GINSENG
(Panax quinquefolium)
american ginseng, five fingers, five-leafed ginseng, redberry

Description: The perennial fleshy root, sometimes resembles a human form. Leaves are palmate, divided into 4-5 sharp-toothed, oblong-lance-shaped leaflets. Whitish flowers are in round umbels. Plant, topped by a solitary simple umbel of greenish-yellow flowers. Fruit is a small, red, edible, drupe-like berry. Only use roots 5 yrs.old, or older. Found growing wild in eastern North America, now, mainly under cultivation.

Edible, Medicinal: The Red berry is edible. Demulcent, panacea, stimulant, stomachic. American and Asiatic ginseng root have essentially the same constituents. Useful in fevers, inflammatory illnesses, hemorrhaging and blood diseases. Helps promote mental and physical vigor, promotes appetite and digestive problems. Used by women for normalizing menstruation and easing childbirth. Use root, collected after flowering and dried. Make into tea to your taste, and as needed.

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