ginseng

ways to use – ways to use – tea, tincture, decoction, capsules, cooking

interestingly, many ancient cultures on virtually all continents, believed that the shapes of plants were an indicator of their curative powers. we bring this up because ginseng, shinseng literally translates as "essence of the earth in the form of man". take a look at a perfectly formed ginseng root and you?ll see why - the root has a human-like form. the ancient chinese herbalists took this to mean that ginseng was a panacea for all aspects of human health. this includes those mentioned above and a host of others - restoring memory loss, cutting cholesterol, boosting the immune system, managing blood pressure and preventing the common cold.

there are many varieties of ginseng, the two that are most commonly used in herbal medicine are chinese ginseng (panax ginseng) and north american ginseng (panax quinquefolius). even though it’s often referred to as north american ginseng, did you know that most of this amazing adaptogen is actually grown in canada? in fact some of the best quality ginseng in the world is grown right here in ontario!

many centuries after the publication of the shen-nung pen-ts?ao-ching, in 1716, canadian grown ginseng first landed on chinese shores. herbalists quickly took note of the high quality, and soon use of canadian ginseng in china skyrocketed amongst elite classes of society wealthy enough to afford the imported root.

to this day, ginseng remains as popular, if not more popular as a pathway to general wellness than ever before. whether brewed into a tea, added to recipes or chewed on its own, the root shaped like a man continues to inspire

try this simple and delicious recipe: shinseng chicken soap tea – you’ll need the following:

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 cups chopped onion

2 tbsp diced peeled fresh ginger

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb skinless boneless chicken breast cut into 1-inch pieces

3 cups water

3 (14 ½ oz) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth (or homemade broth)

3 cups yellow corn canned, fresh or frozen

4 oz dried ginseng

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

over medium-high heat, heat oil in a dutch-oven. add onion, ginger, garlic, and sauté 2 minutes. next add your chicken and sauté 4 minutes. add water, broth and bring to a boil. stir in corn and ginseng and bring to a boil again. reduce heat, simmer 20 minutes, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve. delicious

ingredients: canadian ginseng

tea: 1 tsp per 8-10oz water, steep 3-7 mins

*avoid ginseng if taking blood thinners, maois, diabetic drugs, or immunosuppressants. excessive doses may cause depression, nervousness, sleeplessness (especially if taken in the evening), and/or high blood pressure

**we encourage you to do your own personal research about plants and the

different ways to use and consume them**

25g