Foxconn Could Boost Wisconsin Ginseng Sales

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou signed a memorandum of understanding with Wisconsin ginseng growers last week to help promote the herb to overseas markets. We speak to Bob Kaldunski, president of the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin. Foxconn's interest in ginseng caught him off guard, he says, "It's very rare for a company to come see us." He hopes the relationship will boost sales both...

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WISCONSIN GINSENG

It generally takes four years to bring ginseng root to harvest. The Wisconsin cultivated ginseng replicates the way wild ginseng is grown in the forest. During those four years, the farmer works to protect the precious plant from the harsh winter conditions and the strong summer light. A layer of straw is place on the planted beds to protect the plant. In the summer, shade structures are placed over the ginseng, so that the plant is grows in a forest like state. During these four years, the farmer must carefully watch for a variety of things that can ruin the plant, such as animals getting into the garden or if the weather is unusually dry or wet. There are many factors that can have an impact on the final ginseng root.

"Every ounce of ginseng grown in the state of Wisconsin is carefully and properly grown with love, by farmers that have many years of experience. Wisconsin Ginseng is the gold standard for high quality American ginseng. American Ginseng has been cultivated in Wisconsin, U.S., for more than 100 years, dating back to the 1800’s. Today, Wisconsin Ginseng farmers account for 95 percent of the total cultivated American ginseng production of the United States."

Once the root is harvested, it is placed in a cooler where it is refrigerated for 10 to 20 days. After cooling, the roots are washed and fully sorted to remove any remaining debris. After they are cooled and washed, they are placed in a specially designed ginseng dryer. They are dried for 14 days and continually monitored.



After drying, the ginseng roots are sorted by diameter into small, medium, large and extra-large roots. Then, roots in each of those categories are further graded by length. This grading procedure assists buyers in purchasing the exact type of ginseng necessary for their end products. The fibers and prongs are cut off the root in the grading process and can be sold for tea cuts, or grounded into powder for capsules.



The roots are again inspected and placed 125 pound or 57 kilogram barrels, ready for sale to ginseng buyers. Wisconsin Ginseng is sold to consumers around the world seeking its health benefits.

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AMERICAN GINSENG: DOSING

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:



BY MOUTH:

For reducing blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes: 3 grams up to 2 hours before a meal. American ginseng should be taken within 2 hours of a meal. If it is taken too long before eating, the blood sugar might become too low.100-200 mg of American ginseng have been taken daily for up to 8 weeks.

For preventing upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold or flu: a specific American ginseng extract called CVT-E002 (Cold-fX, Afexa Life Sciences, Canada) 200 mg twice daily for 3-4 months has been used.

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Ginseng Could Decrease Cancer-Related Fatigue: Study

A gnarled-looking root could be a natural way of quelling fatigue in cancer patients, according to new research.

Cancer patients who took high doses of American ginseng over a two-month period experienced less fatigue than people who were given a placebo, according to the study, conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers.

The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, included 340 people who were either currently undergoing cancer treatments, or who had just completed cancer treatments. Every day, each person was given either a placebo pill or a pill that contained 2,000 milligrams of American ginseng root.



The researchers found that at the end of eight weeks, the people who were given ginseng had fewer symptoms of fatigue and tiredness compared with the people given the placebo.



"After eight weeks, we saw a 20-point improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, measured on a 100-point, standardized fatigue scale," study researcher Debra Barton, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, said in a statement.



The ginseng given to the patients in the study was pure American ginseng root that had been ground up and put in capsule form. Barton noted that ginseng that is purchased off-the-shelf may be dangerous for people with breast cancer because ethanol is sometimes used to process it, "which can give it estrogen-like properties that may be harmful to breast cancer patients."



The University of Maryland Medical Center pointed out that research has shown other beneficial effects of American ginseng; it's been found to decrease levels of blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, and in a lab study on cells, it's been found to stop colorectal cancer cell growth. Ginseng also seems to decrease cold duration and boost the immune system.



However, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns that people should consult their doctors before taking ginseng as it can cause a number of side effects, from headache and vomiting, to insomnia and high blood pressure. There are also certain people for whom ginseng could be dangerous.

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