Ginseng by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D. Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon Ginseng (Panax ginseng) has been a prominent herb in Chinese medicine for at least twenty centuries. Due to scarcity of the herb at various times, its use has been restricted and substitute herbs have replaced it in prescriptions, For example, in China most prescriptions that would otherwise contain ginseng are made with the less expensive herb codonopsis. Classically, ginseng is used to restore vital energy (qi) and to generate fluids (especially for the stomach). A major use was for the recovery from debilitating feverish diseases which parched the body fluids and drained energy. It was also relied upon as a sedative and longevity tonic. Through extensive experience with its use, the number of indications for it increased. The diversity of ginseng actions that were claimed was the basis for its original description as a panacea by Western visitors to China centuries ago. The official genus name, Panax, comes from the word panacea. When Western-style research was initiated in the Orient on a large scale following World War II, ginseng became the primary subject. Its chemical constituents were analyzed, and numerous physiologic actions were determined. These include reduction of stress reaction, normalization of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, increase in endurance, improved mental functions, resistance to disease (and to chemicals and radiation), longer life span and anti-tumor activities. Much of the ginseng research during the past few years has done little more than reconfirm previous findings about ginseng's ability to normalize body functions. These general findings are displayed in Appendix 1. Different dosages, methods of preparation, and testing situations are tried out in some of the recent studies. Sometimes the results appear contradictory, but as the information accumulates, many of the results can be reasonably explained. The current thrust of research is in three areas: immune system actions, cardiovascular effects, and hormonal effects. INTRODUCTION | IMMUNE SYSTEM STUDIES | THE HORMONAL SYSTEM | CARDIOVASCULAR IMPACT | THE ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF GINSENG | IN CONCLUSION | BIBLIOGRAPHY | APPENDIX