American ginseng

noun

Definition of American ginseng

: a ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) native to eastern North America having an aromatic root used in herbal medicine In Asian culture it's believed that Asian ginseng has a heating effect of yang, while American ginseng has a cooling effect of yin.— Walter Nicholls, Washington Post, 16 June 2004 Wild American ginseng root is prized in Asia for its medicinal qualities, and so much of it has been harvested over the past three centuries that the plant, Panax quinquefolius, is now a protected species.— Henry Fountain, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2005

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The first known use of American ginseng was in 1898

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