ginseng

One of the first written texts covering the use of ginseng as a medicinal herb was the Shen Nong Pharmacopoeia, written in China in 196 AD. In his Compendium of Materia Medica herbal of 1596, Li Shizhen described ginseng as a "superior tonic". However, the herb was not used as a "cure-all" medicine, but more specifically as a tonic for patients with chronic illnesses and those who were convalescing.{{cite book|author1=Mahady, Gail B. |author2=Fong, Harry H.S. |author3=Farnsworth, N.R. |title=Botanical Dietary Supplements |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TiU-Dz2wxyAC&pg=PA207 |year=2001 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-90-265-1855-3 |pages=207–215}}

Control over ginseng fields in China and Korea became an issue in the 16th century.{{cite journal | last1 = Kim | first1 = Seonmin | year = 2007 | title = Ginseng and Border Trespassing Between Qing China and Choson Korea | journal = Late Imperial China | volume = 28 | issue = 1| pages = 33–61 | doi=10.1353/late.2007.0009| s2cid = 143779357 }}

In Chinese folk tales from the northeastern regions, ginseng is said to transform into children, often depicted with skyward-reaching braids, sometimes tied with red ribbons, and occasionally dressed in bellybands. In these stories, a ginseng child will typically enter a house to play with another child. However, if the adults tie a red ribbon around the child's feet, the child vanishes. When they follow the ribbon, they find it tied to a blade of grass, and upon digging, they uncover a ginseng root.{{cite book |title=人参娃娃 |date=2016 |publisher=外语教学与研究出版社 |isbn=978-7-5135-8200-1 |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kMEFvgEACAAJ |language=zh}}

Ginseng plants belong only to the genus Panax. Cultivated species include Panax ginseng (Korean ginseng), Panax japonicus (Japanese ginseng), Panax notoginseng (South China ginseng), Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng). Ginseng is found in cooler climates – Korean Peninsula, Northeast China, Russian Far East, Canada and the United States, although some species grow in warm regions – South China ginseng being native to Southwest China and Vietnam. Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng) is the southernmost Panax species known.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

Wild ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=산삼|hanja=山蔘|rr=sansam|lit=mountain ginseng}}) grows naturally in mountains and is hand-picked by gatherers known as simmani ({{Korean|hangul=심마니|labels=no}}).{{Cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/07/320_116016.html|title=All about wild ginseng|last=Yun|first=Suh-young|date=July 26, 2012|work=The Korea Times|access-date=January 2, 2018}} The wild ginseng plant is almost extinct in China and endangered globally.{{Cite web|title=Ginseng Varieties and Glossary - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation|url=https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7474.html|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=www.dec.ny.gov|archive-date=October 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013194355/https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7474.html}} This is due to high demand for the product in recent years, leading to the harvesting of wild plants faster than they can grow and reproduce (a wild ginseng plant can take years to reach maturity{{Cite web|date=October 5, 2015|title=Getting Started Right for Successful Ginseng Production|url=https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2015/10/ginseng-production/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Cornell Small Farms|language=en-US}}). Wild ginseng can be processed to be red or white ginseng.{{Cite web|title=Red ginseng - White ginseng: What is the difference?|url=https://www.florafarm.de/red-ginseng-white-ginseng_1|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=www.florafarm.de|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916072003/https://www.florafarm.de/red-ginseng-white-ginseng_1}} Wild American ginseng has long been used by Native Americans for medicine.{{Cite web|title=American Ginseng|url=https://www.fws.gov/international/plants/american-ginseng.html|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=www.fws.gov}}{{Cite web|last1=Farmer|first1=Sarah|last2=Communications|first2=SRS Science|title=American Ginseng, in the Forest and in the Marketplace|url=https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2020/05/07/american-ginseng-in-the-forest-and-in-the-marketplace/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=CompassLive|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=David A.|title=Getting to the Root of Ginseng|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/getting-to-the-root-of-ginseng-65654374/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en}} Since the mid-1700s, it has been harvested for international trade. Wild American ginseng can be harvested in 19 states and the Appalachian Mountains but has restrictions for exporting.{{Cite web|title=Wild American Ginseng Information for Dealers and Exporters|url=https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/factsheet-american-ginseng-harvesters-dealers-exporters.pdf|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service}}{{Cite web|title=Ginseng|url=https://www.dcnr.pa.gov:443/Conservation/WildPlants/Ginseng/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources|language=en-US}}

