One thing that has always fascinated me about Ginseng is the shape of his root. Back in the day before herb books and internet resources, natural healers relied on the appearance of plants for clues about the medicine they contain. This eventually became known as "The Doctrine of Signatures." With Ginseng, when you examine the roots pictured on this month's plant medicine card, notice how they loosely resemble a human figure: legs, arms and torso. If you look at the image below, you can even see the suggestion of a head.
This comparison underlines Ginseng's reputation as an overall restorative body tonic, or in herb speak an "adaptogen" among other things. It didn't surprise me to learn that the botanical name Panax comes from the Greek word, panakeia which translates to "all-healing" (or"panacea"). There are actually thirteen known species of Ginseng that I'm aware of, but the most popular ones are Panax (aka Korean) Ginseng, the stronger, hotter one, predominantly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the milder Panax quinquefolius also referred to as American Ginseng.
I can recall taking capsules of Ginseng years ago right before an aerobic session. It was an extremely energizing workout, and I remember flying around the gym, but then crashing hard and quickly once I got home. Since then, my personal approach to Ginseng has been to use it sparingly with caution, and for me it's best taken in combination with other herbs.
The Panax quinquefolium species of this herb has recently come my way as an opportunity
to once again plant seeds in an effort to conserve an herb that is rapidly finding its place to the United Plant Savers "at risk" list. In response to their roots & seeds sale, I ordered the smallest amount (one ounce) of seeds which turned out to be 400! As you can see they are the size and shape of lentils, and I must say they have a distinctively earthy scent.
As with so many plants, location does play a role in successfully growing Ginseng. These little "embryos" are sourced from Wisconsin which is a far cry from north central Arizona, climate-wise. But I wanted to do my part, encourage healthy growth and hope for the best.
Since this herb prefers a cool, dark, wet atmosphere, the seeds came packaged in a sandwich baggie with a moistened bit of paper towel and directions to get them quickly in the ground before they dry out. They also came with guidance as to the most beneficial location--facing north and along a sloping terrain. Well, I adapted as best I could. Now they're in their new home, planted in a space that is slightly elevated, marked by river rock and covered with mulch and dried leaves.
I kept a few seeds aside to see if these little guys would help me connect to the spirit of Ginseng while doing a plant spirit journey.
The path to meet this herb went deeper into the earth than that of other plants. When I found the overarching Ginseng plant, its root system was copious and entwined. The gist of what I heard was a caution not to get too tangled up in the web of the outside, above ground world. It was a simple message that also suggested keeping the body strong, the mind clear and the spirit open.
Strength and self care on all levels seems to be part of what the energy of this plant offers. Going back to our December card, the creator of this deck and guidebook, Adriana Ayales, emphasizes the power of this restorative herb when she writes that "...Ginseng's medicinal abilities are like a lightening bolt of pure life energy to the nervous system, reviving our innermost recesses."
For anyone interested in Astrology, she also associates this herb with both the dynamic quality of the planet Uranus and the expansive nature of Jupiter. Tarot readers may recognize her parallel to the major arcana "Magician" card, one that indicates the human potential of self-actualization and manifestation.
This "Magician" card pictured above is from the Ryder-Waite tarot deck and features an individual posed in a zestful, "I got this" stance. Look again at the similar figure we are introduced to on this month's Herbal Oracle card. He is portrayed as an amiable wizard with stars and fairy dust in his aura and on his earth toned vest and hat. His staff appears to be grounded, and he extends his right hand, offering us the energizing power of a Ginseng plant.
I'm inclined to trust his wisdom.
As always, thanks for letting me share my thoughts and journey with you. I welcome your input, so if you want to submit a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If you are interested in booking a personal session, you can do this here:
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For now, here's wishing you wellness, wisdom and bloomin' vibes!
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