Insam of Korea has widely been known as a health tonic since olden times.
It is a perennial medicinal plant which belongs to Araliaceae, and the plant growing in the mountains is called wild insam and the cultivated one insam.
Insam has been well known to the world as Koryo insam since it was exported to other countries in the period of the Koryo Dynasty which existed between 918 and 1392. It is also called Kaesong Koryo insam or Kaesong insam as it is widely cultivated in the Kaesong area.
It has long been used as a special medicinal material and the best health tonic.
As the demand for wild insam grew, insam began to be cultivated in the period of Koryo Kingdom. Later, the method of its artificial cultivation was invented and it developed into field cultivation in the late 17th century.
The roots of over six-year-old insam are used as a medicinal material.
Insam is classified according to the processing methods.
It helps people grow strong, boosts immunity, stimulates the central nervous system and enhances the blood-making, digestive and absorptive functions. And it has good effects on metabolism as it promotes biosynthesis of protein and fatty acid, lowers blood-sugar levels and improves the secretion of bile.
It is also widely used as an anticancer medicine
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