Ginseng is a herb up to 60 cm tall with palmately folded long-petiolate leaves. The leaves are wedge-shaped, their edges are toothed, glabrous on the upper side and overgrown hairs on the reverse. From the small white rounded flowers of ginseng, small red drupes with two to three seeds ripen. However, the medicinal part of ginseng is the root, referred to in medicine as radix ginseng. The root is massive, usually branched into several finger-shaped formations and often branched even further into fine roots. Their shape can sometimes resemble a human figure. The color of the roots is light orange and thanks to it and also the spilar shape, ginseng can sometimes resemble a carrot root.

The easiest way to consume ginseng is tea, which is prepared by boiling the root in water or pouring boiling water over the root and steeping for a long time. The longer the root is infused, the richer the tea is in health benefits. The root can also be steeped in alcohol, made into a tincture, or added to food.

Ginseng is an important roborans, or strengthening agent and anti-stress drug. It has beneficial effects on the nervous system, helps with headaches and concentration disorders. It is also a suitable addition to treatment for diabetes and acts as an aphrodisiac.

Although the effect of ginseng on the human body has been proven by centuries of use, there is only a handful of scientific evidence of its effectiveness so far and they often contradict each other. This is mainly due to the variable quality of the ginseng used in the study. However, significant anti-inflammatory effects have been proven at the University of Hong Kong, and studies by the University of Mexico recommend ginseng as a dietary supplement to improve the quality of life.

Side effects of ginseng are rare with the correct dosage. Rarely, headaches, nausea, sleep disorders and digestive problems may occur.

Dried ginseng is available in two forms, white ginseng and red. The difference in both types lies in the drying process. White ginseng is dried in the sun, red ginseng is first infused in an infusion and then dried with artificial heat.

The homeland of ginseng is deciduous forests in northeastern China and some areas of Russia. It is also naturally distributed in a small area in North Korea. Its largest grower for pharmaceutical purposes is China, where it also began to be used in ancient times. Ginseng is attributed almost magical effects similar to mandrakes. In addition to Asian ginseng, there is also American ginseng, which comes from the eastern part of North America. However, it is another species of this genus, Ginseng quinquefolius, which has very similar effects to ginseng.