File:Wild ginseng.jpg|Wild Korean ginseng (P. ginseng)

File:American Ginseng 3.jpg|Wild American ginseng (P. quinquefolius)

Cultivated ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=인삼|hanja=人蔘|rr=insam|lit=human ginseng}}) is less expensive than the rarely available wild ginseng.

Cultivated ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=장뇌삼|hanja=長腦蔘|rr=jangnoesam}}) is planted on mountains by humans and is allowed to grow like wild ginseng.

File:인삼사진.jpg|Cultivated Korean ginseng (P. ginseng)

File:Americanginseng.jpg|Cultivated American ginseng (P. quinquefolius)

File:Preserved ginseng.png

Ginseng seed normally does not germinate until the second spring following the harvest of berries in autumn. They must first be subjected to a long period of storage in a moist medium with a warm/cold treatment, a process known as stratification.{{cite web|url=https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/care-and-planting-of-ginseng-seed-and-roots|title=Care and Planting of Ginseng Seed and Roots|date=March 31, 2010|publisher=North Carolina State University|access-date=June 20, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924223435/https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/care-and-planting-of-ginseng-seed-and-roots}}

Fresh ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=수삼|hanja=水蔘|rr=susam|lit=water ginseng}}), also called "green ginseng", is non-dried raw product.{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AL1m1NDch4MC|title=Teas Made from Ginseng, Jujubes and Omija|date=June 2000|work=Pictorial Korea|access-date=January 2, 2018|agency=Korean Overseas Culture and Information Service|location=Seoul, Korea|page=31}} Its use is limited by availability.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

File:Punggi-insam.jpg|Fresh ginseng (P. ginseng)

White ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=백삼|hanja=白蔘|rr=baeksam|lit=white ginseng}}) is peeled and dried ginseng. White ginseng is fresh ginseng which has been dried without being heated. It is peeled and dried to reduce the water content to 12% or less. Drying in the sun bleaches the root to a yellowish-white color.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Red ginseng ({{CJKV|t=紅蔘|s=红参|p=hóngshēn|k=홍삼|rr=hongsam|l=red ginseng}}) is steamed and dried ginseng, which has reddish color. Red ginseng is less vulnerable to decay than white ginseng.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GkDW9hdYJIcC&pg=PA300|title=The book of ginseng|last=Fulder|first=Stephen|publisher=Healing Arts Press|year=1993|isbn=0-89281-491-8|edition=2nd|location=Rochester, VT|page=300|access-date=January 2, 2018}} It is ginseng that has been peeled, heated through steaming at standard boiling temperatures of {{convert|100|°C|0|abbr=on}}, and then dried or sun-dried. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

File:Korean red ginseng.jpg|Red ginseng (P. ginseng)

Commercial ginseng is sold in over 35 countries, with China as the largest consumer. In 2013, global sales of ginseng exceeded $2 billion, of which half was produced by South Korea.{{cite journal|last1=Baeg|first1=In-Ho|last2=So|first2=Seung-Ho|year=2013|title=The world ginseng market and the ginseng|journal=Journal of Ginseng Research|volume=37|issue=1|pages=1–7|doi=10.5142/jgr.2013.37.1|pmc=3659626|pmid=23717152}} In the early 21st century, 99% of the world's 80,000 tons of ginseng was produced in just four countries: China (44,749 tons), South Korea (27,480 tons), Canada (6,486 tons), and the United States (1,054 tons). All ginseng produced in South Korea is Korean ginseng (P. ginseng), while ginseng produced in China includes P. ginseng, South China ginseng (P. notoginseng), and the recently introduced American ginseng (P. quinquefolius).{{eFloras |2 |200015253 |Panax quinquefolius |family=Araliaceae |first1=Qibai |last1=Xiang |first2=Porter P. |last2=Lowry |access-date=25 December 2023}} Ginseng produced in Canada and the United States is mostly P. quinquefolius.{{cite web|url=http://www.mafra.go.kr/bbs/mafra/71/219856/download.do|title=2016-nyeon insam tonggye-jaryo-jip|date=May 2017|website=Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs|pages=2–4|language=ko|trans-title=Source book of ginseng statistics 2016 (in Korean)|format=PDF|access-date=February 24, 2018}}

