The medical community, while confirming the medicinal value of ginseng, has recently made a startling discovery: the most valuable part of ginseng is not the ginseng root, but the ginseng flower bud, whose medicinal value far exceeds that of the root.
According to a front-page report in the US Ming Pao on December 9th, a nearly 20-year study by the renowned European Institute of Life Sciences (LAT) on tens of thousands of herbal plants has confirmed that ginseng, a plant considered by Easterners to have extremely high medicinal value and to be mystical, has its highest medicinal value not in the root, but in the flower bud. The total ginsenoside content in ginseng flower buds is more than five times that of the ginseng root. Notably, it contains less of the ginsenoside Ro, which can cause "heatiness" in people. Most surprisingly, ginseng flower buds contain several unique compounds not found in the root—substances that scientists have been searching for over 30 years, which can promote the C-C balance in human cells and thus play a major regulatory role in human health.
It is reported that the medicinal value of ginseng comes from its various ginsenosides. Dr. Christa Tittle, head of LAT and a pharmacology doctor from the University of Munich, explained that during the multi-year research process, it was found that the total ginsenoside content in ginseng flower buds is 5.06 times that of the ginseng root. The content of ginsenoside Rd, which can boost human immunity and inhibit cancer cell growth, is as high as 2.77%, which is 13.85 times that of the ginseng root. The content of ginsenoside Re, which protects cell membranes, prevents cell aging, dilates blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar, increases protein and DNA synthesis in liver cells, and significantly inhibits the growth of cervical cancer cells, is 14.7 times that of the ginseng root. Rm7cd, unique to ginseng flower buds for its anti-fatigue and anti-aging properties, is more than 10 times higher than in the ginseng root. Ginseng flower buds contain almost no ginsenoside Ro, which causes "heatiness." Most surprisingly, ginseng flower buds contain unique ginseng flower bud 9-peptide and ginseng flower bud 11-peptide. These are small molecule peptides that can be 100% absorbed by the body and are called "corrective peptides" for their ability to quickly and accurately identify the C-C balance within human cells. The renowned American physiologist Sutherland discovered that cells contain two special substances: cAMP and cGMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate). Their interaction maintains cellular metabolic balance, keeping the body healthy. Sutherland was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this in 1971.
In China, ginseng often specifically refers to the ginseng root and is regarded as the "king of all medicines," with a 5,000-year history of use. It is widely cultivated in Northeast China, especially in Jilin Province. Wherever ginseng is planted, no grass grows for over a decade, showing how voraciously it absorbs nutrients from the soil. Ginseng takes four years to flower and bear fruit, but nowadays, people often dig up the roots after two or three years to sell for quick profits, making it rare to see ginseng flower buds. Ginseng must hibernate in the soil for seven months at temperatures below -30°C, awakening the following May. As the ginseng regrows and develops, its nutrients are concentrated and slowly transported from the root and stem to the flower buds. The buds are harvested before they bloom in mid-to-late May, at which point they seem to contain most of the essence of the ginseng plant.
Experts suggest that ginseng growers should wait until the ginseng has grown for four years before harvesting to allow for the collection of the flower buds. Ginseng roots that are four to six years old have high ginsenoside content and great medicinal value.