Your Guide to Using North American GinsengYour Guide to Using North American Ginseng

How much North American ginseng should you take?

Let’s start with the most important question of all. Just how much ginseng should you be consuming? Is there a need for you to treat American ginseng as a mid-day snack, as you would with almonds – and gnaw at them whole? Well, here’s some good news for your wallet: you don’t have to. The truth is that, because ginseng is so potent, you’d only ever need just a little bit each time to see its effects. More specifically, the Complete German Commission E Monographs suggests that a suitable dosage for ginseng (in the form of powder or whole roots) is anywhere between 1 to 2 grams daily.

For reference, about ½ a teaspoon of salt would amount to 1 gram of sodium. So, logically speaking, you should aim for at least ½ to 1 teaspoon of ginseng powder per day – which really isn’t a lot. But what if you’re not taking ginseng in its “purest form” but instead as an extract? Then you’re looking at 100 to 800 mg per day.

Are there side effects?

Based on the large numbers of studies studying North American ginseng’s effects on the human body, it appears that the herb is safe for consumption – and should not produce any serious adverse effects.

That said, a few groups of people should avoid supplementing with North American ginseng (or should, at the very least, consult with a doctor). The first is pregnant and/or breastfeeding women, as there isn’t sufficient reliable information to know if North American ginseng is safe to use when with a child or nursing. Another group is those who’re on warfarin, a drug used to slow blood clotting. That’s because North American ginseng has been reported to decrease warfarin’s effectiveness. Thus, in turn, increasing the risk of clotting – which can then lead to a stroke.

What does ginseng taste like?

The taste of a particular ginseng product (no matter what form it is) ultimately depends on its age:

• 3-year ginseng: Bitter taste
• 4-year ginseng: Rather plain-tasting
• 5-year ginseng: Starts off bitter, but finishes with an aromatic sweetness

 Thus, highlighting why 5-year ginseng (like the ones at Grace Mountain) are so highly sought after; they offer the best ginseng taste profile.

How to add American ginseng into your life

Right. So, at this point, you know: 1) the “ideal” North American ginseng dosage you should be on, 2) that supplementing with the herb is safe, and 3) 5-year ginseng is the best. What’s missing? That’s right: how does North American ginseng fit into your life, exactly? Should you go for whole ginseng roots, slices, or … pills? Which ginseng “form” is the best?

Here’s a word of advice. Always go for ginseng in the most natural form available (instead of ginseng extract). According to a report done by Consumer Lab, less than half of the ginseng supplements they tested contained no ginseng at all. Zero percent! Worse still, many of the products were contaminated by harmful pesticides (e.g., potential carcinogens like quintozene and hexachlorobenzene) or heavy metals (e.g., mercury, arsenic, and lead). Meaning? Your best bet would be with the following: ginseng root, slices, powder, and tea (which are all available right here at Grace Mountain, by the way!)

Here are a few “tried-and-tested” ways of adding each of the above into your daily life, in the order of least complicated to most complicated (i.e., laborious):

Ginseng tea

If you’ve got yourself a ginseng tea bag (e.g., our refreshing Ontario ginseng tea), then things are pretty straightforward. Steep your tea bag in a cup of boiling water (≥80℃) for 2 minutes. Remove – and enjoy. As with all tea bags, you can reuse your ginseng tea bag 2 to 3 more times; although, it’s worth noting that each subsequent yield will have less active ingredients and reduced flavor and aroma. As is expected.

Ginseng powder

Ginseng powder is a little more versatile compared to ginseng tea. In addition to stirring ginseng powder into warm water and drinking it, you can also choose to add it into your morning cup of coffee or your favorite smoothie recipe – and anything you want, really – for that extra boost of nutrients and energy. And if you’re up for it, you can even take a tiny spoonful of it on its own (trust us, it’s delicious!)

Ginseng slices & roots

Just so you know: you can chew on ginseng slices and roots throughout the day; in fact, they can serve as the perfect pick-me-up when you’re struggling to get out of that post-lunch mid-afternoon slump. You can also make ginseng tea with them – by simply steeping them in boiling water for 2 minutes. It’s pretty much the same process that you would go through with our ginseng tea bags. For the best taste and textural profile, though, you’re going to have to cook them. And all you need to do is steam the ginseng roots and slices until they’re soft. Depending on the thickness of your ginseng, this will typically take 15 to 30 minutes. 

Ginseng Chicken Soup

Another way you could enjoy ginseng slices and roots? Cook them in a soup (e.g., ginseng chicken soup). Psst: here’s a simple recipe to get you started. Note that it serves 3 to 4 people. Feel free to source for more recipes if the following doesn’t suit your taste; there are tons available on the Internet – you’re bound to find one that’ll please your tastebuds.

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken, cut into 4 to 8 pieces
• 10 grams of American ginseng (slices or roots)
• 10 dried red dates
• 2 tablespoon dried goji berries
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 2 liters water

Cooking instructions:

1. Rinse and drain all the dried herbs (i.e., red dates and goji berries) to remove dust and dirt.
2. Place all ingredients in a soup pot – and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.
3. Remove from heat and serve warm. Tuck in!

Already drooling? Then you better grab yourself a few packs of ginseng roots/slices from us! We can’t wait to see the delicious fare you come up with.