Red, white, black and sun ginseng are variations of processed methods for Panax (Korean) ginseng.

• Fatigue: Antifatigue Effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
• Hair growth: Red Ginseng Extract Promotes the Hair Growth in Cultured Human Hair Follicles
• Hair follicles: Panax ginseng prevents apoptosis in hair follicles and accelerates recovery of hair medullary cells in irradiated mice.
• Liver fibrosis: Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates liver fibrosis via suppressing epithelial to mesenchymal transition and reactive oxygen species production in vitro and in vivo.
• COPD: Oral ginseng formulae for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review
• Atherosclerosis: Ginsenoside Rb1 enhances atherosclerotic plaque stability by skewing macrophages to the M2 phenotype
• Anticoagulant: Antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects of Panax notoginseng: comparison of raw and steamed Panax notoginseng with Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium.
• Strep: Black Ginseng Extract Counteracts Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Mice
• Breast cancer: Anti-breast cancer activity of Fine Black ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) and ginsenoside Rg5
• Cholesterol: Black ginseng extract ameliorates hypercholesterolemia in rats.
• Memory impairment: Effect of red and black ginseng on cholinergic markers, presynaptic markers, and neurotrophins in the brain of aged mice
• Diabetes: Anti-diabetic effect of black ginseng extract by augmentation of AMPK protein activity and upregulation of GLUT2 and GLUT4 expression in db/db mice
• UVB sun damage: Protective Effect of Processed Panax ginseng, Sun Ginseng on UVB-irradiated Human Skin Keratinocyte and Human Dermal Fibroblast
• Memory impairment: Effects of Sun ginseng on memory enhancement and hippocampal neurogenesis.
• Immunity boost: Ginseng, the 'Immunity Boost': The Effects of Panax ginseng on Immune System
• Obesity: Effects of Korean white ginseng extracts on obesity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice
• Erectile dysfunction: Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review

Cost ranges from $75 to $3330 per 8 ounces depending on age, size, and grade.   The most expensive found online is between 30-50 year old ginseng.  Marathon County, Wisconsin claims to produce 95% of the American ginseng.  Wild ginseng has a mythical quality that can fetch prices greater than gold- The $250K Ginseng.  The $400K ginseng.

French Jesuit priest, Father Joseph Francois Lafitau, first found American ginseng in Montreal, Canada.   He started exploring for them after reading another missionary’s description of the ginseng he learned about in China in 1714.  With the help of the Mohawk tribe near Montreal, he found Panax quinquefolius throughout eastern Canada and United States.

Korean Ginseng has been in use over 5000 years and is thought to have been discovered in Manchuria, China.  By the third century AD. China's demand for ginseng exploded and Korea began cultivating it by the 1900s.  the most popular Korean Ginseng brand is made by the Cheong Kwan Jang factory run by Korea Ginseng Corporation.  There are 4 different grades of Korean ginseng - cut, good, earth, and heaven.  The most prized product is “cheonsam,” which translates to “heaven-grade roots.”  Cheonsam is a luxury product and has been given as gifts to presidents and monarchs during their visits.

Cheonsam is the top 0.5% of every 8,000 tons of red ginseng processed at the KGC factory.  7,000 to 8,000 cans of the 10 roots are produce per year and sold at roughly $5500 per can.  Supply can not meet demand and people often wait up to 6 months for the next batch.^[ref]  The "good" grade is more reasonable and is sold around $90 per 75 gram in Texas in 2018.  

Ginseng is listed as approved non-prescriptive medicine in the following pharmacopeias: German Commission E 1992 • Martindale Extra Pharmacopoeia 1972 • WHO 2000.

Eleutherococcus senticosus - Siberian or Russian Ginseng is really in a completely different plant family.  It produces similar effects as Korean ginseng, but it contain no ginsenocide.  Its main chemical constituents are ciwujianoside and eletherosides.  It isn’t a stimulant and must be taken for regularly for an extended period before results are noticed.  It's illegal in the U.S. to call this plant ginseng.

