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Ginseng, the Divine Root: The Curious History of the Plant That Captivated the World
The story behind ginseng is as remarkable as the root itself. Prized for its legendary curative powers, ginseng launched the rise to power of China's last great dynasty; inspired battles between France and England; and sparked a boom in Minnesota comparable to the California Gold Rush. It has made and broken the fortunes of many and has inspired a subculture in rural America unrivaled by any herb in the plant kingdom.
Today ginseng is at the very center of alternative medicine, believed to improve stamina, relieve stress, stimulate the immune system, enhance mental clarity, and restore well-being. It is now being studied by medical researchers for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.
In "Ginseng, the Divine Root," David Taylor tracks the path of this fascinating plant from the forests east of the Mississippi to the bustling streets of Hong Kong and the remote corners of China. He becomes immersed in a world full of wheelers, dealers, diggers, and stealers, all with a common goal: to hunt down the elusive "Root of Life." Weaving together his intriguing adventures with ginseng's rich history, Taylor uncovers a story of international crime, ancient tradition, botany, herbal medicine, and the vagaries of human nature.
Today ginseng is at the very center of alternative medicine, believed to improve stamina, relieve stress, stimulate the immune system, enhance mental clarity, and restore well-being. It is now being studied by medical researchers for the treatment of cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease.
In "Ginseng, the Divine Root," David Taylor tracks the path of this fascinating plant from the forests east of the Mississippi to the bustling streets of Hong Kong and the remote corners of China. He becomes immersed in a world full of wheelers, dealers, diggers, and stealers, all with a common goal: to hunt down the elusive "Root of Life." Weaving together his intriguing adventures with ginseng's rich history, Taylor uncovers a story of international crime, ancient tradition, botany, herbal medicine, and the vagaries of human nature.
304 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 1, 2014
Written in a manner that has become popular with journalists Taylor traces the history of ginseng, specifically wild ginseng and how it is harvested in North America and Asia. The narrative allows Taylor to meet people all along the eastern Appalachians who depend on the root to help them get by. It is an interesting read.
April 4, 2016
This is an excellent book to understand the history of ginseng in North America. Yes, dear readers, ginseng digging goes back to the colonial days. American ginseng found a ready market in Asia and has been exporting ever since. An amazing cast of characters is met up and down the Appalachians that have some interest in ginseng. The author kept my interest as he moved through the supply chain of ginseng in the US, from the growers, to the diggers (poachers), to the agents that export it.
I like reading about the impact of a single plant to the world. I've read books about rubber trees, nutmeg, coffee, and have one about cotton in the on-deck circle. Some are dull, some are captivating. This book about ginseng, for me, edges towards captivating. If I learn that some of my notions about a time and region are wrong, I get excited.
I learned that the growing capital for ginseng in the US is in Wisconsin. In China, it is a proud fact that the ginseng sold in stalls in the import cities is from Wisconsin. Amazing!
If you are curious about ginseng, people's reverence to the root, or how it fits into the history of the early US, this is the book. The ginseng folks are a secretive group and this is an excellent view into that world.
I like reading about the impact of a single plant to the world. I've read books about rubber trees, nutmeg, coffee, and have one about cotton in the on-deck circle. Some are dull, some are captivating. This book about ginseng, for me, edges towards captivating. If I learn that some of my notions about a time and region are wrong, I get excited.
I learned that the growing capital for ginseng in the US is in Wisconsin. In China, it is a proud fact that the ginseng sold in stalls in the import cities is from Wisconsin. Amazing!
If you are curious about ginseng, people's reverence to the root, or how it fits into the history of the early US, this is the book. The ginseng folks are a secretive group and this is an excellent view into that world.
