Ginseng is a plant with a very important role in traditional Chinese medicine. They believe that it relieves stress, improves circulation, increases quality of life, cures flu, cures impotence, and even that it can stop cancer. In fact, like many traditional remedies, it has been claimed to be a cure for almost everything.
Obviously, scientists are quick to point out that it is difficult to test whether ginseng actually has any effects at all in a scientific sense, but that doesnt stop it from being wildly popular. It is one of the biggest-selling items at Chinese-run shops, sold both to Chinese people and believers in traditional medicine.
This huge demand has led to problems with the supply of the more potent wild ginseng, as it is being harvested faster than it can grow back, meaning that ginseng users have recently had to rely more on farmed ginseng. Today, ginseng is grown not only in China, but also in many East Asian countries such as Korea and Vietnam, and in the United States and Canada.
Although ginseng is usually thought of as a Chinese remedy, the ginseng that grows in America was independently discovered by Native Americans, who also used it...