Column

Ten things you never knew about… ginseng

• In the Far East, ginseng has been used as a tonic for over 5,000 years
• Cultivation of the ginseng root takes six or seven years before harvesting.
• The chemical structure of ginseng is similar to the body’s own steroid hormones.
• Ginseng given to soldiers in Siberia is said to have improved their speed over a 3 km race.
• In another experiment, wireless operators given ginseng made fewer mistakes than those not given it.
• Ginseng can produce serious side effects such as high blood pressure, insomnia, diarrhoea and skin rashes.
• Ginseng sold in shops is not subject to quality control or dose recommendations.
• High intake of ginseng is encouraged by the pamphlets sold with the root.
• Taken in the long term, ginseng could reduce the body’s own resistance to certain infections.
• Ginseng is worth millions of pounds to the South Korean economy, where it is processed in large, modern factories.