Category: News

Plant of the Month:  Ginseng.  Panax ginseng (Asian Ginseng) & Panax quinquefolius (American Ginseng)

doTerra Essential Oil of the Month:  Petitgrain

Rishi Tea of the Month:  Red Ginseng Iron Goddess Oolong

In keeping with the focus for the month of March, our botanical picks were chosen for the symbolism they provide; immortality and strength. The botanical picks for the month of March include the herb Ginseng, the essential oil Petitgrain and the tea Red Ginseng Iron Goddess Oolong.  The plant is both American and Asian, and highly valued for their multitude of medicinal uses. Ginseng’s medicine is found in its root, a taproot that has to develop for at least 5-7 years before its ready for harvest.  The word ginseng, in Chinese characters, actually translates to “human root,” and the plant is often referred to as “Man Root” because the forked shape of the roots resembles a human torso and legs.  Some of the most prized specimens actually look like a whole human body, making ginseng one of those “Doctrine of Signatures,” plants, which states that herbs resembling various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those body parts. 

The botanical genus name, Panax, is derived from the Greek “Panakos” (meaning “all-cure,” or panacea) in reference to the variety of health benefits attributed to the herb.  Native Americans have used American ginseng to treat fever, headaches, pain and indigestion.  Traditional Chinese medicine has used Asian ginseng for 5000 years to treat anything from colds, respiratory disorders, impotency, and fatigue to cancer, as well as to promote stamina, strength, concentration, improved memory and slow the aging process.

Our tea of the month was selected because of ginseng’s role in bolstering the immune system during the change of seasons.  Fittingly, it’s symbolic for immortality and strength.  While it may not allow you to live forever, folks have been using it to live longer, better and stronger lives for a very long time.

With a flavor that’s said to be sweetly aromatic, wild ginseng can be processed into red or white ginseng.  Both are available in liquid extracts, tinctures, tonics, teas, energy drinks, powders and capsules.  The root can also be chewed raw, used in fresh tea, soups and stir fries.  Or, it can also be dried.  In Chinese medicine, Asian and American ginseng plants are actually used for different treatments.  American ginseng is considered to nourish the yin energy, meaning it’s cooling and moistening.  Asian ginseng, however, has the dry and warming qualities of “tonifying yang.”[i]

The essential oil, Petitgrain, also has historical roots, widely used in the perfume industry and is distilled from the bitter orange tree leaves and twigs. This essential oil can be diffused for a calming and relaxing aroma, help with feelings of tension by applying it topically and a drop or two added to water for help with the immune system.

American ginseng is an herbaceous perennial, found in the woodlands and native to eastern North America. Hardy in zones 3-8, it grows on the shaded floors of mature deciduous hardwood forests and is not an easy one to grow.  For starters, the seeds take 18-21 months to germinate, requiring at least a full year of seasonal cold/warm cycles before it will sprout in its second spring.  It then requires the forest floor’s moist, nutrient-rich soil and leaf litter to mature over the next 5+ years, before it can even be considered ready for harvest.  Ginseng is considered a slow grower, and has been known to live up to and beyond 25 years.  These plants have a history of being a hot commodity for hundreds of years. Harvested for trade, to this day, growers need to protect their crops due to pillaging.  

In plant folklore, it’s said that Panax will bring beauty, love, money, sexuality, and health to all who carry it.  After doing the research for this blog, I would like to weigh in on this.  Money, yes, given the high demand for this plant, I can buy that.  Health, absolutely, with thousands of years to back it up.  Sexuality, yup, it’s a well-known aphrodisiac.  Beauty, maybe, ginseng is used in some skin care products.  The jury’s still out on love though.  I haven’t run across any yet, but heaven only knows how many love stories have been born while on the quest for some ginseng.

Plant of the Month:  Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

doTERRA Essential Oil of the Month:  Black Pepper

Rishi Tea of the Month:  West Cape Chai

Looking for an unusual gift for a longtime valentine this month?  Your search is over!  Open up your spice cabinet and reach for the black pepper.  Plant folklore says black pepper carries the meaning of both fidelity and love, making it strangely appropriate for February 14th.  It doesn’t stop there.  Your faithful valentine’s present is also thought to have protective powers.  In folk magic, the practice of carrying a pouch with a bit of black pepper in it is said to offer protection against the evil eye or from having persistent envious thoughts.  On the home front, a mixture of equal parts black pepper and natural sea salt scattered around your property is supposed to rid any evil and protect it from returning.  Some folks have even gone so far as to throw a pinch of black pepper mixed with salt in the footsteps of any unwanted visitors to prevent them from coming back!

Historically known as “black gold” for its high value on spice trade routes, peppercorns were once used as a trade currency in lieu of money.  There was a time when a pound of black pepper could free a serf and was included in many maiden dowries.  Ever heard the term “peppercorn rent?”  The phrase is still used and refers to when a nominal fee, once paid in peppercorns, is charged to rent a property.  Today, this reigning “king of spices” is the most widely traded spice in the world, accounting for 20-45% of all worldwide spice imports.  Black pepper is big business.

Piper nigrum is native to the lush and humid tropical forests of southwest India.  Leaves are heart-shaped and the tiny white or light yellow-green flowers bloom along with a spike.  As the flowers become fruit, the spikes turn pendulous, eventually forming draping chains of berries.  The berries turn from immature bright pea-green to fully ripened red.  Here’s where it gets interesting.  Green, red, white, and black peppercorns are all from the same fruit of the black pepper plant, harvested at varying stages of development and processed differently.  For green or black peppercorns, berries are harvested at the unripe green.  For white or red peppercorns, berries are harvested at ripened red.  Each color possesses a slightly different flavor. 

Dried peppercorns, unground, will last indefinitely. Cracked pepper has a shelf life of about one year, and the ground is only viable for about 3 months.  Many chefs, however, say that for access to the best flavor and health benefits, grind your own.  The Farmer’s Almanac actually recommends toasting your peppercorns in a dry skillet to activate some of the volatile compounds, then grinding them.

If you enjoy the taste of black pepper, you don’t have to limit yourself to just peppercorns.  You may want to try the essential oil of black pepper.  It’s used for cooking, aromatherapy, internally as a digestive aid, and topically as a warming rub to stimulate circulation.  Nutritionist Sherry L. Granader even recommends putting a few drops of black pepper essential oil on the bottom of your feet if you have trouble waking up from a nap, as well as before heading out for a walk in the cold weather, as it supports healthy circulation and has a warming effect on the feet.

Medicinally, science has also been uncovering some of the black pepper’s health-boosting qualities.  Studies have shown that piperine, the plant compound responsible for black pepper’s pungent taste, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancerous properties.  Adding black pepper to your meal can also increase nutrient bioavailability, allowing certain nutrients to be more readily absorbed into your bloodstream.  Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and even the ancient Romans have all turned to black pepper to help digestive problems and provide gas relief.

Try the West Cape Chai tea pick for the month, which has a hint of black pepper in the ingredients. Black pepper has also been used as a cold and cough remedy for centuries, as it is said to help break up phlegm and mucus.  Don’t forget to add it to your chicken soup the next time you are battling a cold!  Join me in trying some recipes that call for white, green, and red peppercorns, and from here on out, fresh is best, so I’m grinding my own!  Happy Valentine’s Day!