• {{cite web |script-title=ko:정책분야별 자료 |url=http://www.mafra.go.kr/mafra/366/subview.do?enc=Zm5jdDF8QEB8JTJGYmJzJTJGbWFmcmElMkY3MSUyRjMwNTM3MyUyRmFydGNsVmlldy5kbyUzRg%3D%3D |date=June 7, 2017 |website=Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs |language=ko | title=K2WebWizard }}

As of 2020, global P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius production each sum to an approximate 7,000 tons on a dry-weight basis. On a dry-weight basis, 70% of P. ginseng and 30% of P. quinquefolius is produced in China; 60% of P. quinquefolius is produced in Canada; and 10% of P. quinquefolius is produced in the US. P. ginseng is also cultivated in Japan.{{cite journal |author1=张绍国 |author2=李得运 |author3=于志斌 |title=全球视角下的参类贸易格局及产业发展建议 |trans-title=Ginseng [P. ginseng & P. quinquefolius] trade pattern and industrial development suggestions from a global perspective|journal=中国现代中药 |date=2022 |volume=24 |issue=8 |pages=1568–1573 |url=https://www.fx361.cc/page/2022/0907/11918061.shtml |language=zh-CN}}

Ginseng may be included in energy drinks or herbal teas in small amounts or sold as a dietary supplement.{{cite web |author1=Lindsy Liu |date=2019 |title=Side effects of ginseng supplements |url=https://www.poison.org/articles/side-effects-of-ginseng-supplements-191 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |publisher=US National Capital Poison Center}}

The root is most often available in dried form, either whole or sliced. In Korean cuisine, ginseng is used in various banchan (side dishes) and guk (soups), as well as tea and alcoholic beverages.{{Cite journal|last1=Oktay|first1=Serdar|last2=Ekinci|first2=Erhun Kemal|date=July 17, 2019|title=Medicinal food understanding in Korean gastronomic culture|journal=Journal of Ethnic Foods|volume=6|issue=1|page=4|doi=10.1186/s42779-019-0003-9|issn=2352-6181|doi-access=free}} Ginseng-infused tea and liquor, known as insam-cha ({{literal|ginseng tea}}) and insam-ju ('ginseng liquor') is consumed. Ginseng leaves are also used to prepare foods and beverages. Leaves are used to prepare Asian soups, steamed with chicken or combined with ginger, dates, and pork, or are eaten fresh.{{cite web | url=https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/ginseng/is-ginseng-edible.htm | title=Is Ginseng Edible – Information on Edible Ginseng Plant Parts | date=July 17, 2019 }}{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Hongwei|last2=Peng|first2=Dacheng|last3=Xie|first3=Jingtian|date=October 22, 2009|title=Ginseng leaf-stem: bioactive constituents and pharmacological functions|journal=Chinese Medicine|volume=4|page=20|doi=10.1186/1749-8546-4-20|issn=1749-8546|pmc=2770043|pmid=19849852 |doi-access=free }}

File:Insam-twigim.jpg|Insam-twigim (ginseng fritters)

File:Korean soup-Samgyetang-11.jpg|Samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup)

File:Insam-cha and yugwa.jpg|Insam-cha (ginseng tea) and yugwa (rice puffs)

File:Insamju (ginseng liquor).jpg|Insam-ju (ginseng liquor)

File:Korea-Sokcho-Sansamju-Wild ginseng wine-02.jpg|Sansam-ju (wild ginseng liquor)

