Abstract
Five species ofPanax native of China are used in medicine. Ginseng, the best known, is prepared from the root ofP. ginseng C. A. Meyer. It is a tonic prescribed primarily for the restoration of strength in weak people.San-ch’i, a product prepared from the root ofP. pseudoginseng Wall., is a pain reliever and a hemostatic. It is prescribed for cancer, boils, swellings, bleeding, bruises, internal hemorrhages and irregular menses. Commercial products of these species are prepared from cultivated plants. Other species of Panax — P. bipinnatifidum Seem., P. japonicum C. A. Meyer, and P. major (Burk.) Ting — are used in folk medicine by people living in the mountains. This article deals with botanical descriptions and geographical and ecological notes of the species, the preparation, identification and marketing of the products, and the pharmacological aspects of the drugs. It also contains a list of 22 species of sêng-producing plants in 12 genera and seven families of Dicotyledoneae other than Araliaceae.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Literature Cited
Baranow, A. 1966. Recent Advances in our knowledge of morphology, cultivation and uses of ginseng. Econ. Bot.20: 403–406.
Graham, S. A. 1966. The genera of Araliaceae in southern United States. Journ. Arn. Arb.47: 126–136, explaining the correct name of ginseng beingP. ginseng Meyer (1843), notP. schin-seng Nees (1833, illegitimate).
Kim, J. H. 1962-4. Physiological and ecological studies on the growth of ginseng plants(Panax ginseng). I. Environment and productive structure. Kongju Review Prof. Studies1: 149–172. 1962. (Korean, English Abstracts). II. Growth habits and an analysis of the seasonal growth. Seoul Univ. Journ. Biol. Agr. Ser. B. 15: 68-80. 1964. III. An analysis of the perennial growth and growth attributes under varying light intensities, op. cit. 81-93.IV. Sun-and Shadetolerance, and optimum light intensity for the growth, op. cit. 94-101.V. On the photosynthesis, respiration and dry matter production. Journ. Kongju Teach. Coll. 2: 1-16. 1964.
Kim, J. H. 1964. Studies on the growth of embryo of ginseng(Panax ginseng). Journ. Nat. Acad. Sci. Korea. Nat. Sci. Series5: 18–23 (Korean, English abstract).
Li, H. L. 1942. The Araliaceae of China. Sargentia2: 1–134.
Savage, W. N. 1961 (?). Wild Ginseng—Penn’s woods yielded some of the finest. Game News. 18–24.
Stockberger, W. W. 1921. Ginseng Culture. Farmers’ Bulletin 1184. USDA. Revised by A. F Siever 1941.
Stonton, G. 1893. American Ginseng. Kew Bull.1893: 71–73.
Williams, L. O. 1957. Ginseng. Econ. Bot.11: 344–348.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hu, S.Y. The genusPanax (Ginseng) in Chinese medicine. Econ Bot 30, 11–28 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866780
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866780