Withania somnifera -  known as Indian Ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry.  Contains no ginsenocide.  The main constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones.  It has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-stress, antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties.  It has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.  It's illegal in the U.S. to call this plant ginseng.

Talinum paniculatum – AKA Jewels of Opar, Java ginseng, Pink Baby Breath, and Fame Flower.   Leaves are more widely used as a vegetable in Brazil⁶ and the Philippines.   Pharmacological studies have shown estrogenic activities.  Like ginseng, it contains tannins, steroids, and triterpenes.   It's also antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial.  

USA: Panax Ginseng is not found in the wild.  Panax quinquefolius, a close substitute, is native to multiple states.  USDA Zones: 5-9 (P. Quinquefolius zones 3-7)

World: China, Korea, Siberia

Habitats: Mountains, forests, deep shaded areas, 5 year maturity.

Ginseng has a slightly tart and bitter taste.  For that reason, I never liked it when my mother would put stew slices of it with chicken or eggs.  She would try to convince the kids to drink the broth, but of course, we were all too smart for our own good.

Useful for preventing upset stomach - My husband felt and upset stomach coming on as he usually does from greasy food.  In this case, it was Fried Chicken.  I brewed him a concoction with 4 slices of American ginseng and 2 hawthorn berries, along with a slice of dried lemon for flavor and vitamin C.   Two cups of the tea and he never had the upset stomach.

Drink Korean Ginseng in winter and American Ginseng in summer.  I didn't believe this until I drank American ginseng on one of the coldest nights in Austin this year.  I had two cups of the tea with about 4 small slices and I was freezing in my bedroom that night.  Our temperature was set at 65 degrees and I should not have been feeling constant chills under a down blanket.  American ginseng cools qi while Korean ginseng is a stimulant and warms it.  I'm finding both to be very strong and definitely should be used with some forethought.

Buyers BEWARE!  I ordered two Korean ginseng plants online and later learned that these are NOT Korean ginseng as advertised.  The leaves look nothing like Korean or American ginseng once I did further research.  This is Talinum Paniculatum/ Java ginseng, which contains no ginsenocide.

Editor Tours Hsu Ginseng farm in Wausau, Wisconsin (July 2018)

The farm offers an hour long tour.  The tour can be done in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin.   Visitors are welcome to ask any questions regarding the cultivation.  In fact, it was a surprisingly friendly and family oriented operation.  Mr. and Mrs. Hsu are the founders and owners but have since retired happened to be present during our tour.  They happily took photos with us and spent over 20 minutes explaining how they started the farm and why.  Hsu Ginseng was one of the first to cultivate American ginseng over 45 years ago.  It started when Mr. Hsu sent wild ginseng home to his mother for her poor health.  He noticed the immediate effects and decided to start farming the plant.   Their eldest son, Will, now runs the business.  The tour is $5 per person and $25 per group.  The tour ends at the company store.  Be sure to ask for your 10% off for buying on site.

Editor Tours Schumacher Ginseng in Marathon City, Wisconsin (July 2018)

Schumacher Ginseng  offers a tour, and like Hsu farm, you must call at least 24 hours in advance so they can schedule a guide.  Schmacher Ginseng has been in business for over 50 years.  It was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher.  Their son now runs the family business.  One can go by their main office during business hours to buy ginseng.  They are very friendly and open.  Mrs. Schumacher was happy to take photos with us.  They showed us the different steps of how they process and trim each root.  If you buy the large roots, they'll let you pick each from their inventory.  Even before we bought our stash, I asked if they had any ginseng seeds.  The manager (son) quickly went to the back and found some and he gave them to us free of charge.  We truly appreciated this welcoming and family oriented atmosphere.

