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Summary: In today's blog, we explore the great debate: ginseng vs. ginger. Both touted as superfoods that benefit the body, skin and hair but what are the similarities and what sets ginseng and ginger apart? Discover the history of ginseng and ginger and how to reap their individual benefits below...

Ginseng Vs. Ginger

The History Of Ginseng

Panax ginseng originated in Asia. Today it’s grown in the cold temperate regions of North-East China and the Korean peninsula.

It’s been used in Chinese medicine for centuries (the first records can be dated back to 2000 years ago)! It is now one of the most popular and cultivated herbs across the entire world because of it’s alleged health and energy benefits…

The History Of Ginger

Ginger can first be traced back to south China and it then spread into India, West Africa, and the rest of Asia. It was traded with Europe from India in the 1st Century and finally found its way further west by the 15th Century, where it was grown with ease in the Caribbean.

India though is still the biggest grower of ginger in the world. Its popularity worldwide is due to its historically claimed medicinal benefits...

The Different Uses Of Ginseng

Ginseng is notoriously a powerful antioxidant that’s been shown in some studies to reduce inflammation in the human body and help minimise oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

It’s also been touted to boost the immune system, lower blood sugar, boost hair growth and fight fatigue (more on the latter below)!

The Different Uses Of Ginger

Did you know ginger is famous for its effectiveness against the symptoms of nausea? It’s a very popular natural remedy used by pregnant people suffering from morning sickness.

In addition, like ginseng, it’s also considered a natural anti-inflammatory so is thought to ease muscle pains, reduce symptoms/severity of arthritis, aid discomfort caused by indigestion, soothe menstruation cramps, help lower blood sugar levels and support in fighting off infections like colds and flu… Phew, that’s a lot!

How To Reap The Benefits Of Ginseng

You are able to consume ginseng raw if you like! You can gnaw on it as is, or you can steam it to make it softer. Ginseng is also popularly stewed and then consumed as a tea. Simply add boiling water to freshly cut up ginseng and leave for several minutes. Then, sieve out the ginseng and let the water cool before drinking.

You can also add ginseng to soups and stir fry dishes!

When it comes to reaping the hair growth benefits of ginseng, we believe it’s best to use ginseng topically, that’s why at Cel, active panax ginseng is present in so many of our products…

Cel's Microstem Shampoo & Conditioner: Incorporating Ginseng, Biotin, Glycerine, and Saw Palmetto, our shampoo and conditioner set encourages high cell turnover to promote new hair growth by stimulating the follicles and removing dead skin cells that can clog them up. This brilliant duo works to protect the hair from day-to-day damage and strengthen each hair strand, to prevent breakages.

Cel's Advanced Hair Thickening Mask: Infused with Ginseng and Biotin, this formula was guided by regenerative medicine experts to prevent hair loss by increasing the number of dermal papilla cells in the scalp. It also smooths and softens hair, prevents skin irritation, and promotes hair growth.

After washing hair with our ginseng infused Microstem Shampoo, simply rinse thoroughly and apply a generous amount of the hair mask to your hair, from root to tip, paying particular attention to the ends. Leave it in for several minutes before rinsing and conditioning.

Read more on how Ginseng helps hair grow, here.

You can also consume ginseng via supplement by itself, and can find it in most health shops.

How To Reap The Benefits Of Ginger

As well as adding it to your smoothies, or your at-home culinary delights for a boost of flavour and aroma (try grating it over salad or popping in a stir fry!), ginger can be infused in water and drunk as a tea.

Made just like ginseng tea, boil water, and add it to grated ginger. Allow the ginger to steep for several minutes and then sieve the liquid to remove the ginger pieces. Once cool, you can drink. You may also want to add a slice of lemon to the water for taste.

You can also buy ginger as a supplement to get its health benefits into your body, and these can be found in most health stores.

Related Reads: Which tea is right for me and my hair?

Does Ginseng Give You Energy?

Ginseng has been studied extensively, and in terms of whether ginseng gives you energy, it can be answered… Yes! Ginseng has been shown to promote energy levels and help reduce fatigue.

It’s thought it does so by reducing oxidative stress and thus increasing the production of energy in the body’s cells.

Does Ginger Give You Energy?

Like ginseng, ginger can also help boost your energy levels, but does so in a different way.

Because it is able to help the body modulate blood sugar levels, ginger can help you sustain energy throughout the day. It can help prevent that all too common mid-afternoon sugar low and energy crash where the entire office reaches for the biscuits… By assisting in the stability of the body’s blood sugar, it can result in a sustained energy boost.

Ginger Vs. Ginseng: Our verdict

Both of these brilliant roots are famous around the world, and have been for centuries, for many similar and different reasons!

Incorporating both of these into your balanced diet and/or lifestyle can only be a benefit, so start looking into how you can invite ginseng and ginger into your life today.