VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam grows a precious species of ginseng allegedly even better than Korean ginseng.

According to Phung Tuan Giang from Tho Xuan Duong Oriental Medicine Pharmacy in Hanoi, the stem and root of Ngoc Linh ginseng contain 52 saponins (saponin is the main component of ginseng. The more saponins, the better).

Of the 52 saponins, 26 are commonly found in Korean, American and Japanese, while the other 26 have been just discovered. At least 19 saponin damma-ran in leafs and stems can be subdivided, eight of which have new structure.

Besides saponin, Ngoc Linh also contains 17 amino acids, 20 trace minerals and 0.1 percent of attar.

Also according to Giang, since Ngoc Linh is rare and precious, the ginseng has nearly disappeared in the wild. However, scientists have been trying to grow it to conserve the precious species of ginseng.

Ngoc Linh ginseng grows very slowly and it takes many years to grow before harvesting.

Ngoc Linh ginseng has high effects in anti-stress and anti-aging conditions. It helps improve immunity, enhance liver function, and lower cholesterol. Besides, it also works well with antibiotics and diabetes medications.

“Research works all found that patients using Ngoc Linh ginseng patients can sleep well, gain weight, increase visual and intellectual acuity, increase resistance, reduce harmful blood lipids and have stable blood pressure.

Ngoc Linh is considered a ‘panacea’ for cancer patients as it helps strengthen the immune system, relieve pain, reduce side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and improve health and lengthen life.

Giang said terminal cancer patients can use 35-40 grams of fresh Ngoc Linh ginseng, or 10 grams of dried ginseng, every day to reduce pain. It is more effective than common painkillers, including opiates group.

When using Ngoc Linh ginseng, cancer patients don’t need to use morphine, while their health is improved considerably.

With MR2 saponins accounting for 50 percent of total saponins, Ngoc Linh ginseng works to kill abnormal cells, regenerate healthy cells, restrict the development of tumors, and prevent cancer-causing germs.

"The prominent feature of Ngoc Linh ginseng is that it can be used long term because it is not toxic. If using it to enhance physical fitness, one can use 10 grams of fresh ginseng every day,” Giang said.

Both fresh and dried Ngoc Linh ginseng can be eaten directly: cutting ginseng into thin slices and then sucking. Fresh ginseng can be stored in refrigerator for two to three weeks, and soaked in honey for long-term preservation.