August 8, 2025
A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THIS POPULAR ROOT
Author David A. Taylor wrote in the Introduction to this 2006 book, “American ginsengers through the centuries were happy to collect the roots to sell, but it was rare for them to chew the root themselves. And there’s still a good deal of debate among American doctors about whether ginseng does any good. Depending on who you ask, ginseng either works to catalyze that body’s vital energy, or it acts as a mild tonic and antioxidant, or it’s a fraud. Some U.S. researchers have found that certain chemicals in American ginseng may protect brain cells against degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease. No one denies, though, that ginseng has, at least, a very powerful effect on the imagination.” (Pg. 3)
He observes, “Ginseng, like many others, faces the possibility that it will not survive in the wild for much longer. If it doesn’t, strands of our own history will be lost. Meanwhile, every fall, American ginseng continues to get shepherded along routes that lead from forests to the world’s cities and suburbs, passing through an eclectic assortment of hands… American ginseng roots, both wild and farm-grown, are shipped to South America, Europe, and Asia… The history of this modest plant brings together Iroquois botanical knowledge and… acupuncture… fraud and folklore. Perhaps no other plant encompasses quite this range and intensity of human experience. This book is about a plant poised between the danger of the wild and the safety of domestication, and is a picaresque of what life is like for a species balancing between extinction and stardom.” (Pg. 7-8)
He notes, Ginseng’s popularity is part of a larger surge in Americans’ consumption of herbal foods and beverages: from $30 million in 1997 to over a billion dollars a year now. This trend caused concern at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and in 2001 it warned companies that some products with ‘novel ingredients’ like ginseng could be illegal.” (Pg. 30)
He explains, “Asian ginseng’s reputation as a mild stimulant fit well with the Taoist idea of maintaining the body’s ‘qi’… Plus, its shape corresponded with another Taoist idea, that humans mirror the universe around them… The resemblance between an odd, branchy ginseng root and the human form made ginseng promising for many human ills.” (Pg. 35)
He recounts, “Early in the twentieth century, American use of medicinal herbs declined following the 1910 Flexner Report, a searing critique of medical education in the United States that influenced medical schools profoundly. The report urged that American medical schools focus on allopathic medicine, to the exclusion of many approaches that had once been popular, including herbalism.” (Pg. 42)
He states. “Ginseng was probably used as a food before it gained currency as a health tonic. In China, tonic cuisine has a long pedigree… In Korean cooking, too, ginseng is used in chicken soups and in other dishes… Most traditional recipes call for Asian ginseng, but as experience with American ginseng has grown, many chefs have embraced it… For most Western palates, though, the root has a long way to go. Energy shakes and smoothies are a step in that direction… Despite the commercial failure of Ginseng Rush, many other soft drinks and teas have established themselves on the market, including an uncola counterpart: Ginseng Up!... In over a decade with Ginseng up!... the drink’s market [grew] steadily and leap[ed] the divide from marginal specialty shops to mainline grocery stores… Exactly how much ginseng actually went into Ginseng Up! was hard to say.” (Pg. 239-241)
He concludes, “In searching for ginseng’s secrets, we glimpse what we value as humans. Its history tells us how much people through the ages have treasured good food, good health, and wealth, but also intangibles like tradition, longevity, and even (very recently) biodiversity. People are ginseng’s predators, its dispersal agents, and in rare cases, its protectors. Right now the plant is poised at a precarious junction. In the end, we will probably grasp ginseng’s true nature only when we appreciate our own mysterious place in the natural world.” (Pg. 275)
Persons primarily interested in Herbal Medicines and Naturopathy may be disappointed in this book’s lack of discussion of the possible ‘health benefits’ that may come from ginseng, but those wanting a cultural and social history of this plant will be very pleased with the book.
