There are 3 main types of ginseng available on the market today, the Asian (notably Korean Ginseng), American (notably from Wisconsin) and Siberian ginseng. Siberian ginseng is actually not a true ginseng because it does not contain any ginsenocides.

In general, the older the ginseng plant, the higher the ginsenocide content.

On the market today, there are two real species of ginseng available, Panax (Korean or Chinese) and Panax Quinquefolius (American). American ginseng is considered a “cooling” kind of herb and is used in preventative medicine. It slowly strengthens the immune system and acts to normalize body functions. American ginseng can be taken continuously and considered the “premier” ginseng in China because of its preventative type of medicine, which is the traditional Chinese medicinal philosophy. Korean ginseng is considered a “heating” kind of herb and is used as a stimulant and is often taken by people recovering from an illness who need a rapid energy boost. Because Korean ginseng is a stimulating type of ginseng, it is recommended that it be taken for only short periods of time.

There are two classes of ginseng, red and white. Red ginseng comes from a drying process, which is believed to increase it potency and is often used in helping recovery from disease. White ginseng is dried naturally and used for general well being and good health.

All true ginsengs contain ginsenocides. The percentage of ginsenocides in each product depends on the type of ginseng, the age of ginseng when harvested, and the amount of ginseng in the product.