glass jars no more than 3 – 5 years. Ginseng root folk medicine used not only in dried, but also in fresh. Fresh roots are stored in wooden boxes, covering them with sphagnum moss, which retains moisture well, has an antimicrobial effect and allows them not to dry out for up to 5 years. Without special packaging, they remain valid for 5 days.

Important: Chinese ginseng is listed in the International Red Book; its remaining wild species are strictly protected by regional laws.

Release forms

Cultivated ginseng is produced for medicinal purposes in various forms. After collecting the roots of the plant, they are carefully examined by certain parameters and sorted by quality level, of which there are four:

• heavenly root - the most expensive, ideal ginseng root weighing 68 g or more, maximally resembling the shape of a human body with a strictly defined number of branches, without any holes or damage;
• earth root - has an insufficient amount branches or not similar to the human body;
• good root - all other roots that could not be classified into the above categories;
• cut root - roots that have been damaged during harvesting or cut off.

Made from ginseng root the following types drugs:

• plant raw materials are rectangular or triangular yellowish-white plates up to 10 cm in size, in which pieces of thread-like roots are visible;
• tincture;
• capsules, tablets, granules;
• red ginseng, canned, sold in sealed tins, wrapped in paper or packaged in wooden box condition;
• red ginseng extract;
• steamed, ready-to-eat roots;
• ground root in powder form.

In China, a very popular tonic and refreshing remedy is a special type of ginseng oolong tea. It is characterized by a pleasant floral spicy taste and aroma. It contains green tea leaves and medicinal herbs. To make it, tea leaves are rolled into balls and rolled in a special powder consisting of crushed ginseng root, rhinekia leaves, holly leaves and other herbs. As a result, it takes the form of balls or lumps, which, when brewed with hot water (80 - 95 ° C), unfold and turn into whole tea leaves. When making oolong tea, the tea is not completely fermented, unlike regular traditional teas. This drink helps strengthen nervous system, helps cope with physical and emotional fatigue.

Ginseng oolong tea Some pharmaceutical manufacturers produce various dietary supplements and vitamins with ginseng, which have a general strengthening effect on the body.

Medicinal properties

Products based on ginseng root have a fairly wide range of medicinal properties and affect the most different processes in organism. They:

• have a tonic effect;
• increase appetite;
• stop vomiting;
• help to recover faster after surgery and serious illnesses;
• increase performance;
• normalize blood pressure;
• reduces the concentration of glucose and cholesterol in the blood;
• improves the function of the adrenal glands and other endocrine glands;
• have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, help with depression, neuroses and neurasthenia;
• increase sexual desire, stimulate sexual functions in women and men.

Tincture from the leaves of the plant can be used to treat diabetes, trophic ulcers and tissue necrosis.

Taking ginseng products helps slow down the aging process, improves memory, mental performance, brain activity, metabolic processes in the body, and increases its protective abilities.

Ginseng tincture has found application in the complex treatment of diabetes, atherosclerosis, central nervous system diseases, mental fatigue, neuroses, chronic fatigue syndrome, and exhaustion. Ginseng is used to normalize blood pressure, due to the fact that water extracts of ginseng help lower blood pressure, and alcohol extracts, on the contrary, increase it. It is effective in the treatment of radiation sickness and the consequences of radiation exposure.

Interesting: In eastern countries, ginseng root is used in cooking. It is added to soups, porridges, boiled, fried. Powdered root is used as a seasoning.

The plant is effective for joint diseases and osteochondrosis. It can be used both externally in the form of compresses and lotions, and internally. Ginseng reduces painful sensations, relieves inflammation, which significantly alleviates the general condition of the patient. It is also used externally for toothache, diseases of the throat and oral cavity.

The immunostimulating effect makes the use of ginseng effective for the prevention of influenza during seasonal epidemics. In addition, taking drugs based on it during ARVI helps reduce the likelihood of complications and alleviate the course of the disease.

The effectiveness of ginseng for men

Ginseng root for men is effective for problems such as impotence and premature ejaculation. Thanks to the content of saponins, the plant stimulates sexual activity in the stronger sex, increases sexual desire, enhances potency and increases sperm motility. The effectiveness of ginseng for increasing potency is due to its vasodilating effect; it improves blood supply and nutrition to the penis, which leads to increased duration and stability of erection.

Ginseng in cosmetology

Ginseng essential oil is used for cosmetic purposes as a component in products to stimulate skin regeneration and hair growth. It protects the skin from dehydration, enhances blood microcirculation, cell regeneration, has a tonic and bactericidal effect, slows down skin aging, smoothes out fine wrinkles. It is added to masks, creams, balms. Ginseng is effective for hair, it helps with hair loss and dandruff. The tincture of the roots and leaves of the plant should be rubbed into the hair follicles or used diluted with water to rinse the hair.

