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American vs. Asian Ginseng: Which Is the Best Type of Ginseng?
“Ginseng is good for you.” Well, OK, but which ginseng, specifically?
Because here’s the thing. The Panax — sidenote: Panax stems from “panacea”, the Greek word for “cure” or “heal everything” — genus consists of 17 species.
That means there are 17 different medicinal herbs that contain the health-beneficial compounds ginsenosides and gintonin.
Wow. Now, if you thought we would list all 17 species, you’re mistaken.
Turns out, we primarily use only two Panax species as functional food and medicine. Panax ginseng (Asian or Korean ginseng). And Panax quinqueofolius (American ginseng).
Chances are, if you’re like most people, this question would have popped up in your mind:
“So, American vs. Asian ginseng, which is better?”
Well, continue reading to find out.
Understanding the difference between American vs. Asian ginseng
The most obvious difference between American and Asian ginseng would be the geographic region to which they’re native:
- Asian ginseng: Korean Peninsula and Northern China
- American ginseng: United States and Canada
As a result, Asian and American ginseng are plants of disparate species (i.e., not the same species) that differ in saponins called ginsenosides. For the uninitiated, ginsenosides are the major active pharmacological components of ginseng.
They’re essentially responsible for all the health benefits you’d see from taking ginseng.
American vs. Asian ginseng: which is the best type of ginseng?
OK, American and Asian ginseng differ in their “ginsenoside profile”.
But how so, exactly? And how does that translate to the type of health benefit you’d see? Or, in other words, how would you know which is best for you?
A 2011 study published in Phytochemistry helpfully quantifies the differences:
| Chemical composition | American ginseng | Asian ginseng |
|---|---|---|
| Total ginsenosides | 40-60 g/kg | 20-40 g/kg |
| Major ginsenosides | Rb1, Re, Rd | Rb1, Rg1, Rb2 |
| Pseudoginsenoside F11 | 1.0-2.0 g/kg | 0 |
| Ginsenoside Rf | 0 | 1.0-2.0 g/kg |
| PPD-group to PPT-group | > 2.0 | < 2.0 |
| Rb1 : Rg1 | > 5.0 | < 5.0 |
| Rg1 : Rea | < 1.0 | > 1.0 |
| Rb2: Rc | < 0.4 | > 0.4 |
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. There are only 2 key points to note.
The first is that American ginseng appears to be richer in ginsenosides content per kilogram than its Asian counterpart (40-60 g/kg compared to 20-40 g/kg). And the other? The specific types of ginsenosides and their concentration levels differ.
That said, while it’s commonly believed that the 2 exert slightly different effects — namely, American ginseng is more “calming”, “cooler”, and less stimulating than Asian ginseng — a large body of evidence shows that they share many health benefits, including (but not limited to):
- Modulating immune system responses
- Enhancing cognitive functions
- Exerting protective effects on the cardiovascular system
- Lowering fatigue levels
Choose the best quality possible for each type
At this point, you might be frustrated, “American vs. Asian ginseng: which should I choose?”
Well, if you’re looking to maximize the amount of ginsenosides you get (because they’re the primary compounds responsible for giving you all those beneficial health effects, after all!), American ginseng is undoubtedly the smarter choice.
And even then, not all American ginsengs are made equal.
Here are a few tips that’ll help you distinguish the excellent from the not-so-good:
- Go for real ginseng instead of ginseng supplements: This means whole ginseng, ginseng slices, ginseng powder, and ginseng tea. Like most supplements, ginseng supplements (e.g., pills and capsules) fail to contain the amount of ginseng they say they do and are adulterated with harmful contaminants.
- The 5-year mark is the best: The content of ginsenosides in ginseng root increases from 1 to 5 years before plateauing. In addition to having the highest concentration of ginsenosides, 5-year ginseng also tends to be more pleasing on the tastebuds (especially important if you plan to enjoy your ginseng whole, paired with dishes, or in tea).
- Watch out for defective ginseng: At the risk of stating the obvious, disease-ridden ginseng won’t yield many health-beneficial ginsenosides. (They may even make you sick!) Learn how to check the quality of your ginseng here.
Oh, and the final tip? If you decide to go with American ginseng, get it from us — Grace Mountain. We insist on only sourcing the best 5-year North American ginseng from Ontario, Canada (the largest producer of North American ginseng in the world, by the way). That means you’ll never buy bad ginseng from us; that’s our promise. See for yourself here.
