About Ginseng
In China, ginseng has five thousand years of history and has become an essential part of Chinese culture. The word ginseng comes from the Chinese Term “Ren Shen”, as early as the oracle had hieroglyphic "人参". The name “Ren Shen” has been given because the plant looks like a human being.
In the ancient time, ginseng was considered to be a symbol of divine harmony since it was a rare and slow-growing perennial medicinal herb with highly desirable human shape root. Also, ginseng was extremely hard to find in the common places. It was founded in the remote snow mountains by brave and wisdom people in China. Because of the rarity, Chinese royal emperors regarded ginseng as precious medicinal herbs and used as a remedy for all illnesses, a natural invigorant in nourishing and strengthening life, and a rejuvenating powder.
Over centuries, ginseng has been considered and recognized as an important component of herb medicine and food supplement worldwide. Many countries successfully market ginseng as variety of food products, health care supplements, and medicinal remedies since ginseng is believed to restore and enhance normal well-being. Ginseng industry can access to huge profits.
In Korea, more than 90% ginseng is consumed through forms of the food, formulating a universal health care awareness. Shops, supermarkets, and restaurants all provide ginseng-containing foods, such as drinks, biscuits, sugar, tea, instant noodles, jam, honey ginseng tablets.
In addition, ginseng products are everywhere in markets of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and Japan. In Europe, France, Germany and other countries are also make ginseng as food sources and health supplements, including herbal tea, nutrition capsules, and energy drinks.
In the US, ginseng extractions (panax ginseng root extraction) are also included in some more effective energy drinks and bodybuilding fitness supplements, such as Monster, AMP Energy, and Starbucks Refreshers, based on its positive effects on improving thinking, concentration, memory and work efficiency, physical stamina, and athletic endurance.
China accounts for 70% of the world’s ginseng production and has the world’s highest annual export volume at about 7000-8000 tons per year. In China, "Changbai Mountain Ginseng" has been included in the national geographical indications protection products. Nowadays, ginseng has made available for widespread and common use around the world.