Millions of Americans take ginseng for its perceived health benefits. …The harvest for wild American ginseng begins this month. It’s also high-season for poaching. That’s leading to a serious problem: the plant’s popularity could lead to its demise.

Nine million people per year visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Tennessee-North Carolina border. No national park is more popular, or more threatened by ginseng poachers.

Ranger Joe Pond showed CBS News the largest protected ginseng habitat in America. Taking it from a national park is illegal. Pond said, “It’s the root that they’re after. You see how dense the forest is, you could dig through here most of the day and it would be hard to detect you were even back in here.”

Stolen roots were recovered by rangers two weeks ago from a pair of suspected thieves.

The roots don’t look like much, but can sell for more than $800 per pound.

Some days the rangers win. In 2010, they arrested Billy Joe Hurley. He pled guilty to poaching 11 pounds of ginseng. But the park spreads across a half million acres and only 30 rangers patrol it. Pond said, “For every one we catch I’d probably say 10 get away. It’s hard to say how many are actively out there.”

But we do know where almost all of it ends up — in China. For centuries ginseng has been prized as a spirit herb. Almost all wild American ginseng gets sold to brokers in Hong Kong. But first, it passes through an American ginseng dealer.

Robert Eidus is one of 32 licensed ginseng dealers in North Carolina. No state produces more it, and almost of it is exported to Hong Kong.

Eidus said he believes 90 percent of the exported ginseng is poached. Eidus says the problem in North Carolina is that harvesters don’t need a license.

CBS News’ Mark Strassmann asked, “Does it trouble you do business with people you suspect are poachers?”

Eidus replied, “Trouble me? Well, yes and no. But the big thing is, if I don’t buy it, then someone down the road, and the next guy, is definitely going to definitely not have a problem with it.”

Wild ginseng can be harvested in 19 states. Conservationists say the plant is at risk in 12 of them. The National Forest Service has cut ginseng harvesting permits by 75 percent, according to NatureServe, a nonprofit conservation organization.

Susan Leopold leads a group called United Plant Savers. Ginseng is on their list of 20 endangered plants. She said, I see ginseng, absolutely, as a national treasure. … The reality is that there are very few resources that are provided towards plant conservation. It’s not saving the panda. It’s not saving the polar bear.”

So will ginseng be around 10 or 20 years from now?

Eidus said it’s not possible, adding, “There’s not enough ginseng out there.”

© 2013 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Written by Robert Eidus, 2010 –
Marshall, NC

Part 1

I hear the President asking for ideas to increase employment in the earth-friendly areas, or green jobs. The President is also establishing The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (crfb.org) whose task is to lower America’s deficit while, lowering the unemployment and hopefully increasing green employment.

This is a daunting task to those in Washington, DC, as they work together. There are few policy makers who can see outside the industrial box. The ones with the economic support (inside the box) give corporate advice to our country with a big-corporate favoring influence.

It seems obvious to me that a way to reverse the Chinese deficit is to find something that the Chinese want and need daily. Vast numbers of Asian people from all walks of life want and use ginseng products daily. Many actually prefer wild and wild-simulated American ginseng over cultivated American ginseng. Wild-simulated ginseng as a commodity has the potential of increasing Chinese sales for this uniquely American product. These increased ginseng sales could easily offset our deficit.

The answer lies in America’s Appalachian forests (from Georgia to Maine), and not the corporate pine forests that exist today. American ginseng, a high-priced and desired product, grows naturally on the hardwood-based north-facing slopes, where most other medicinal plants flourish as well. The American ginseng plant was in abundance through much of Appalachian history, and used to be a major American export product. Men like Jacob Astor and Daniel Boone made their fortunes from Panax quinquefolium, ginseng’s Latin name.

Current policy makers might be unaware of this eco-friendly and effectively profitable solution. Also, the corporate lobby doesn’t seem to care about these earth-logical developments, even when there are new profits to be made. No one is pushing an American ginseng agenda. Though the AHPA, American Herbal Products Association, is pushing sustainable harvesting, they don’t seem to include farming in the woods.

There are no American lobbyists who have influenced this ginseng production agenda. One could ask who is benefiting from current policies. It would seem that the ginseng conglomerates in Hong Kong have quietly been involved. These ancient family businesses have been influencing ginseng worldwide to their corporate benefit.

These large ginseng family businesses have created a unique monopoly where ginseng is grown on our planet. The monopoly has two goals as I analyzed current past history. First, is to obtain as much wild/wild-simulated American ginseng for the Asian elite, never to come back into the American market. Then second is to sell inferior grade ginseng back into the American market without any American safety testing.

To influence getting the American ginseng to Hong Kong, there are myths created, one indicating that ginseng has no health benefits. This rumor has been with us for hundreds of years and many Americans have believed that ginseng has no value. This myth allows large numbers of roots to be exported each year. That is the front door.

The export trade of American ginseng from North Carolina has felony laws are being broken and not enforced by local law enforcement officials. The myth that poor, church-attending mountain folk are buying Thanksgiving and Christmas food for their table by stealing ginseng is still is believed. This is outlaw mentality with local law enforcement not seeing a crime being committed. These are two myths that help get our ginseng from North Carolina woods to Hong Kong with minimal profit for America.

There is another myth that most Americans can wake up from, which is that all ginsengs are alike. The way ginseng is grown has to be kept a secret. Right now, there is a politically-sensitive use of fungicides on industrial-grown monoculture ginseng. This degrades and pollutes the product and ground water. The forest wild-simulated ginseng doesn’t need fungicidal treatment. If the Marathon County, Wisconsin water system is tested, or the ginseng coming into the United States was tested for fungicidal residue, people would not be so quick to allow this monoculture practice to continue, let alone to use the imported polluted ginseng from Asia.

The Chinese conglomerates have branded ginseng to most Americans indicating that all ginseng are the same, which is not true. Forest-propagated ginseng has greater chances of being more potent and it is not laced with fungicidal residues. These Hong Kong ginseng global business elites have created a unique (and secretive) system to get the world’s ginseng and America’s entire wild ginseng crop at the cheapest price.

Wild-simulating helps re-propagate the species (in an eco-powerful way), it gives America a huge boost economically, and it provides an affordable clinically-proven superior product for the users of ginseng. This would also give Americans a true dose of the benefits of forest-grown American ginseng and access to this remarkable health-stimulating super-food. Ginseng farming in the woods does all this, while providing jobs that are green and healthy-employee-friendly.

The CITES Treaty (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, cites.org) (ratified by 150 countries), protects flora and fauna worldwide. American ginseng was put on the treaty as one of the first plants in the late 70’s, whereas Asian ginseng was put on the Schedule II of CITES in the late 90’s. It is safe to say that China voted against both of these plant listings. In the 1980’s, 30% of all ginseng exported was wild (W. Scott Persons, American Ginseng – Green Gold). By 1999, 3% exported was wild (according to US Fish and Wildlife Consultants Report, presented at the 2000 Louisville Ginseng Conference). Wild-simulated was not, in 1980, and still isn’t a category (by US Fish and Wildlife). The point being made that the treaty, which each country signed, was to maintain their wild population numbers. We are not living up to our treaty responsibilities.

No one with significant influence in our government (from USDA to Ag-extension) is helping the market to propagate high quality ginseng (and other medicinal plants) production. Currently, our government is regulating a vanishing commodity, instead of helping small farmers produce the high quality ginseng, and forest management jobs.

One of the reasons people are discouraged from trying to produce ginseng, is because of ginseng poaching, prevalent with no real law enforcement. Each year, as the wild crop is depleting, replenishing it takes 6.5 years to replenish with wild-simulated or wild ginseng. The US Fish & Wildlife Service has used regulations to protect exports, but little to resist the thieving. Many agricultural extension agents still have a hard time recommending this cash crop, because of theft.

However, there is still no pro-active propagation surge here in America.

The history of America shows the impediments to maintaining a business growing American ginseng throughout Appalachia are overcome with the awareness of its profitability. We know that organic forest propagation of American ginseng is a natural and profitable match. Our taxes would be best spent in a quest for a superior organic crop with minimal danger to the environment and have green jobs.

May this president and his staff see the importance of creating a viable way to lower the deficit and green work opportunities.

Part 2 is soon to come.

From Dr. Ingham’s Monthly E-Zine, Issue #15, April 2001
greenwave@unisun.org

Did you know…

The vast majority of ginseng in the world has been sprayed with chemicals, especially fungicides. Some ginseng plants are also sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. There is a sacred relationship between the earth, the air and the water for ginseng to grow. To grow “wild” the plants are found traditionally in hardwood forests under a canopy of tall dense deciduous trees. Usually the slope is facing North in rich humus soil and it is surrounded by companion plants. Since it is a root it absorbs the natural minerals from the soil. Research has indicated that it may not be possible to regrow a root in the same exact spot for many years, since it depletes the soil. New research into natural herbal fungicides is being conducted at Eagle Feather Farm.

The ginseng that is cultivated can be farmed in raised beds, like in Wisconsin, or in “woodsgrown” beds like in the mountain and foothill forests of the East Coast of America. What occurs when large numbers of ginseng plants are grown in close proximity is that a fungus appears, every time. As the fungus moves in the beds it creates a circle and in a short period of time destroys the entire bed. A typical bed can have thousands of plants and be worth tens of thousands of dollars. As far as we know the only way to eliminate the fungus is to spray the plants. The fungicide, pesticide or herbicide is then absorbed into the root. It is not known if the chemicals are toxic.

The two types of ginseng are different in the following ways: the wild organic root is knarled, ringed with wrinkles, small, light weight and has a bitter woodsy taste. The cultivated root is larger, heavier, smoother, tastes sweeter and smells different. The 1994 price on the world market for dried roots were ninety (90) percent more for the wild organic roots. Studies in 1986 show that 94% of the organic wild American Ginseng is purchased by the Chinese in the Pacific Rim. The Orient, mostly from Hong Kong, sells the most chemicalized ginseng back to us for American consumption. This not to say that fungicided ginseng does not have ginsenicides, it does. However it would also include chemicals with possible toxin build up in the body which most people would not want to ingest. Unfortunately, the ginseng industry does not tell you the negative effects of its products.

