American Ginseng - Medicinal Grade - XI YANG SHEN

American Ginseng (XI YANG SHEN), like its cousin Panax Ginseng,  is highly prized throughout China and Asia. 

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is native to the United States. I's said that 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 Governing American Ginseng

Wild American ginseng can be legally harvested in 19 States. 

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, 18 require plants to have 3 leaves, which ensure that plants are at least 5 years old. One State, Illinois, requires wild ginseng plants to have 4 leaves and to be 10 years old. Roots of artificially grown American ginseng can be exported at any age.  

Benefits of American Ginseng

Though it can't boost Original Qi, as does Panax (Asian) ginseng, 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. 

American ginseng is bitter and slightly sweet in flavor and cold in nature. It acts on the heart, lung and kidney channels to clear heat (reduce inflammation). It also acts as a tonic and is used for deficiency of Qi and Yin.  However, people with cold spleen and stomach issues shouldn't use American ginseng as it could worsen these digestive problems.