An Interview with Dr. Chang | OpenRice Singapore

With years of experience about ginseng, Dr. Chang takes some time off from his busy schedule to discuss with us the wonders of this herbal root!

What is the thing about ginseng that fascinated you and made you want to learn about it? Ginseng is one of the most used traditional Chinese medicine herbs. Many stores which sell TCM herbs, especially those in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, prefer to include the word “ginseng” in their store names, for example instead of “Ren Ai Herbal Store” many owners would prefer to call their stores “Ren Ai Ginseng and Herb Store.” When I did my PhD degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I also happened to study chemical and pharmacological aspects of this medicinal herb. What is the difference of the red ginseng from all other ginsengs out there? Is this type the healthiest ginseng? Indeed, there are many kinds of ginseng, such as Korean ginseng, American ginseng and Siberian ginseng. Due to different processing techniques, there are also red and white ginsengs. In the usage of traditional Chinese medicine, red ginseng has the best therapeutic effect. Recent studies have also shown that Korean red ginseng has higher contents of certain ginsenosides than white ginseng such as Rh2, Rg3, and Rg5. What are the health benefits we can get from the Korean Red Ginseng? Many pharmacological studies have been conducted in the past few decades on the biological activities of ginseng. Korean red ginseng has general tonic effect for various weak symptoms. Korean red ginseng has also been reported to exhibit immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antistress, antifatigue, and antihyperglycemic actions. Are there any side effects of Red Ginseng that we should know of? A few minor side effects have been reported, such as itching, rash, etc. However, these incidents are believed to be related more to the individual’s physique or other herbs that had been taken along with ginseng. Insomnia is another side effect reported; this can be overcome if ginseng doses are taken in the morning rather than the evening. What’s the best and healthiest way to take red ginseng? Why? Red ginseng can be taken in many different forms. It can be cut into small pieces to chew or suck on, made into beverages, used to cook food (probably with chicken), made into wine, depending on your needs. It is also recommended to bring along a few pieces during mountain climbing, it helps. What is the average daily dose of ginseng we should take? Depending on your preference, 10~30 g is good enough. To make herbal tea, it is often boiled with goji berry and red dates. Do you also take red ginseng? What good or benefits has it done to your overall wellbeing? Yes, I do. Once in a while I take red ginseng. I feel pretty good because it makes me full of vitality and speak with power. How do you plan to increase your knowledge about red ginseng? I have been doing researches on ginseng in my institute. Recently, I did a scientific study on the metastasis of hepatoma cells, which was later accepted by Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In our study, we not only evidenced anti-metastatic effect of Korean red ginseng but also showed that such effect was associated with the inhibition of enzymatically degradative processes of tumor metastasis. What other seminars can people sign up for if they want to know more about red ginseng? This is the first seminar we are holding to gauge the public’s interest in the event. Judging by the response, we are looking into holding half-yearly events to educate and share our information with the audience. So do keep a look out in the media for our announcements. What message do you tell the people who are still unsure of the wonders of the red ginseng? Red ginseng is an ancient remedy employed for centuries in Far East Asia. It can be used as a general tonic for elders. For those who have not taken this herbal supplement, they can try it and will feel the benefits. See also: Healthy meals start here! More Korean food options for you