| American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius, L.) is a | | | | more than 120 tons of dried ginseng roots were |
| perennial herb and grows wild in deciduous forests | | | | shipped from the Minnesota to China. American |
| of the eastern United States. American ginseng is | | | | ginseng is similar to Asian ginseng, Panax ginseng, |
| an erect plant that reaches a height of 0.3 to 0.7 | | | | L. that grows wild in Northern Manchuria and has |
| meters and has fusiform roots, greenish-white | | | | been harvested there for thousands of years. |
| flowers and red berries. The roots and rhizomes | | | | Currently, 18 states issue licenses to export it. In |
| are often branched or forked, and they bring a | | | | Wisconsin and several other states where ginseng |
| premium price if they resemble a human form. | | | | is cultivated, a permit is not required to export |
| Wild ginseng once thrived along most of the | | | | artificially propagated ginseng. |
| nation's eastern seaboard, from Maine to Alabama | | | | American ginseng is also commonly cultivated. It is |
| and west to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. | | | | relatively easy to grow. The root takes |
| American ginseng, (panax quinquefolium) was at | | | | approximately 5 years to reach harvesting |
| one time plentiful in all mountainous regions of the | | | | maturity. American ginseng plants are generally |
| United States. However, it was over-harvested in | | | | started from seeds. Seedlings or roots for |
| the mid-1970s, and was subsequently defined as | | | | transplanting are available commercially but used |
| an endangered species. Now, only licensed ginseng | | | | infrequently. Seeds are planted in the fall and |
| harvesters are allowed to dig for the wild ginseng | | | | germinate in the spring. |
| root. | | | | American Ginseng is not a drug and should not be |
| Men Get A FREE TRIAL Of ACAI DETOX And | | | | taken as such. The Food and Drug Administration |
| LOSE WEIGHT | | | | (FDA) has classified it as a “generally |
| Ginseng was one of the earliest marketable herbs | | | | recognized safe food” (GRAS). |
| harvested in the United States. Wild ginseng was | | | | <a rel="nofollow" |
| one of Minnesota's first major exports. In 1860, | | | | onclick="javascript:pageTracker. |