Ginseng isn’t new — it’s been used for centuries and not just in the holistic health world. In fact, you could probably find it at your local gas station. Although, we wouldn’t recommend buying it from there. Yikes…
Holistic health enthusiasts, including Gwyneth Paltrow (hate her or love her, she’s here to stay), swear by adaptogens like this herb and their ability to help restore and revitalize the body. And what’s an adaptogen? They may sound artificially-manufactured and scary, but they’re not. Simply, adaptogens are herbs that help the body react to stress. Hence, why truck drivers sometimes buy it from gas stations during long drives.
But does the strain matter? Read on for a quick run-down on this popular herb.
The American Strain
The two most popular strains are Asian and American. We tend to love the American strain, commonly known as Panax quinquefolius (which is the type we use for our potent products). No, that’s not a sequence of letters that we just strung together! Interestingly enough, American ginseng is so beloved by others too, that it’s even grown and sold in other parts of the world.
So, why would someone go out of their way to grow American strains in say, Korea? This is because of the genetic make-up of the herb and how that affects its benefits. Generally, it is believed that the American variety supplies the same stress-relieving benefits as its Asian counterparts, without causing the jitters (1).
Ginsenosides and Why They Matter
Okay…what? We understand if these plant chemicals name went over your head. That’s okay — you don’t have to know too much about them. Just know that ginseng has these little babies to thank for most of its touted benefits (2, 3).
Ginsenosides help distinguish the strains origins. While they are thought to be the driving force in helping to lower oxidative stress and support the cardiovascular system, there’s still a lot of we don’t actually know. What we do know is that the American strain actually has more of these chemicals than the Asian strains. Could this be the reason it’s less jittery? Possibly.
These chemicals may also be the reason why the strain differ slightly from each other. For example, the Asian stains have been used to help beat fatigue, poor memory and erectile dysfunction. Meanwhile, the American strain has been thought to help with anxiety, focus, immune system boosts and even blood sugar. Both contain potential antioxidants that can help the body’s response to inflammation. (4)
Buying Ginseng
Both strains can be found pretty easily, either in capsules or powder form. You can also find them commonly added to green tea drinks. You just want to be careful with these. Premixed drinks most likely contain quite a bit of sugar in them, which is counteractive to they reason you’re even reaching for it in the first place!
At Pure Planet, we harness the power of this herb through natural processes and offer two different varieties:
- Extract: Our extract is based in a minimally processed, pure vegetable glycerin base. This allows you to easily add it to your own teas or even in a glass of water.
- Powder: Ginseng Plus, our unique powder formula, is blended with spirulina for a boost of vitality and immunity-support.
Learn more about our ginseng here.
