Facts and myths about Ontario ginseng By Edmund Lui Scientific Director, Ontario Ginseng Innovation and Research Consortium, Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Nov 12, 2009
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Facts and myths about Ontario ginseng By Edmund Lui Scientific Director, Ontario Ginseng Innovation and Research Consortium, Associate Professor, Department.
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Facts and myths about Ontario ginsengBy
Edmund LuiScientific Director, Ontario Ginseng Innovation and Research Consortium,
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of Western Ontario
Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Nov 12, 2009
Facts or Myths.I. There is only one type of ginseng.
Facts: Ginseng come by different-
Names (or species): American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Notoginseng Siberian ginseng (not a ginseng species) Korean red ginseng
II Asia or Oriental Ginseng only grows in China. and American ginseng only grows in North America Sources: Asia ginseng is native to Asia (China, Japan, Korea). American Ginseng is native to regions of Canada and US, but also cultivated in China. Wild ginseng is endangered species. All commercially available stocks are cultivated.
Red Vs White ginseng
Natural habitat Cultivation
Also forest-based cultivated ginseng
Ginseng can grow as old as 300 years.
Why do we care about different types or species of ginseng?
• In general, function to balance body functions of opposing nature to
foster homeostasis.
• But, different species have different properties according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine
III. Ginseng is a cure all herb, good for many different health conditions?
Panax ginseng
• Genus name of panax ginseng “panax” is derived from Greek word “pan” meaning all and “axos” meaning cure.
• Species name ginseng comes from a Chinese word meaning human as ginseng roots look like the human body
Facts:Yes. Depend on 1) the types of product and 2) the person.
• What benefits?• What evidence?• Why? • How predictable are the health
benefit effects?
Availability in the market place
Raw herbsRaw herbs
as foods, teas, as foods, teas, soups, candy, soups, candy, cosmetics…cosmetics…
Herbal formulaeHerbal formulae
Decoction
Processing
Extracts
Consumers/practitioners
Powder… in capsule, tablet
“Finished products” single or multiple herbs. With health claims. e.g. Cold-FX
Different Types of Herbal Products.
1. Mostly as self-care products.
2. Supervised by health professionals
“Regulated by Health Canada
Curing
What health benefits?
Traditional use or claim. Use primarily as a tonic to invigorate weak
bodies, improve energy, and to relief fatigue and stress, restore homeostasis.
Non-traditional use or claims. Recent research shows that it could benefit: