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Born of Celestial Fire
By Paul Stonehill
FATE :: February 2007

Knowledge about the healing qualities of ginseng (jen shen, pan-tsui) has been surrounded by legends for many centuries. It has been called the Wonder Root, the Gift of the Gods, the Root of Life, and the Elixir of Immortality, and it has been used by traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years (there are ancient Chinese medical manuscripts about it dating back to 2800 b.c.). Ginseng possesses incredible life potential. Today , the true Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng) that grows in the Russian Far East (the Primorye) is a rare and unique plant. It grows in the Ussurian taiga, a singularly beautiful place, where nature is abundant and biodiversity is tremendous in its scope (no wonder it is called the “northern jungle”).

Ginseng is fragile and small, but also strong, and after being injured, the plant can lie in the soil for many years, and then grow again in a new body. A 20-year-old plant only has three leaves; if it reaches the venerable age of 60 years, it has five leaves. Jen shen blossoms in July, and tiny red berries appear in August. The Wonder Root does not like sunlight. It grows in areas where the rays of Sun never penetrate. Jen shen can be found in hanging valleys with steep terrain and abundant snowfall. It loves cedar trees, and lets its root grow under them. Many people seek true ginseng, but only Chinese sages know its full medicinal value. 

Medical Research of Panax ginseng

The genus name Panax means “cure all” in Greek. In 1843 Carl Meyer, a Russian botanist, gave the Panax ginseng term to ginseng.

The chemical composition of ginseng is well known, but scientists have not been very successful in their efforts to replicate it. Although ginseng has been researched extensively, its curative mechanism is not understood in the West; nevertheless, Western medicine had to accept it as a medicinal herb.

Ginseng is characterized as a mild stimulant and an adapter (a preparation helping the organism to adapt to an unfavorable environment). It is said to be very effective in the treatment of nervous and mental diseases; it is also believed  to influence carbohydrate metabolism by lowering the content of sugar in the blood, improve functions of the sexual glands, help eyesight, fight viruses, boost immunity, reduce cholesterol, improve mental and physical capacity for work, and treat colds. It is said to have rejuvenating powers.

One of the lesser-known properties of jen shen is its ability to fight excess body weight. Ancient Chinese manuscripts mentioned ginseng’s catabolic properties.

Interesting studies have been conducted in the Laboratory of Biotechnology of the Institute of Biology and Soil Science (Far East Branch) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A gene of rhizogene bacteria was built into the DNA composition of a ginseng strain cell. This led to numerous variations in the morphological, hormonal, and biosynthetic characteristics of ginseng cells. The original ginseng cells into which the gene was transferred originated from the stalk. After transformation, they could form roots, leaves, and even flowers.

Nowadays, there are many predators who roam the taiga trying to find and grab this fragile and wonderful, little-understood but long-revered treasure of planet Earth.

Secret Rituals and Ancient Knowledge

Ancient legends have it that the gods hide this Wonder Root from too many eyes, and show it only to those who are worthy.

Chinese medical science has used ginseng as a cure for many illnesses. When traveling in the wintertime, the Chinese carried the root with them to provide warmth and prevent hunger. They believed it cured five internal organs, subdued arrogance and anger, calmed people down, and saved them from the evil eye. People close to death drank a potion made from the Root of Life, and, regaining consciousness, reportedly lived for some time more. A Chinese pharmacology textbook from a.d. 1596, Li Shi-Zhen’s Grand Materia Medica (Ben cao gan mu), included over 100 prescriptions for drugs prepared from jen shen.

The search for jen shen was organized on a national level in China during the Manchurian dynasty, and special, trained groups of people, dubbed “blue pheasants,” wearing special uniforms, looked for the Root of Life in forests. Behind them marched Imperial soldiers and officials, lest they steal the jen shen.

To harm the root meant severe punishment; finding the true ginseng resulted in rich rewards.....

Read the rest of this article in the February 2007 issue of FATE

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