Ginseng is a great, all-purpose plant that can be used to treat many conditions and improve overall health:

"Ginseng is among the many natural health products that more people are using to manage and improve their health. There are several species of ginseng, all belonging to the Panax genus. The two main species with medicinal qualities are "Panax ginseng," which refers to Korean ginseng, also known as Asian ginseng or Chinese ginseng, mainly found in China and Korea; and "Panax quinquefolius," which refers to American ginseng, native to North America.

Siberian ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, a plant indigenous to China, Japan, Korea and Siberia is a different plant.

Ginseng is a deciduous, slow-growing perennial herb that has a light-colored fleshy root and a single stalk with dark green, oval-shaped leaves. The root is the only portion of the plant used in medicinal preparations, which are available in various forms, such as powder, cut and dried roots, tea and liquid extracts.

Written records of the medical use of ginseng first appeared about 2,000 years ago. The word "panax" comes from the Greek "panakeia," meaning "all healing" or "universal remedy," indicating the wide belief that ginseng is effective in combating ailments of all kinds."