Women sometimes use ginseng for weight loss in the form of capsules or tablets; thanks to the normalization of metabolic processes, it helps to get rid of excess weight

Interesting: Ginseng is one of the plants with which various legends are associated. According to one of them, the plant appears in the place where lightning strikes a source that subsequently goes underground.

Ginseng analogues

In folk medicine, ginseng’s medicinal properties are often compared to Eleutherococcus, which is also popularly called “Siberian ginseng.” Both of these plants are adaptogens and belong to the same Araliaceae family. It is difficult to give a definite answer to the question of which is better, ginseng or eleutherococcus. Eleutherococcus has a slower and smoother effect, the effect of its use accumulates gradually, but lasts longer. Unlike ginseng, the natural reserves of Eleutherococcus are richer. It has a more pronounced effect on the normalization of carbohydrate metabolism and reduces the level of glucose and cholesterol in the blood to a greater extent. An accidental overdose of Eleutherococcus products will not have such serious consequences for the body.

Mode of application

In folk medicine, ointments, pastes, tinctures, decoctions, teas are prepared from ginseng root, and they are also used in the form of dry powder.

Warning: Any ginseng preparations should be taken orally in the first half of the day, otherwise there may be problems with night sleep due to the stimulating effect of the plant.

Ginseng tincture with vodka for joint pain

The crushed dry root (15 g) is poured with 500 ml of vodka and the mixture is kept for 2 weeks. Used for rubbing and compresses for joint pain. Rubbing is carried out 1 – 2 times a day. For a compress, soak gauze folded several times with the tincture and apply it to the sore spot for 30 minutes in the morning and evening.

Honey extract

Crushed ginseng root in an amount of 25 g is placed in 500 g of honey. Place the mixture in dark place for 2 week. Then carefully remove the remaining roots. Take 1 tsp. per day for headaches, fatigue, colds.

Ginseng with grape juice

The crushed fresh root of the plant is mixed with 30 - 40 ml of grape juice. The resulting product is taken orally 30 minutes before meals:

• for arthritis (½ tsp twice a day);
• for muscle pain (¼ tsp once a day);
• for baldness (1.5 tbsp once a day);
• to strengthen immunity and prevent various diseases(½ tsp twice a day);
• for hypertension (½ tsp twice a day).

For acute toothache, this remedy is effectively rubbed into the gums, and for calluses, rubbed into painful areas on the feet.

Ginseng paste

The root (2 tablespoons) is crushed, poured with hot water (2 tablespoons), left for 3 hours, then placed in a water bath, heated with stirring to 60 - 70 ° C, allowed to cool and used for its intended purpose. This paste is effective in the form of rubbing in skin diseases and acne, for the treatment of calluses.

Precautions

Despite the large list useful properties ginseng, there are also contraindications to its use, so before starting treatment, you should consult a doctor. It is taken in courses, the duration of which should be no more than a month. The root of the plant should not be used for treatment if a person has:

• increased nervous excitability;
• severe form of arterial hypertension;
• night sleep disturbances;
• bleeding;
• epilepsy, convulsive conditions;
• hyperfunction of the endocrine glands;
• infectious and inflammatory diseases in the acute stage;
• individual intolerance to the plant;

Ginseng is also contraindicated for children, women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The following side effects may occur when taking it: allergic reactions, stool disorders, nosebleeds, headaches, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, overexcitation of the nervous system. If they appear, you should stop taking them and consult a doctor.

When treating with ginseng, it should be taken into account that it increases the body's sensitivity to other stimulants, such as caffeine and alcohol.

Important: Taking ginseng products for men may be accompanied by episodes of increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and sleep disturbances, so their uncontrolled use is dangerous.

“Ginseng” is translated from Chinese as “root man”. IN Ancient China it was considered the most useful plant for humans, capable of not only curing any disease, but even resurrecting from the dead.

Almost like a person

If you look at the ginseng root, it clearly reminds us of the human figure: the larger the root, the greater the resemblance. It is not for nothing that in many myths ginseng is humanized. According to some legends, the plant came from a werewolf boy, according to others, a girl imprisoned in a castle turned into it.

The translation from Chinese only confirms the similarity: “zhen” is a person, “shen” is a root.

It is interesting that in legends ginseng is born almost like a person. Lightning hitting clear water, goes underground with it: after fertilization, the “divine grass” grows. It is no coincidence that the ancients considered ginseng the most useful plant for humans, which could not only cure any disease, but even resurrect from the dead.

Ginseng, like humans, can be long-lived. So, in 1905, during the construction of Suchanskaya railway a record-breaking plant weighing 600 grams and 200 years old was found! In Shanghai, it was appreciated and sold for a huge amount - $5,000! It turns out that the more similar the root shape is to a human figure, the more expensive the plant is.

In search of the "root of life"

Finding ginseng is not so easy - it is quite finicky. Its habitat is shady deciduous-coniferous forests located in mountain ranges. The plant prefers loose, humus-rich soil. Ginseng is most often found in China, Korea and the Far East.

The Chinese traditionally collect ginseng from the beginning of summer until the first frost. They treat the plant with respect and believe that it only opens to a pure person. When the search bears fruit, the picker is in no hurry to pick the treasured grass: he carefully studies the topography of the area, neighboring plants, soil, and the area’s accessibility to the sun’s rays - which will be useful for the future.

Using a special bone stick, he dug to the root, carefully freeing its thin lobes from the soil. The herbalists took only the mature root; they preferred not to touch the young plant. As a warning to others, he was marked with a red ribbon at a height of 25-30 centimeters. Interestingly, if the stem was damaged, the root went into hibernation for many years, waiting favorable conditions for new growth.

Youth elixir

Aging is natural biological process, which occurs due to a decrease in the rate of cell division and tissue self-renewal. Chinese doctors claim that ginseng root helps to partially cope with this problem. If you regularly take ginseng in the form of tinctures, ointments, powders or decoctions, your active life can be extended to 100 years.

However, the substance contained in ginseng that prevents aging has not yet been identified. According to scientists, this may be maltol, formed when the root is heated.

Maltol is known to us as the food additive E636, which can enhance the taste and aroma of foods.
In Russia and the CIS countries it is officially approved and used in the production of bakery products and chocolate. IN agriculture maltol is used to accelerate seed germination: perhaps this is the secret of its effect on human life processes?

Aphrodisiac

Ginseng wine has long been considered a strong aphrodisiac in China. It is also known that many Chinese and Koreans used to chew ginseng root daily, which allowed them to become fathers in their eighties. The stimulating effect of ginseng is observed even with short-term use.

According to researchers, it's all about saponite - a substance that affects male body not only healing, but also stimulating sexual activity. If you take a ginseng-based drug for 2 months, this will lead to sperm motility and improved sexual function in general. However, during ginseng therapy, men are not recommended to drink coffee, which overstimulates the body.
Ginseng is useful not only for men, but also for women.

Recently, scientists from the University of Hawaii proved that women who regularly take ginseng increase their libido and the quality of their sex life.

Root of discord

Canadian missionary Joseph Francois Lafitte discovered the American variety of ginseng at the beginning of the 18th century. His discovery launched the trade of American ginseng in France. However, the French, in search of the miracle herb, decided to move further south to the possessions of the Iroquois, who had an agreement with the British.

Thus, thanks to ginseng, according to historians, a hundred-year conflict arose between France and England in the territories of North America.
Interestingly, the Indians have long known about healing properties ginseng. They used the “plant of life” for various symptoms - stomach cramps, nausea, cough, chills, applied it to wounds, and also used it as a tonic.

American ginseng, unlike Asian ginseng, has a less stimulating effect, so experienced herbalists value it very much. This property makes it possible to take ginseng tinctures more long time. It is curious that American ginseng is now actively exported to Asia.

Universal remedy

When in the second half of the 20th century it was possible to obtain biomass from ginseng tissue, the raw material began to have pharmacological properties suitable for its use in medicine and cosmetics. This gave more advantages: preparations based on ginseng, unlike the natural root, practically do not cause side effects and allow them to be used for a long time.
Domestic pharmacologist I. I. Brekhman, studying the properties of American ginseng, found that it can be effectively used in sports.

Soviet athletes officially used ginseng root as a natural doping for the first time. Olympic Games 1972 in Munich, after which athletes from many countries began to use food supplement based on ginseng to improve athletic performance. After big physical activity Such drugs relieve fatigue, reduce stress, and also relieve pain.

Modern research surprises us more and more unique properties preparations based on ginseng. For example, aqueous extracts reduce blood pressure, A alcohol tinctures on the contrary, he is promoted. Ginseng successfully prevents obesity and generally normalizes body weight. They note the effectiveness and ground units ginseng. Tinctures on the leaves of the plant help in treatment diabetes mellitus Types I and II, as well as in eliminating symptoms of neuropsychiatric diseases.