Ginseng originally grows in the mountainous regions of North Korea, China, Manchuria and eastern Siberia; cultivated in northern China, Korea, Japan and Russia. S.a. Ginseng, American, Siberian, Russian = bristly taiga root, The slow-growing plants require much care. Phytotherapeutically the roots of the 4-6 year old plants are used.
see also under Eleutherococci radix
Depending on the processing of the freshly harvested ginseng root, white and red ginseng are distinguished:
White ginseng: The freshly harvested ginseng root is bleached after washing mti sulfur dioxide and dried.
Red ginseng; treatment with hot steam after harvesting. This produces a horn-like reddish-brown structure in the outer layer of the root, and the ingredients are broken down less quickly. Red ginseng is therefore considered to be of higher quality than white ginseng.