Author David A. Taylor wrote in the Introduction to this 2006 book, “American ginsengers through the centuries were happy to collect the roots to sell, but it was rare for them to chew the root themselves. And there’s still a good deal of debate among American doctors about whether ginseng does any good. Depending on who you ask, ginseng either works to catalyze that body’s vital energy, or it acts as a mild tonic and antioxidant, or it’s a fraud. Some U.S. researchers have found that certain chemicals in American ginseng may protect brain cells against degenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease. No one denies, though, that ginseng has, at least, a very powerful effect on the imagination.” (Pg. 3)
He observes, “Ginseng, like many others, faces the possibility that it will not survive in the wild for much longer. If it doesn’t, strands of our own history will be lost. Meanwhile, every fall, American ginseng continues to get shepherded along routes that lead from forests to the world’s cities and suburbs, passing through an eclectic assortment of hands… American ginseng roots, both wild and farm-grown, are shipped to South America, Europe, and Asia… The history of this modest plant brings together Iroquois botanical knowledge and… acupuncture… fraud and folklore. Perhaps no other plant encompasses quite this range and intensity of human experience. This book is about a plant poised between the danger of the wild and the safety of domestication, and is a picaresque of what life is like for a species balancing between extinction and stardom.” (Pg. 7-8)
He notes, Ginseng’s popularity is part of a larger surge in Americans’ consumption of herbal foods and beverages: from $30 million in 1997 to over a billion dollars a year now. This trend caused concern at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and in 2001 it warned companies that some products with ‘novel ingredients’ like ginseng could be illegal.” (Pg. 30)
He explains, “Asian ginseng’s reputation as a mild stimulant fit well with the Taoist idea of maintaining the body’s ‘qi’… Plus, its shape corresponded with another Taoist idea, that humans mirror the universe around them… The resemblance between an odd, branchy ginseng root and the human form made ginseng promising for many human ills.” (Pg. 35)
He recounts, “Early in the twentieth century, American use of medicinal herbs declined following the 1910 Flexner Report, a searing critique of medical education in the United States that influenced medical schools profoundly. The report urged that American medical schools focus on allopathic medicine, to the exclusion of many approaches that had once been popular, including herbalism.” (Pg. 42)
He states. “Ginseng was probably used as a food before it gained currency as a health tonic. In China, tonic cuisine has a long pedigree… In Korean cooking, too, ginseng is used in chicken soups and in other dishes… Most traditional recipes call for Asian ginseng, but as experience with American ginseng has grown, many chefs have embraced it… For most Western palates, though, the root has a long way to go. Energy shakes and smoothies are a step in that direction… Despite the commercial failure of Ginseng Rush, many other soft drinks and teas have established themselves on the market, including an uncola counterpart: Ginseng Up!... In over a decade with Ginseng up!... the drink’s market [grew] steadily and leap[ed] the divide from marginal specialty shops to mainline grocery stores… Exactly how much ginseng actually went into Ginseng Up! was hard to say.” (Pg. 239-241)
He concludes, “In searching for ginseng’s secrets, we glimpse what we value as humans. Its history tells us how much people through the ages have treasured good food, good health, and wealth, but also intangibles like tradition, longevity, and even (very recently) biodiversity. People are ginseng’s predators, its dispersal agents, and in rare cases, its protectors. Right now the plant is poised at a precarious junction. In the end, we will probably grasp ginseng’s true nature only when we appreciate our own mysterious place in the natural world.” (Pg. 275)
Persons primarily interested in Herbal Medicines and Naturopathy may be disappointed in this book’s lack of discussion of the possible ‘health benefits’ that may come from ginseng, but those wanting a cultural and social history of this plant will be very pleased with the book.
August 31, 2013
This book could have used a lot more editing, and a more organized structure, but the truth is that the story of ginseng itself really lacks in drama. I've read a number of "pop non fiction" books about single plants or ingredients, and while many have had their flaws, the subject matter was at least interesting. I feel like, having read an entire book about ginseng, my understanding of it is roughly the same as it was before: the Chinese value the root for its medicinal properties, although Western clinical studies have found little evidence to support this. it is grown both in Asia and in America (wild and cultivated), and can be quite valuable. I don't think there's much else to it.
June 26, 2023
It had some good nuggets of information in it, and there were stories that caught my interest, but overall the book rambled and it wasnt a cohesive read that was easy to follow. Too many small details from the research made it into the final writing, which was just information overload and it was difficult to pick up on what was important to remember as a reader.
September 20, 2016
I would have liked more medicinal purposes and ways to use it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews