Plant Profile

American Ginseng

About Ginseng

  • Botanical Name: Panax quinquefolius
  • Common Name: American Ginseng
  • Family: Araliaceae
  • Medicinal: Yes
  • Organic
  • Plant Food: FoxFarm Big Bloom for Organic Gardening
  • Seed Depth: Stratified seed 1 inch
  • Spacing: 6 inches
  • Zones: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Rating

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Companion Plants for Ginseng

Best Companions

The best companion plants for Ginseng are those that do not compete with it in terms of soil nutrients like carrots, strawberries, onions, garlic, beans or peas because they don't require excessive amounts of minerals to grow well; also herbs such as chives and parsley which have similar growth rates.

Worst Companions

Planting Ginseng requires specific growing conditions which must not be disturbed by certain types of plant companions that might compete with it in terms of soil nutrients and water intake, thereby affecting the growth rate of your American Ginseng. Some examples include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas, beans, squash family members such as pumpkins or butternut squashes, eggplants, corn, cabbage, broccoli, spinach, and turnips/radishes.

Harvesting Ginseng

To properly harvest Panax quinquefolius (American Ginseng) or Panax ginseng (Asian Ginseng), first identify the plants by their leaves, flowers, and berries. Then carefully dig around them with a small shovel until you can grasp the roots firmly without tearing off too much foliage. After removing all of the plant from the ground, rinse it under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Finally, air dry the plants for several days before storing them in an airtight container at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

Nutritional Data for Ginseng

Ginseng contains a variety of essential and beneficial nutrients for maintaining good health. Some key ones include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins A, B2, C, D, E, K, folate, choline, pantothenic acid, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine along with minerals such as calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, zinc. It also contains antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress in the body and fight against free radicals responsible for cellular damage due to inflammation and other factors like poor dietary habits, pollution, smoking etc.

Selection & Storage

Here are some helpful tips for storing American Ginseng Root.

Drying

The best way to preserve the medicinal properties of American ginseng is through drying. You can either dry it yourself by placing it in a warm oven or purchase dried roots from local herb stores, Chinese markets, or online sources that sell organic products. If you're buying your roots at a market, make sure they smell fresh and have not been exposed to insects or rodents.

Store Roots Away From Direct Sunlight

Once the ginseng has dried well enough (you should be able to snap it with little effort), store it away from direct sunlight in an airtight container such as a glass jar. If you're drying multiple roots, separate them by placing them on different shelves of your dehydrator or oven rack.

Use Dried Roots

When using dried ginseng root medicinally, simply crush the pieces and put them into hot water to make tea. To use it in herbal remedies that require grated fresh roots (such as tinctures), grate the crushed pieces with a handheld rotary cheese grater or use a food processor if you want to process large amounts of dried ginseng root at once.

Tips For Using Ginseng

Health Benefits

This herb is a valuable adaptogen with an impressive range of medicinal properties for promoting overall health and longevity. It has been used by the Chinese and other Asian communities for thousands of years due to its numerous benefits such as increasing physical endurance, supporting mental clarity, reducing inflammation in muscles and joints (especially knee), easing stress-related symptoms like sleeplessness or fatigue, improving digestive function, boosting immunity against viral infection, slowing down aging effects by maintaining youthful appearance of the skin, hair, nails, teeth etc., enhancing overall vitality to fight off common diseases.

In summary, ginseng may be able to assist with the following.

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Boost immune system
  • Reduce blood glucose levels in diabetes type 2
  • Reduce stress

Medical Disclaimer

Bounty Gardens is strictly an information website about gardening and wellness topics. It is not intended for medical advice. It does not take the place of medical advice or treatment from a physician. Readers should consult their own doctor or a qualified healthcare professional for specific health concerns and questions. Bounty Gardens does not recommend or endorse any products.