because of insufficient evidence for further scientific research.( This gift object was sent to St.
Petersburg botanic museum, where it can be seen today.) This did not dampen the original thought of the Chinese, as they still came to the Russian Far East to collect and buy Russian and Manchurian Ginseng, which they considered the best. The price did not restrict their demands, as they would pay ten to twenty times more than gold, or the traditional oriental silver. Time and experience has led to plantations of Ginseng in Korea, China, Manchuria and Japan.
In 1675 is the first record of Ginseng in Russia, experienced by Boyarin N. G. Sapfary; 300 years later we consider their acceptance ahead in world research. Twenty-five years ago, team after team was sent to neighbouring countries to study, on the spot, established plantations. The highly protected secret of this culture is not given charitably. Today all information from observation and study leads us to Russia’ s own army of Ginseng specialists in all parts of Russia, but more especially in the Far East. All work and research is directed and co-ordinated by the Committee for Ginseng Research, which includes universities, institutes, laboratories, Agro-Technical methods, field work, plantations, publications, etc.
There are plantations of Ginseng in the Russian Far East, Moscow regions, Bello-Russia( White Russia) and the Caucasus( Bello-Russ. Acad, 1965). In the past, Russian Ginseng was always exported from a wild source but today the cultivated plant is exported, being collected in August.
Lengthy study and research of Chinese belief in the Folk Medicine of Ginseng, not only confirms fundamental impressions but has opened new horizons to its proven value beyond reality(“ Vishaya Scholia”, Moscow, 1963).
We wish to mention two monographs we have on hand of the Siberian branch of the Academy of Science. One work was published in 1960, with 1,500 copies printed( usually Herbal book publications run to 100,000 – 200,000). It contains 248 pages, and a few hundred authors contributed 5 – 10 pages each, as a collective work of 5 – 8 different teams.
Another work, compiled by one author, is a 342-page book dealing with the biological aspect of Ginseng. Here the author refers to the bibliographies of all available languages, but mostly original works and research of Russian experience.
In North America we think of Ginseng as the slow-growing herb, as it takes from five to seven years before the root is considered usable. To find a plant fifty years old is considered sensational, as collectors usually find the plants before they reach this age. The age is told by the rings around the plant.
The older roots in North America are uncommon, but theoretically the older the root the smaller should be the dose.
In the Far East there are plants that have reached the age of 100, 200 and even 400. Some Hong Kong roots sell for 500 dollars per ounce. A five- to ten-year-old root will weigh only a few ounces but a 200 – 300-year-old one will weigh nearly 1 lb. The young Ginseng is used in large amounts, 1 teaspoonful to each cup. The old Ginseng requires careful use, starting with 1 drop a day and adding extra drops day by day. If one drop too much is taken, bleeding will start, as the old root is very strong.
There are many beautiful common names for Ginseng: Root of life, Root of man, Santa root, Seed of earth, Panax, Panacea, Life for ever lasting, etc.( Moscow University, 1963).
After having had the history, research data and facts, we are sure you will be interested in its uses. In short, it prolongs life( Saraton University, 1962).
In Russia they recommend to all people over forty to have six weeks( forty-two days) of consecutive daily intake of Ginseng twice a year. This will regenerate the glands and invigorate the blood, thus bringing the properties of Ginseng to the endocrine system. This activates metabolism, improves blood circulation and positively activates the kidney, bladder, liver etc. In general, an over-