This type of ginseng is an ancient tonic herb that has been used as a qi (vital essence) tonic in Chinese medicine for about 5,000 years. A member of the Asian grouping of ginseng, it was introduced in Europe several times from the ninth century on, but assumed no importance in Western medicine until studies by Soviet scientists in the 1950s. Then it was established as an “adaptogen” (something that can be taken as food or a supplement that tends to normalize the body’s functions).. It is used as an adaptogen to support overall resistance to physical and mental stress. 

In traditional Chinese medicine, the qi (pronounced “chee”) is a universal energy that works as the body’s vital life force. For people, the qi is a combination of the innate selves that we inherit from our parents and the essential natural substances like air, food, and water that we take into our bodies. Eating healthy food and breathing fresh air are the first steps toward creating a healthy balance within our bodies.