10/12/2020
Today, the nutrition world is fad-crazy.
Maybe you’ve been tempted to try a collagen supplement because you see your favorite celebrity using one. Or perhaps you’ve embarked on a ketogenic diet because some of your coworkers swear by it.
But the most-researched and clinically validated ingredient for your health is far more ancient.
Enter adaptogens — non-toxic plants that help your body adapt to stressors. And in the world of adaptogens, one of the most popular is ginseng.
Ginseng has been around forever.
It was originally used as herbal medicine in ancient China, and there are written records about its properties dating back to about 100 A.D. In traditional Eastern medicine, it’s believed to it be a source of Chi, the earth’s vital energy that circulates through the body at all times. Today, ginseng is one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world. (Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius are the two most recognized species.)
The first thing to understand about ginseng is that it isn’t your average functional herb like thyme or basil — it’s an adaptogen. This is a major distinction. There are three key requirements for a plant to qualify as an adaptogen:
• It’s nontoxic, safe for long-term use, and non-habit forming
• It produces a nonspecific response in your body, helping a variety of systems defend against physical, chemical, and biological stressors
• It brings balance to your body and helps to normalize all systems
Confused? Think of it this way.
You know that empathetic friend who comes over to your house to vent, but then she sees that you’re excited about something and adjusts her demeanor to celebrate with you? That’s what an adaptogen does in the human body. It senses what the body needs and alters its behavior to foster wellbeing.
And stress is the root cause of most diseases and common ailments.
For these reasons, adaptogens are the queens of holistic medicine, and ginseng is one of the very best.
(Tero Isokauppila, Feb 19.2019, tincture.io)
Ontario is one of the largest producers of North American Ginseng in the world. North American Ginseng is also grown in Wisconsin, USA and in British Columbia. The variety of ginseng grown in Ontario has the active chemical make-up and taste that is highly sought-after by worldwide markets.
(Source from Ontario Ginseng Association)