Why is wild ginseng so expensive?

Increasing scarcity of wild ginseng supply

Over several decades, Changbai Mountain wild ginseng has been over harvested without any regulations, it is now very rare to find. In addition, Jilin Province and other places of origin have introduced a series of measures in recent years in an attempt to protect the growth environment of wild ginseng, which will make the supply of wild ginseng even more short in the future.

The medicinal value of wild ginseng is hard to replace

When rescuing critically ill patients (the patient has cold hands and feet, weak pulse, almost undetectable blood pressure), traditional Chinese medicine often uses just ginseng to make a decoction called Dushen Decoction, for acute Yang Qi deficiency. There is no good substitute for this decoction. Based on our own experience, in acute and severe cases, several decades old wild ginseng is more than ten times more effective than garden ginseng in replenishing vital energy . Although the price of 10 gram of such wild ginseng is about 10,000 RMB, It's still a good deal when it comes to save lives. 

Another such example is the Angong Niuhuang Wan manufactured by Tongrentang in 1987, which uses natural bezoar and rhino horn (in 1993, China’s State Council issued a ban on the uses of rhino horn), and now the price per pill is 10,000 RMB. The price of one kilogram of natural bezoar is 500,000 RMB, while the price of artificial bezoar is only several hundred RMB. However, natural bezoar is incomparable in its medicinal effects.   

These two traditional Chinese medicine (wild ginseng and Angong Niuhuang Wan) are both used by the author for treating stroke patients, depending on the causes. Angong Niuhuang Wan is used for stoke caused by surge of liver yang (yang hyperactivity type stroke), and wild ginseng is used for stoke caused by sudden depletion of vitality (yang deficiency type stroke).

Symptoms of yang hyperactive type stroke:

Dizziness and headache, red face, red eyes, irritability, vomiting, hiccups, hemiplegia, lost language ability, body tremors, and tight veins.

Chinese medicine diagnose: red tongue, yellow coating, and speedy pulse.

Symptoms of yang deficiency type stroke:

Sudden fainting, limp limbs, cold and sweaty hands, whole body cold and wet, losing control of bladder and bowels.

Chinese medicine diagnose: pale tongue, white and greasy coating, and weak pulse.

How to use ginseng

For those who can benefit from consuming ginseng, ginseng can be used in the following ways in daily life to invigorate the body’s qi:

1. Making tea: cut ginseng root into thin slices, use 1 to 2 grams each time, put in a cup with boiling water, then cover the lid and soak for about 5 minutes, make tea and drink until the medicinal taste disappeared.

2. Soaking in liquor: Choose 1 whole ginseng root and immerse it in 500g of liquor (preferably a strong one), seal well and store in a cool place, shake several times a day, drink the liquor after 15 days, 30-50ml each time, 1-2 times a day.

3. Melting in the mouth: Cut the ginseng into very thin slices, put one slice in the mouth, sucking on the juice and eventually swallow it. Repeat several times a day.

4. Making soup: Take 8g ginseng (remove the head portion Lu Tou) and 6g Xinhui Chen Pi (dried tangerine peel), soak in one cup of water for 30 min, and then double boil in a bowl with closed lid for 2 hrs. Drink the soup. Repeat once every 3 days for 10 times.

5. Making porridge: Cut 3 grams of ginseng into slices, add water and simmer, then use the water to make rice porridge.

6. Making chicken soup: put 5-10 grams of ginseng into the abdomen of the chicken, suture the belly and put it in a casserole, add water and condiments, and simmer for 2 hrs. 1 to 2 times a week.

Contraindications

Ginseng should not be used with veratrum together

Ginseng should not used with Wu Ling Zhi, which will weaken the effects of ginseng. 

White radish and radish seeds will move the qi and reduce the effects of ginseng in replenishing qi, therefore should not be consumed with ginseng.

Ginseng is suitable for the elderly, weak, and chronically ill population, and not suitable for those with strong physique to consume in large quantity.

Children and pregnant women should consult with a doctor before using ginseng.