[Samia`s food facts and recipes] Ginseng, a healthy gift for the holidays

A recent dinner party at my place proved effective in demonstrating the amorous effects of an unlikely aphrodisiac: ginseng. Setting the mood with flickering candlelight and stimulating food combinations can cause quite a stir in an unsuspecting hostess`s dinner guests.

Yes, indeed, I caused a stir in one of my guests that evening -- a dear friend of mine who I would never dream of dating. It may have been the candles, but I think the ginseng-laced main course was what got him in such an amorous mood. He used all kind of adjectives to describe me that I would like to believe, but I had to ignore all the great compliments. After all, the ginseng (and wine) were clearly muddling his thoughts!

As the other guests arched their eyebrows at his attempts to win my favor, I wished I had served less wine and no ginseng at all. However, he did teach me quite a lot about ginseng that night.



He talked about his daily use of ginseng for good health. He told me that he believes it works to strengthen and protect the human body, and that I should continue to cook with the ginseng oil that infused my main course that evening. He may have been playing far out of his league, but the man was certainly knowledgeable when it came to ginseng! I decided to feature my ginseng oil in this column, as a tribute to him.

To support my suspicions about what was causing my friend`s amorous behavior, the 2006 book "Ginseng Dreams: The Secret World of America`s Most Valuable Plant," by Kristin Johannsen, reveals that one of ginseng`s medicinal properties is the aphrodisiacal effect. According to Johannsen, ginseng has a powerful aphrodisiacal affect based on several studies. Johannsen also discusses the research carried out by Laura Murphy, a scientist and instructor in the physiology department at the University of Southern Illinois. Murphy tested the effects of American ginseng on rats, and she was surprised at the results. She found the ginseng-fed rats` libido and performance rate was much higher than that of the control group. The effects of ginseng were much more effective on the libido than cocaine, marijuana or prescription drugs. I think I will be cooking with ginseng oil all the time!

Ginseng is a perennial plant belonging to the Araliaceae botanical family, which includes carrots, celery and parsnips. The root is yellowish with a creamy texture like parsnips. The word ginseng literally means "man plant," because the shape of the ginseng root is similar to that of a human being. Ginseng is also known as the tiger of the plant world, and as the plant that hides from man, because it grows slowly and favors the deep forests. The botanical name Panax was later given to ginseng, and it means "all healing" or "cure-all" in Greek.

History suggests that ginseng was discovered in the mountains of Northern China over 5,000 years ago. It is also believed that ginseng was used as a food source and a medicinal remedy over 3,000 years ago. Ginseng is highly prized and respected by American and Chinese herbalists. The belief is that ginseng helps the body and mind stay in balance. It is also believed that ginseng improves the function of the heart and nervous system, and that it stimulates the endocrine gland. The popularity of ginseng was so great at one point that the plant almost became extinct!

Three North American Indian tribes used the ginseng root for its medicinal power and health benefits. The American settlers discovered ginseng in the 18th century in the New England region of the United States. By 1850, so much ginseng was being harvested and exported to Asia that it almost became extinct. Initially, attempts to cultivate ginseng failed until the early 1900s, when the East Coast farmers began to grown ginseng in small gardens.

They were successful, and their methods of cultivating ginseng spread west and into the woods of Wisconsin. The climate of Wisconsin was and still is ideal for growing ginseng, and today, it`s known as the home of the World`s Finest Ginseng Root.

Two types of ginseng exist in the world, and there are six major species. The American ginseng is white or yellow in color and the Asian ginseng is red. The claim is that American ginseng has a cooling effect and Asian ginseng does the opposite, which appeals to believers of the Yin and Yang theory.

There are three well-known commercial ginsengs. Of the three, Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is considered the best in traditional Chinese medicine. The Asian ginseng is indigenous to China, Russia and Korea. The use of American ginseng (Panax Quinquefolius) only began about 300 years ago, while Asian ginseng has been in use for 2000 years. Ginseng root is harvested after about six-eight years to ensure maximum ginsenoside levels. (The active healthful ingredients in ginseng are saponins, also known as ginsenosides.)

Ginseng is used in Korean dishes such as Samgyetang, which is a famous soup dish made with chicken, rice, ginseng and other ingredients, depending on the recipe. Samgyetang is recognized as an excellent hangover cure. Ginseng is also used in Korea to make candy and tea.

There are several ways to take ginseng root as a simple tonic, besides the many packaged products that list ginseng as an ingredient. The following recipe is not a prescription, however. Before using ginseng or any other medicinal herb, you should consult a certified herbalist, nutritionist and/or your physician.

When buying dried ginseng, choose firm, light-colored roots and avoid shriveled ones. Roots usually come washed and dried. You can store them in a sealed plastic bag in your refrigerator`s crisper for up to 10 days. In his book American Ginseng: Green Gold, Scott Persons notes the optimal daily dose is two to three grams per day -- roughly equivalent to a section of dried root about the size of an almond sliver or your little fingernail.

The two most common ways to prepare ginseng are as chewable root slices or as tea. Dried root slices can be chewed like licorice or jerky. For a pot of ginseng tea, place a dozen or so thin root slices in about a quart of boiling water, using more hot water as needed. People often add honey or sugar to improve the taste.

A review of the literature suggests that ginseng has a biological activity, but the studies have not been conclusive and therefore more research is warranted. It has been noted that steamed and dried red Asian ginseng has been recognized as more biologically active than the raw, unprocessed, dried white ginseng root.

The research is extensive on ginseng`s effectiveness in improving health. According to Kim, et al., as reported in the American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2008, vol. 36, issue 5, pg. 989, heat-processed Korean Panax ginseng may improve diabetic pathological conditions and prevent renal damage that is linked to diabetes. Another study, conducted by Jang et al., as reported in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Oct. 2008, vol. 66, issue 4, pg. 444, suggests that red ginseng may be effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction; however, the sample size was too low to draw definitive conclusions and therefore studies that are more rigorous are necessary.

Lastly, the Canadian Journal of Health & Nutrition, October 2009, issue 324, pg. 150, offers information on the effectiveness of ginseng in combination with ginkgo to support brain function. A trial group of 256 middle-aged participants who took 60mg of ginkgo and 100mg of ginseng dial showed significantly better cognitive function, including both short- and long-term memory

This ginseng-infused olive oil is unusual, delicious and a very special way to spice up stir-fries or any other plain-jane entre. Enjoy!



Ginseng-infused olive oil



180 grams ginseng, cleaned, pealed and sliced vertically

300 ml olive oil

2 chili peppers



Heat oil in microwave until warm. Add ginseng and peppers. Place in jar and let sit for a week to allow ginseng to infuse the oil.



Note: I refrigerate the jar.



samiamounts@yahoo.com



Dr. Samia Mounts is a long-time nutritionist and gourmet aficionado. She works as the Assistant Principal at Seoul American Elementary School.











By Samia Mounts