American Ginseng – XI YANG SHEN

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is native to the United States. though the best quality is wildcrafted from Wisconsin, American ginseng also grows wild in the Midwest, New England, Appalachia, the Ozarks, and in eastern Canada.  It is also cultivated on ginseng farms.

American Ginseng has been used for medicine by many Native American tribes as well as in China, and throughout Asia.

Most American ginseng harvested in the USA is exported to China. This has been true since the mid-1700s.  The American ginseng harvest is an important source of revenue to many people in the United States and especially to American Indian tribes in the midwest.

Laws & Regulations

American ginseng can be harvested in 19 States. To learn what states allow for the harvesting of American ginseng, click here .

Wild and wild-simulated American ginseng roots can only be legally exported if they were harvested from plants that are 5 years of age or older and were legally harvested during the designated State harvest season. Of the 19 States approved by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), 18 States require wild ginseng plants to have 3 leaves (each leaf is comprised of 3-5 leaflets), which ensure that plants are at least 5 years old, and one State (Illinois) requires wild ginseng plants to have 4 leaves and to be 10 years old. Roots of artificially propagated American ginseng can be exported at any age.  To learn more about how to determine the age of American ginseng, click here.

Benefits of American Ginseng: Tonifies the Yin

Like its cousin Panax Ginseng, American Ginseng is highly prized throughout China and Asia. The best quality is grown in Wisconsin. 

Though it can’t boost Original Qi, it does have other very useful properties. Most notably, this herb strongly nourishes the Yin and generates fluids. People who are dry or hot due to yin or blood deficiency will probably benefit from its properties. 

This herb is bitter and slightly sweet in flavor, cold in nature, and acts on the heart, lung and kidney channels. Sweet and cold for invigorating Qi and nourishing Yin, and bitter and cold for clearing heat and fire, as a heat-clearing tonic with tonification as well as purgation, it is indicated for deficiency of Qi and Yin with pathogenic fire. 

Both American ginseng root and Panax Ginseng have the effects of invigorating Qi and nourishing Yin and are indicated for deficiency syndrome of Qi and Yin. However, patients with cold of deficiency type in the spleen and stomach are contraindicated to use American ginseng root; while patients with fire of excess type in the interior are contraindicated to use Panax Ginseng which is slightly warm in nature. 

Effects of American Ginseng:

Invigorates Qi, nourishes Yin, clears heat, and Generates fluids.