Ginseng

Medical herbalist Dee Atkinson tells us why she loves ginseng

When I first started working at Napiers, the dispensary was like a treasure trove of carefully labelled bottles, each one containing combinations of herbs that had been carefully formulated by Duncan Napiers in the 1860s. Over 130 years later, these recipes were still in demand.

As well as the tincture blends, there where brown paper bags full of dried herbs, all stored out of direct sunlight and in alphabetical order. When you ran your eye down the shelves, they always came to rest on a locked wire- fronted crate. This contained Napiers’ supply of ginseng. The only other locked box on the premises was the alcohol store, which had a customs and excise sticker across the front.

Historically, the ginseng root was such a highly prized herb and was so costly that it was kept under lock and key and only dispensed by the herbalist himself.

Ginseng was sold either as a powder, in small greaseproof packets, weighed carefully making sure that there was no spillage, or it was made into a pungent smelling tincture and prescribed as part of a complex formula.

These old formulas were hugely popular and were a mainstay of the herbal practice.

Miraculous powers

The name ginseng is thought to mean ‘wonder of the world’, and throughout history the herb has had miraculous powers attached to it. It was a popular remedy in China, so highly prized that at one time, so the story goes, only the Emperor was allowed to collect the roots. The long fleshy root was thought to resemble a certain part of the male anatomy, and it became a prized tonic for men. It was thought to cure both mental and bodily fatigue and to encourage ‘vitality’.

Panax Ginseng is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in East Asia. It is very difficult to grow and it takes at least seven years for roots to reach the weight of 60 to 100g when they can be harvested. Growing in the wild, it can reportedly take plants up to 100 years to reach this kind of weight.

In the sixth edition of  Kings Dispensatory 1864, ginseng was listed as being used for nervous debility, weakness and to invigorate the virile powers. Important medical manuals such as Kings sealed the popularity of ginseng in the west.

A lot of research has gone into ginseng, and the main active constituents are considered to be triterpenoid saponins (especially ginsenoside Rb and Rg) panax acid, glycosides, and sterols. It is thought that ginseng improves the response of the adrenal cortex in releasing stress hormones. It also affects glycogen utilization by skeletal muscle, thereby improving stamina.  Herbalists think of ginseng as an ‘adaptogen’, using it to improve stamina, concentration and boost energy levels.

I use Ginseng when patients are tired and run down, when they are effectively running on empty, and need a true tonic to build them up. It can help patients when they are under stress, especially if it is long term and prolonged. I also use it if a boost is needed to help with recovery from colds and flu. Finally, in line with many of my herbal forefathers, I often prescribe ginseng to help improve libido and a to reawaken a general interest in life!

Dee Atkinson MCPP, Medical Herbalist, Napiers the Herbalists