Panax ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), also known as Asian, Chinese or Korean ginseng, is native to mountainous areas in Northeastern China, Korea and Eastern Russia, where it has been used for more than 4,000 years. This perennial plant grows slowly and its roots are usually harvested when the plant is five or six years old. The roots are fleshy, somewhat spindle-shaped, 2-5 inches long, ½ - 1 inch thick, and there are usually two main portions connected at their upper extremity.

“Panax” means "all-healing" in Greek, and "ginseng" comes from the Chinese words meaning “person" and "plant root", which refers to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a person.

Traditionally used as an adaptogen, Panax ginseng’s primary bioactive compounds are ginsenosides (triterpene saponins), of which about 50 types have been identified. It also contains phytonutrients such as polyactylene compounds, triterpenoids and phytosterols. Panax ginseng is a good source of polysaccharides and several B vitamins, and contains vitamin C and E, choline, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorous, and zinc.*