What are the effects of Ngoc Linh ginseng? How to use and notes when using

Ngoc Linh ginseng is a precious medicinal herb, often used to improve health and enhance immunity. So what are the effects of Ngoc Linh ginseng? Let’s find out in the following article.

1What is Ngoc Linh ginseng?

Other names: Vietnamese ginseng, ginseng, bamboo ginseng, hidden medicinal plant, small wormwood root.

Scientific name: Panax vietnamensis Ha & Grushv

Family: Ginseng (Araliaceae).

Description of the botanical characteristics of Ngoc Linh ginseng

Perennial herb, about 1m in height. The rhizome is thick, with an average diameter of 3.5cm, without thick reserve lateral roots. Some plants develop tubers at the end of the rhizome, nearly spherical in shape with a diameter of about 5cm.

The stem is smooth, 40-80cm high, has a slightly rounded 3-sided shape, with small longitudinal grooves. Leaves are whorls, each whorl usually has 4 leaflets (rarely 3, 5 or 6).

The palmately compound leaves consist of 5 leaflets (sometimes 6 or 7), 7-12cm long (sometimes up to 15cm). The upper leaflet is obovate or lanceolate, 8-14cm long and 3-5cm wide. The tip of the leaf is pointed, 1.5-2cm long, the base of the leaf is wedge-shaped. The leaf margin is finely serrated, with 8-11 pairs of lateral veins along the main vein. The upper surface of the leaflet has 3mm long stiff hairs, the lower surface is less hairy.

The inflorescence is about 25cm long, 1.5-2 times the length of the petiole, usually bearing a single umbel at the top, sometimes accompanied by 1-4 secondary umbels or a single flower. The main inflorescence is 2.5cm in diameter, containing 50-120 small pale yellow-green flowers, each flower has a diameter of 3-4mm. The ovary usually has 1 cell and 1 style (80%), sometimes has 2 cells and 2 styles (20%).

The fruit turns red when ripe, often with a black dot at the top. The fruit contains 1 kidney-shaped seed or 2 slightly flattened spherical seeds, measuring 7-10mm long and 4-6mm wide.

Distribution

Ngoc Linh ginseng is mainly distributed in the Central region of Vietnam. This plant species often lives in high mountainous areas such as Ngoc Linh mountain in Dak To district, Tu Mo Rong district (Kon Tum) and Nam Tra My district (Quang Nam). In addition, this type of ginseng is also concentrated on Ngoc Am peak (Quang Nam) and Ngoc Lum Heo mountain in Phuoc Loc commune, Phuoc Son district.

Parts used

Ngoc Linh ginseng that is 3 years old or older will be harvested in winter. Rhizomes and tubers of Ngoc Linh ginseng are the parts commonly used for medicine. In addition, the roots and leaves of ginseng can also be used by people.