[MPWG] quick question about ginseng use

Tue Nov 15 17:59:34 CST 2005

We here at ABC have had a strong interest in ginseng taxonomy and its  market 
situation for many years.  In support of the information previously  provided 
from Steven Dentali and Bob Beyfuss, a few articles from  HerbalGram to help 
clarify some of these issues. 
For an excellent review of ginseng taxonomy and the common names used for  “
ginsengs” in the U.S. market, I would recommend our article, “What in the Name 
 of Panax Are Those Other Ginsengs?” by Dennis Awang in HerbalGram 57 p. 35+ 
(2003). Available at _http://herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2447_ 
(http://herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2447) . 
For an article that explains the “outlawing” of the term “Siberian  Ginseng”
 in the U.S. market, I refer readers to my article “Farm Bill Bans Use  of 
Name ‘Ginseng’ on Non-Panax Species: ‘Siberian Ginseng’ no longer allowed as  
commercial term” in HerbalGram 56, p 54+ (2002), available at 
_http://herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2359_ 
(http://herbalgram.org/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2359) . 
--Mark Blumenthal

In a message dated 11/15/2005 3:52:18 PM Central Standard Time,  
rlb14 at cornell.edu writes:

If you  really want to get confused, go to Chinatown in NY City or San 
Francisco and  see what the various ginseng products are called! American ginseng 
grown in  China is often referred to as "China white" . "Korean ginseng" usually 
sells  for far more than "Chinese ginseng" although both are P.ginseng. There 
are  regional price differences among ginseng from different provinces and 
the  dozens of separate grades make it even more interesting. And of course 
there  is still some Siberian ginseng around although it is technically illegal to 
 call Eleutherococcus or anything other than species of Panax as "ginseng", 
The  Wisconsin ginseng growers managed to get this rule into the last farm 
bill.  Everything you say below is technically correct as far as I know. It is the 
 consumers who must wade through this stuff.  The next time someone  trashes 
"ginseng" in the latest research designed to "prove" that it is  "worthless", 
question the source of whatever they are testing. Even a "well  designed", 
"double blind" study ends up as garbage if the inputs are garbage.  

At 04:15 PM 11/15/2005, Steven Dentali, Ph.D. wrote:

You are correct  about Panax ginseng being Asian ginseng, but not all ginseng 
grown in  Korea is Korean ginseng or all ginseng grown in China Panax 
ginseng. The  U.S. and Canada ship out seeds from American ginseng (Panax  
quinquefolium) to Korea and China in large amounts.  
...
There are many American growers  now cultivating Panax ginseng from Korean 
ginseng seeds. Therefore,  I must disagree with your statement that "It may be 
correctly referred to as Korean  ginseng only if it's from (grown in) Korea."

The use  of "Korean" in Korean ginseng refers to where the Asian ginseng was 
grown  because Korean is not a recognized variety with it's own separate 
common  name. Let me explain.

Panax ginseng is Asian ginseng and it  can be carry a geographical modifier 
indicating where it was grown (China,  Korea, or even the US). If it were a 
variety with a named location then the  variety would retain that geographical 
reference regardless of where it was  grown. Herbs of Commerce uses the 
following examples to illustrate  this fact: "English walnuts grown in California are 
English walnuts;  Japanese honeysuckle from a Chinese farm is Japanese 
honeysuckle." However  the established common name (according to HOC, which is 
officially adopted  by FDA regulations for dietary supplement labeling on Jan 1, 
2006, see _http://www.ahpa.org/update_05_1107.htm_ 
(http://www.ahpa.org/update_05_1107.htm) )  for Asian ginseng does not specify any further geographical 
source.  Therefore Asian ginseng is only appropriately considered as Korean when 
it  is grown in Korea. 

If American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)  is grown in China it could not 
erroneously be called Chinese American  ginseng though it would be less confusing 
if it were termed as American  ginseng grown in China. Assuming one accepts 
this treatment of common name  nomenclature then Korean ginseng seeds are 
really Asian ginseng seeds from  Korea ("Korean ginseng" not being recognized as a 
separate variety of  ginseng that is different from the parent Asian ginseng). 
If American  growers are growing Asian ginseng seeds from Korea then they are 
producing  Asian ginseng grown in America with Korean seeds or perhaps 
Wisconsin  (grown) Asian ginseng from seeds of Korean origin. It's still Asian 
ginseng  (but not Korean or Chinese) regardless of where it is grown.

I hope  that  the differentiation of common names that contain a geographical 
 indicator and those that don't is helpful here.

Best  regards,

Steven

Steven Dentali, Ph.D.

VP, Scientific and Technical Affairs

American Herbal Products Association

8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 370

Silver Spring, MD  20910

301.588.1171 x 103

Fax: 301.588.1174

_www.ahpa.org_ (http://www.ahpa.org/) 

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reflects ONLY the opinion of the individual who posts the  message. The information 
contained in posts is not intended nor implied to be  a substitute for 
professional medical advice relative to your specific medical  condition or question. 
All medical and other healthcare information that is  discussed on this list 
should be carefully reviewed by the individual reader  and their qualified 
healthcare professional. Posts do not reflect any official  opinions or positions 
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