The aromatic root commonly grows to a length of 2 feet or more and is often divided at the end. The simple, glabrous stem bears, near the top, a whorl of three or five palmate compound leaves consisting of five oblong ovate, finely double serrated leaflets. Ginseng is considered valuable for feverish and inflammatory illnesses, for hemorrhage and for blood diseases. Women also take it for everything from normalizing menstruation to easing childbirth. Ginseng promotes both physical and mental vigor.