COLONIE --
Ginseng , a root with a long tradition in the Orient and in the Americas, was the center of attention Saturday at a conference in Colonie.
The New York State Ginseng Growers Association held " Ginseng Day 1996" at the Best Western Motel in Colonie, an event that attracted scores of people interested in growing the herb or locating it growing wild in the woods. The association, formed in 1896, is one of the state's oldest agricultural organizations.
A bright green plant with oval-shaped leaves and small red berries, it grows wild in the eastern United States and Canada. The berries bloom between June and August, and the roots should be between five to eight years old before harvesting. Roots are ground into powder for consumption or soaked in alcohol to make an extract.
But what is all the fuss over a bitter-tasting, ugly root?
"It has been touted as an aphrodisiac because at 10 o'clock at night it makes you feel like it's 9 o'clock in the morning," said Steven Roth, conference speaker and president of the New York State Ginseng Association. There is no evidence, however, that the herb chemically activates the libido. "It will just give you a feeling of rejuvenation, kind of a pick-me-up but not with a buzz like you get from coffee," Roth said.
The deciduous perennial is nearly extinct in Asia, where it has been a panacea for at least 5,000 years and where it is called the "king of herbs." The root's American cousin, quinquefolium, was cultivated by pioneers such as Daniel Boone and was exported toAsia as early as the late 1700s, Roth said.
Ginseng is said to relieve stress, combat fatigue, aid circulation, lessen the body's absorption of cholesterol, improve vision and hearing, lower high blood pressure and regulate sleep cycles. North Vietnamese negotiators gave Henry Kissinger ginseng root during peace talks in 1970 to keep him from falling asleep.
But you won't find the root in the grocery store's produce sectioon, exceppt in New York City's Chinatown, Roth said. Numerous products on the market contain it, though, and buyers should be wary of ripoffs, he said.
"Basically, if it's cheap it probably does not contain much ginseng ," Roth said. "The real thing is expensive."
Rick Sorensen's wife takes ginseng to help her with multiple sclerosis. Sorensen, from Blairstown, N.J., came to the conference to learn more about growing ginseng for profit onhis organic farm. "My wife takes it, and it keeps her immune system up and gives her energy," he said.
Another conferenceattendee, Ralph Smith, also of New Jersey, swears by ginseng for his diabetes. "It gives me back some of the energy that the sugar takes away, and I don't need as much medication," Smith said. He came to the conference to find out how to buy seeds and start a ginseng garden.
- BY: Bob Gardinier. STAFF WRITER
- SOURCE: Times Union (Albany, NY)1996.06.30
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