Although ginseng has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, there is no good evidence it causes any improvement of health or lowers the risk of any disease.{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Hye Won|last2=Lee|first2=Myeong Soo|last3=Kim|first3=Tae-Hun|last4=Alraek|first4=Terje|last5=Zaslawski|first5=Chris|last6=Kim|first6=Jong Wook|last7=Moon|first7=Du Geon|date=April 19, 2021|title=Ginseng for erectile dysfunction|journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|volume=2021|issue=4|pages=CD012654|doi=10.1002/14651858.CD012654.pub2|issn=1469-493X|pmc=8094213|pmid=33871063}}{{cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=Panax ginseng |url=https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/1000.html |access-date=21 February 2024 |publisher=MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health}}{{cite web |date=19 January 2023 |title=American ginseng |url=https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/967.html |access-date=21 February 2024 |publisher=MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health}} Clinical research indicates there are no confirmed effects on memory, fatigue, menopause symptoms, and insulin response in people with mild diabetes. A 2021 review indicated that ginseng had "only trivial effects on erectile function or satisfaction with intercourse compared to placebo".

Although the roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine, the leaves and stems contain larger quantities of the phytochemicals than the roots, and are easier to harvest.{{cite journal|author1=Hongwei Wang |author2=Dacheng Peng |author3=Jingtian Xie |year=2009|title=Ginseng leaf-stem: bioactive constituents and pharmacological functions|journal=Chinese Medicine|volume=4|issue=20|page=20|doi=10.1186/1749-8546-4-20|pmid=19849852 |pmc=2770043 |doi-access=free }} The constituents include steroid saponins known as ginsenosides, as well as polyacetylenes, polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, and polyphenols, among other compounds.{{cite journal|last1=Attele|first1=AS|last2=Wu|first2=J.A.|last3=Yuan|first3=C.S.|year=1999|title=Ginseng pharmacology: multiple constituents and multiple actions.|journal=Biochemical Pharmacology|volume=58|issue=11|pages=1685–1693|doi=10.1016/s0006-2952(99)00212-9|pmid=10571242}} Ginsenosides from the leaves and stem ({{lang|zh|人参茎叶总皂苷}}) is an approved over-the-counter medication in China. The indication is written in traditional Chinese medicine language.{{cite web |title=人参茎叶总皂苷片 说明书 |url=https://ypk.39.net/808083/manual/ |website=39药品通|trans-title=Asian ginseng root and stem saponin tablets, package insert}}

As of 2019, the United States FDA and Federal Trade Commission have issued numerous warning letters to manufacturers of ginseng dietary supplements for making false claims of health or anti-disease benefits, stating that the "products are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the referenced uses" and are illegal as unauthorized "new drugs" under federal law.{{cite web |author1=William A. Correll Jr |author2=Mary K. Engle |title=Warning letter: TEK Naturals |url=https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm630654.htm |publisher=Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration; US Federal Trade Commission |access-date=April 1, 2019 |date=February 5, 2019}}{{cite web |author=William R. Weissinger|title=Warning letter: Baker's Best Health Products, Inc. |url=https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm606875.htm |publisher=Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=April 1, 2019 |date=April 25, 2018}}{{cite web |author=Cheryl A. Bigham|title=Warning letter: Amerigo Labs LLC |url=https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm604177.htm|publisher=Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, US Food and Drug Administration |access-date=April 1, 2019 |date=April 4, 2018}}

A tincture of Korean ginseng is approved by the EFSA for use in horses, dogs, and cats as a sensory additive (animal feed flavoring). Within the provided dose limits, the tincture is considered non-toxic.{{cite journal |last1=Bampidis |first1=Vasileios |last2=Azimonti |first2=Giovanna |last3=Bastos |first3=Maria de Lourdes |last4=Christensen |first4=Henrik |last5=Durjava |first5=Mojca |last6=Kouba |first6=Maryline |last7=López-Alonso |first7=Marta |last8=Puente |first8=Secundino López |last9=Marcon |first9=Francesca |last10=Mayo |first10=Baltasar |last11=Pechová |first11=Alena |last12=Petkova |first12=Mariana |last13=Ramos |first13=Fernando |last14=Villa |first14=Roberto Edoardo |last15=Woutersen |first15=Ruud |last16=Brantom |first16=Paul |last17=Chesson |first17=Andrew |last18=Schlatter |first18=Josef |last19=Westendorf |first19=Johannes |last20=Dirven |first20=Yvette |last21=Manini |first21=Paola |last22=Dusemund |first22=Birgit |title=Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A.Mey. (ginseng tincture) for horses, dogs and cats (FEFANA asbl) |journal=EFSA Journal |date=1 April 2024 |volume=22 |issue=4 |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8730|pmc=11000137 }}

A dried extract of Korean ginseng was declined by the EFSA, since its manufacturer cannot provide data on its complete composition.{{cite journal |last1=Bampidis |first1=Vasileios |last2=Azimonti |first2=Giovanna |last3=Bastos |first3=Maria de Lourdes |last4=Christensen |first4=Henrik |last5=Fašmon Durjava |first5=Mojca |last6=Kouba |first6=Maryline |last7=López-Alonso |first7=Marta |last8=López Puente |first8=Secundino |last9=Marcon |first9=Francesca |last10=Mayo |first10=Baltasar |last11=Pechová |first11=Alena |last12=Petkova |first12=Mariana |last13=Ramos |first13=Fernando |last14=Sanz |first14=Yolanda |last15=Edoardo Villa |first15=Roberto |last16=Woutersen |first16=Ruud |last17=Brantom |first17=Paul |last18=Chesson |first18=Andrew |last19=Westendorf |first19=Johannes |last20=Manini |first20=Paola |last21=Pizzo |first21=Fabiola |last22=Dusemund |first22=Birgit |title=Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a dried extract from the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (P. ginseng dry extract) for use in cats and dogs (C.I.A.M.) |journal=EFSA Journal |date=1 April 2021 |volume=19 |issue=4 |doi=10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6526|pmc=8082721 }}

Ginseng supplements are not subjected to the same pre-market approval process in the US by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as pharmaceutical drugs. FDA mandates that manufacturers must ensure the safety of their ginseng supplements before marketing, without the necessity to substantiate the safety and efficacy of these supplements in a pre-market scenario.{{cite book|pmid=30000873 |title=Ginseng|publisher=National Institute of Child Health and Human Development|year=2006|series=Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed)|location=Bethesda,MD|id={{NCBIBook|NBK501814}}}} Ginseng supplements can be complex, often containing multiple constituents. It is not uncommon to observe discrepancies between the ingredients listed on the product label and the actual components or their quantities present in the supplement. While manufacturers can employ independent organizations to authenticate the quality of a product or its ingredients, such verification does not equate to a certification of the product's safety or effectiveness. These independent quality checks primarily focus on the integrity of the product in terms of its composition and do not extend to safety evaluations or purported clinical efficacy.

Ginseng generally has a good safety profile and the incidence of adverse effects is minor when used over the short term.{{cite journal|vauthors=Kim YS, Woo YY, Han CK, Chang IM |year=2015|title=Safety Analysis of Panax Ginseng in Randomized Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review|journal=Medicines|volume=2|issue=2|pages=106–126|doi=10.3390/medicines2020106|pmid=28930204|pmc=5533164|doi-access=free}} The FDA has classified ginseng as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS), indicating its general tolerability in adult populations.

The risk of interactions between ginseng and prescription medications is believed to be low, but ginseng may have adverse effects when used with blood thinners. Ginseng interacts with certain blood thinner medications, such as warfarin, leading to decreased blood levels of these drugs. Ginseng can also potentiate the effects of sedative medications. Concerns exist when ginseng is used over a longer term, potentially causing side effects such as skin rashes, headaches, insomnia, and digestive problems. The long-term use of ginseng may result in nervousness, anxiety, diarrhea, confusion, depression, or feelings of depersonalization, nausea, and fluctuations in blood pressure (including hypertension). There have been reports of gynecomastia and breast pain associated with ginseng use. Other side effects include breast pain and vaginal bleeding. As of 2023, there is a lack of data regarding the safety and efficacy of ginseng in lactating mothers and infants. Given its potential estrogenic activity and the absence of safety data during lactation, ginseng is not recommended for use during breastfeeding. Ginseng also has adverse drug reactions with phenelzine,{{cite journal|year=2001|title=Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: a systematic review|journal=Drugs|volume=61|issue=15|pages=2163–75|doi=10.2165/00003495-200161150-00002|pmid=11772128|vauthors=Izzo AA, Ernst E|s2cid=46983699}} and a potential interaction has been reported with imatinib,{{cite journal|vauthors=Bilgi N, Bell K, Ananthakrishnan AN, Atallah E|year=2010|title=Imatinib and Panax ginseng: a potential interaction resulting in liver toxicity|journal=The Annals of Pharmacotherapy|volume=44|issue=5|pages=926–8|doi=10.1345/aph.1M715|pmid=20332334|s2cid=25229077}} resulting in hepatotoxicity, and with lamotrigine.{{cite journal|year=2015|title=Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms Syndrome Probably Induced by a Lamotrigine-Ginseng Drug Interaction|journal=Pharmacotherapy|volume=35|issue=3|pages=e9–e12|doi=10.1002/phar.1550|pmid=25756365|vauthors=Myers AP, Watson TA, Strock SB|s2cid=31240689}}

The common ginsengs (P. ginseng and P. quinquefolia) are generally considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts.{{cite journal|last1=Shergis|first1=J. L.|last2=Zhang|first2=A. L.|last3=Zhou|first3=W|last4=Xue|first4=C. C.|year=2013|title=Panax ginseng in randomised controlled trials: A systematic review|journal=Phytotherapy Research|volume=27|issue=7|pages=949–65|doi=10.1002/ptr.4832|pmid=22969004|s2cid=29710658}} One of the most common and characteristic symptoms of an acute overdose of P. ginseng is bleeding. Symptoms of mild overdose may include dry mouth and lips, excitation, fidgeting, irritability, tremor, palpitations, blurred vision, headache, insomnia, increased body temperature, increased blood pressure, edema, decreased appetite, dizziness, itching, eczema, early morning diarrhea, bleeding, and fatigue.Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology, by John K. Chen, Tina T. Chen

Symptoms of severe overdose with P. ginseng may include nausea, vomiting, irritability, restlessness, urinary and bowel incontinence, fever, increased blood pressure, increased respiration, decreased sensitivity and reaction to light, decreased heart rate, cyanotic (blue) facial complexion, red facial complexion, seizures, convulsions, and delirium.

The English word "ginseng" comes from the Teochew Chinese {{lang|nan|jîn-sim}} ({{script|Hani|人蔘}}; where this transliteration is in Pe̍h-ōe-jī). The first character {{Zh|c=人|s=|t=|labels=no}} (pinyin rén; {{IPA|cmn|ʐə̌n|label=Modern Standard Mandarin pronunciation:}} or {{IPA|cmn|ɻə̌n|}}) means "person"{{cite web |title=Ginseng |url=https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=ginseng |publisher=Online Etymology Dictionary |access-date=August 2, 2021 |date=2021}} and the second character {{Zh|c=蔘|s=|t=|labels=no}} ({{Zh|c=|s=|t=|p=shēn}}; {{IPA|cmn|ʂə́n|label=MSM:}}) means "plant root" in a forked shape.The word 參 shēn "plant root" itself, from Old Chinese *srəm, has been compared to words meaning 'root' in other languages of the Sino-Tibetan family such as Japhug tɤ-zrɤm "root", see {{cite journal|last= Jacques|first= Guillaume|author-link= Guillaume Jacques |year= 2015 |title=On the cluster *sr in Sino-Tibetan |journal= Journal of Chinese Linguistics|volume=43|issue=1 |pages= 215–223|url= https://www.academia.edu/11754167 |doi= 10.1353/jcl.2015.0001|s2cid= 96458481}}