Learn everything you wanted to know about Ginseng and keep up on the hot political issues regarding foreign imports of this important commodity.

by Diana Schmitt –
Madison County Sentinel, September 8, 1999, page 18.

Eagle Feather Farm, at first glance, doesn’t not look like a typical farm — there are no tractors, open fields, or barns. What you will find instead is shady southern Appalachian forest.

Robert Eidus, owner and operator of the farm, raises ginseng, goldenseal and other native medicinal herbs as well as Chinese herbs.

The 30-acre-tract upon which Eidus’ farm rests lies off Indigo Bunting Rd. near Barnard. Eidus mentions that this is a “famous piece of land”, as it once belonged to Howard Allen, known for having “pulled everybody out to the ditches of Madison County.”

Also famous to the land is the 27-foot deep fishing hole on the French Broad River.

Eidus purchased the land in 1980 and made the final move to the area in 1993 when he founded the North Carolina Ginseng and Goldenseal Company.

Eidus, a former “urbanite from the Northeast,” found himself drawn to the cultivation of ginseng and goldenseal by at least two events. In 1992 he attended an historical conference by Dr. Jeanine Davis on ginseng.

He soon after discovered ginseng on his property and learned that goldenseal is endangered in North Carolina. Since then he has felt called to make the herbs available to others

According to Eidus, North America and China are the only places on the globe where ginseng exists natively. North Carolina produces 9,000 pounds of ginseng per year. 94% of this goes to Hong Kong for processing. It takes approximately 400 roots to make one pound.

Madison County currently ranks second in North Carolina, behind Jackson, for ginseng exportation at an average of 800 pounds per year. This is likely due to the fact that 78% of Madison is forest- -the habitat that ginseng naturally thrives in.

The majority of Madison’s ginseng is ‘wild crafted’ This means harvesters are not involved in the cultivation of the plant. They merely walk the mountain habitat and collect the roots as they find them.

What Eidus is doing is very unusual. He is cultivating his plants in the wild and not exporting them. He stated that he is the “only person who deals with it from seeds and roots to the final products.” He believes American ginseng should go to Americans. As well, because he is cultivating the plants in their native habitat, they are organic.

This in contrast to standard commercial cultivation in areas such as Wisconsin where plants are cultivated in raised beds and sprayed heavily everyday with chemicals to prevent fungus. Plants are then exported to Hong Kong for processing.

Two factors increase the cost of ginseng by twofold – – commercial cultivation and exportation of the roots. Whether wild crafter or cultivated, to Hong Kong for processing. The price of one pound increased from $300 to $ 600.

“The best roots are wild ones,” stated Eidus. It is healthier and cheaper to use local, wild organic roots.

Eidus believes that ginseng is “the most remarkable plant on the planet because it affects the most parts of the body of any plant.” Ginseng is ideally a tonic for the preservation of the whole body. It should be considered a holistic aid to better health, rather than medication for a particular symptom.

Traditionally, Eidus relates that ginseng has been touted to: increase fertility, increase red blood cell count, increase brain activity, aid in sleep disorders, regulated blood sugar in diabetics, increase energy, lower stress levels, and generally produces a longer life.

Eidus’ vision for Eagle Feather Farm is “to get excellent quality products to the public.” He wants his farm to become an educational center, to demonstrate sustainable farming of the forest, proper composting, and efficient solar energy and water usage.

As part of this educational intent, Eagle feather Farm will be one of six farms on the 1999 Mountain Farm Tour. The tour is highlighting small farms in Madison and Buncombe counties using a variety of approaches to sustainable practices.

In addition, Eagle Feather Farm is a member of the North Carolina Herb Association and the Mars Hill farmers’ market.

Eagle Feather Farm has a license from the state of NC to purchase ginseng for export. There are approximately 9,000 lbs of NC ginseng sold to Hong Kong each year. In Madison County, NC, where Eagle Feather Farm is located, there were approximately 800 lbs collected. Each harvester has to complete a NC state form, indicating the county where the ginseng was harvested, the date, plus the pounds. Wild ginseng looks, tastes, and smells different from cultivated and sprayed ginseng.

When the 1-26 corridor was opened, Eidus made 29 native plant rescues. He was able to save numerous species which otherwise would have been bulldozed. Eidus offers tours of the farm and holds yearly spring conference, “Food is Medicine, Medicine is Food.”

Eagle Feather Farm is young and growing. Presently the farm offers tonic and corrective tinctures, on, two and three-year-old ginseng roots for planting, goldenseal roots, and seeds from five states.

“I am on of the only people selling organic ginseng in eastern America,” comments Eidus. Unfortunately, he can’t produce it all yet and must accept some roots and seeds from other farms which are not organic.

“Nobody is selling organic,” stated Eidus. He looks forward to a time when his farm is able to produce his entire inventory organically. And he hopes that as organic becomes important to more and more people, there will be some competition.