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Ginseng has been cultivated and consumed in the Far East for hundreds of years for its beneficial physiological effects. Today, its benefits for the body are also becoming more widely recognised in Hungary, but beware! Not all ginseng preparations are as effective as they claim to be.
The cultivation of ginseng, also known as manseng root, has a history of around 400 years. Since then, this shade-loving, umbelliferous flowering herb has been cultivated and used, mainly in Far Eastern cultures.
In Korea, China and Japan, the benefits of ginseng for the human body were recognised early on. It is not only effective in preventing disease by strengthening the immune system, but also in treating and following up on it, so continued consumption is recommended.
Ginseng has been successfully used to alleviate the symptoms of a wide range of ailments: it helps to keep blood sugar levels low, strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, anxiety and mental problems, effectively relieves colds and flu, and even helps to treat impotence in men. It makes you more focused and improves memory.
Of course, this list is by no means exhaustive, we only wanted to show the wide range of uses, so it is not surprising that the demand for ginseng preparations has increased in Hungary too. However, it is worth keeping an open mind when browsing the shelves.
What is the great European ginseng swindle?
The great European ginseng scam is about how marketers are often tricky and obscure about the information they put on the packaging. This is making it increasingly difficult to know whether a particular ginseng product will actually be effective enough, or whether it will just be a placebo effect.
As ginseng has its own specific cultivation needs, European countries, including our own, are dependent on imports of this plant. With growing demand, competition is increasing and those looking to make a quick profit are harvesting plants with a much lower active ingredient content than a mature 6-year-old ginseng.
In fact, to produce 1 kg of premium quality Korean ginseng extract, you need at least 7 kg of 6-year-old ginseng roots. This mature ginseng root, in turn, has 35 times more active ingredient than the 1-2 year old herb used in cheaper products. This is also reflected in the price difference.
Of course, these budget-friendly products are available to a wider range of customers than premium, higher priced extracts. At the same time, the most important thing, the more concentrated active ingredient content, had to be sacrificed at the altar of lower price.
In contrast, the active ingredient content of the premium Black Ginseng we sell is at least 6 mg/g, while the Rg1, Rb1, Rg3 content of Enzimes Red Ginseng and extracts is at least 10 mg/g. These are extremely high figures for ginseng, which only 6-year-old plants can achieve.
You will not find such detailed information on the packaging of cheaper products, and for good reason.
Because the focus is on the active ingredient, ginsenosides
The problem is not just the time of harvesting: it is often the case that the active ingredient of the plant is not stated on the label, but rather the amount of powdered ginseng in the capsule or ampoule.
This can lead to a situation where the packaging may show 200 mg of ginseng, but this does not make the ginseng preparation any more effective. As young plants are used - as indicated by the lack of age of the plant - and in powder form, the active ingredient content is a fraction of the premium quality.
You would be convinced of the efficacy of the preparation if the active ingredient content of the ginsenosides were also indicated - along with the place of origin and the age of the plant used. If even this basic information is missing, you should think twice before buying.
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