The Korean loanword insam comes from the cultivated ginseng ({{Korean|hangul=인삼|hanja=人蔘|rr=insam|lit=human ginseng}}), which is less expensive than wild ginseng.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

The botanical genus name Panax, meaning "all-healing" in Greek, shares the same origin as "panacea" and was applied to this genus because Carl Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine as a muscle relaxant.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox Chinese

| title = Ginseng

| name1 = Chinese name

| t = 1. 人蔘
2. 野山參
3. 水參
4. 白參
5. 紅參

| s = 1. 人参
2. 野山参
3. 水參
4. 白蔘
5. 红蔘

| l = {{Ordered list|human root (ginseng)|wild mountain root (wild ginseng)|water root (fresh ginseng)|white root (dried ginseng)|red root (dried steamed ginseng)}}

| p = 1. rénshēn
2. yěshānshēn
3. shuǐshēn
4. báishēn
5. hóngshēn

| w = 1. jên²-shên¹
2. yeh³-shan¹-shên¹
3. shui³-shên¹
4. pai²-shên¹
5. hung²-shên¹

| altname = Cantonese name

| c2 = 1. 人參
2. 野生人參

| l2 = {{Ordered list|human root (ginseng)|wild human root (wild ginseng)}}

| y2 = 1. yàhn sām
2. yéh sāang yàhn sām

| j2 = 1. jan⁴-sam¹
2. je⁵-saang¹-jan⁴-sam¹

| altname3 = Hokkien name

| c3 = 人參

| poj3 = jîn-sim

| hangul = 1. 인삼
2. 산삼
3. 장뇌삼
4. 수삼
5. 백삼
6. 홍삼
7. 태극삼

| hanja = 1. 人蔘
2. 山蔘
3. 長腦蔘
4. 水蔘
5. 白蔘
6. 紅蔘
7. 太極蔘

| rr = 1. insam
2. sansam
3. jangnoesam
4. susam
5. baeksam
6. hongsam
7. taegeuksam

| mr = 1. insam
2. sansam
3. changnoesam
4. susam
5. paeksam
6. hongsam
7. t'aegŭksam

| lk = {{Ordered list|human root (ginseng)|mountain root (wild ginseng)|long brain root (wild cultivated ginseng)|water root (fresh ginseng)|white root (dried ginseng)|red root (dried steamed ginseng)|taegeuk root (dried blanched ginseng)}}

}}

True ginseng plants belong only to the genus Panax. Several other plants are sometimes referred to as ginseng, but they are from a different genus or even family. Siberian ginseng is in the same family, but not genus, as true ginseng. The active compounds in Siberian ginseng are eleutherosides, not ginsenosides. Instead of a fleshy root, Siberian ginseng has a woody root.

• Angelica sinensis (female ginseng, dong quai)
• Codonopsis pilosula (poor man's ginseng, dangshen)
• Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
• Gynostemma pentaphyllum (five-leaf ginseng, jiaogulan)
• Kaempferia parviflora (Thai ginseng, krachai dum)
• Lepidium meyenii (Peruvian ginseng, maca)
• Oplopanax horridus (Alaskan ginseng)
• Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng, suma)
• Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Prince ginseng)
• Schisandra chinensis (five-flavoured berry)
• Trichopus zeylanicus (Kerala ginseng)
• Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng, ashwagandha)
• Eurycoma longifolia (Malaysian ginseng, tongkat ali)

{{Commons}}

• Herbalism
• List of herbs with known adverse effects

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• Pritts, K.D. (2010). Ginseng: How to Find, Grow, and Use America´s Forest Gold. Stackpole Books. {{ISBN|978-0-8117-3634-3}}
• David Taylor (2006). Ginseng, the Divine Root: The Curious History of the Plant That Captivated the World. Algonquin Books. {{ISBN|978-1-56512-401-1}}

{{Dietary supplement}}

{{Medicinal herbs & fungi}}

{{Stimulants}}

{{Non-timber forest products}}

Category:Dietary supplements

Category:Herbs

Category:Medicinal plants of Asia

Category:Non-timber forest products

Category:Panax

Category:Plant common names

Category:Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine