Ginseng????

I'm researching into what chinese medicine can help with this. The ancient emperors drink (thousand year) ginseng everyday. But these days, the prices of these rare specimens are just too high for commoners like us. Anyway I dont think they exist anymore. How can lay people like us tell the difference btw wild ginseng & the  cultivated ones???Then there's the fake ones in the market!!!! It could be just roots from weeds for all you know!