Editor Buys Korean Ginseng in Austin, TX (November, 2018)

I bought this box of Korean Ginseng from H Mart (Korean market) in Austin, TX.  The owner tried to slice it and broke his new machine in the process.  Korean ginseng is very dense.  I have to figure out how I want to decoct it. It cost $90 for 75 grams of "good" quality can.  In fact, the owner informed me that Korean ginseng can no longer be imported into the United States because of President Trump's trade war.  They had to order it by way of Canada.  Photos below are cooking with Korean Ginseng.  Since the ginseng is so compact, it must be wrapped in a paper towel and microwaved for 10 seconds.  Then it can be chopped into pieces with a clever.  One server should be about 6-9 grams.  The ginseng expands in the broth and adds to an excellent taste with goji berries, chicken, and red dates.  

Sun ginseng - processed ginseng steamed at 120°C.  This is aimed to increase the levels of anti-tumor ginsenosides Rg3, Rg5 and Rk. 

Black ginseng - White or red ginseng steamed and dried several times. 

White ginseng - dried fresh root. 

Red ginseng - steam treated and then dried.

• Large doses of Panax Ginseng can raise blood pressure. Very small doses have a mild sedative effect.  Some websites claim that the ideal dose is ideal dose is 300 to 400 mg daily.

• Do not use Korean ginseng if pregnant or nursing without consulting your doctor.

• Ginseng has anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects and may interact with blood thinners like Wafarin or antiplatelets like Aspirin.

Herbal medicine may interact negatively with pharma drugs and other herbs.  Examples below:

Herbs: ♦ Incompatible - Li Lu ♦ Antagonize - Lai Fu Zi, Zao Jiao, Wu Ling Zhi ♦ Anticoagulants: American Ginseng, Arnica, Rou Gui, Chamomile, Dan Shen, Dang Gui, Deertongue, Sheng Jiang, Goji Berry, Ginko Nutes, Notoginseng, Peach Kernel, Hong Hua, Sweet Clover, Vanilla Grass ♦ Blood Sugar Reducers: Artichoke , Basil , Bell Flower , Bitter Melon , Cang Zhu , cassia cinnamon , Celery , chamomile , Chrysanthemum , Cinnamon , Dragon Fruit , Eucommia , goji berry , Heal All , Hibiscus , Huang qi , Moringa Tree , Roses , Shan yao , Shi gao , Xuan shen , Zhi mu

Pharma Drugs:♦ Anticoagulants: asprin , clopidogrel (Plavix) , Coumadin , dipyridamole , enoxaparin , Heparin ♦ Blood Sugar Reducers: Acarbose (Precose ) , Albiglutide (Tanzeum) , Alogliptin (Nesina) , Bromocriptine mesylate (Cycloset , Canaglifozin (Invokana) , Chlorpropamide (Diabinese) , Dapagliflozin (Farxiga) , Dulaglutide (Trulicity) , Empagliflozin (Jardiance) , Glimepiride (Amaryl) , glipizide (Glucotrol) , Glyburide (DiaBeta , Glynase) , Insulin , Linagliptin (Tradjenta) , Metformin , Miglitol (Glyset) , Nateglinide (Starlix) , Parlodel) , Pioglitazone (Actos) , Pramlintide , Repaglinide (Prandin) , Rosiglitazone (Avandia) , Saxagliptin (Onglyza) , Sitagliptin (Januvia) , Tol-Tab) , Tolazamide (Tolinase) , Tolbutamide (Orinase)

Roots of artificially propagated American ginseng can be exported at any age.  You can tell the age by 1) Counting the number of leaves 2) Count the number of stem scars on the root neck.  The 18 approved States with wild ginseng harvest programs have regulations that prohibit the harvest of plants with fewer than 3 leaves, except for Illinois, which requires wild ginseng plants to have 4 leaves and 10 years old.  

"Organic" ginseng must be certified by a third party under Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) See the Certification Process.  However, Ginseng gathered in the wild is probably free of pesticides and fertilizers.