What is Ginseng?
Ginseng is a root that Native Americans, the Chinese, and Koreans have been using for centuries because of its medicinal properties. Ginseng has obvious therapeutic benefits and has traditionally been used as a preventative medicine. If taken frequently, ginseng is reputed to increase life span and improve vitality.Background and History of Ginseng
Ginseng is an herb that is considered the king of herbs. Treatment for over 2,000 years, ginseng is widely used by countries to the east, from past to present it as a panacea. Ginseng has been called many things, such as ginseng, Japanese ginseng, Korean ginseng, American ginseng, Chan Ka
vegetables, flowers, ginseng, ginseng and red ginseng, a popular Thai in the past thousand years, the Korean ginseng or American ginseng. Which is believed to have medicinal properties that truly come from the Chinese Ginseng that Rain signed a that the ginseng root has a similar body weight. The root tree branch-like limbs of men. The plants grew slowly growing hard. But the enormous value. Ginseng Korean ginseng is used at the plant, ginseng has been classified as a family of Panax ginseng CA Meyer by Russian botanical name Panax CA Meyer in the year 2385 is derived from Greek. "Treatment of various diseases" Later in the year 2503 were investigated systematically by the SS Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd in the city of Lugano. Switzerland Studies on the pharmacological and toxicological studies were applied to the patient. Ginseng root is a compound found in Xi's online site. (Ginsenosides) keeps the body healthy. Ginseng is the dried root of a plant in the Araliaceae family, is now widely cultivated ginseng in China, Japan, Korea, Russia, India, the United States and Canada, there are several varieties of ginseng. Each species will have different properties depending on local climate and the crop. Ginseng is known as the birthplace of Asian ginseng, Asian ginseng from America called American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) for the treatment of less than Asian ginseng. Siberian ginseng is another component to the first two. The results of treatment with light. Ginseng, Siberian ginseng is not the true species of ginseng. I believe that a system similar to ginseng. Korean ginseng has warming effect. Properties and blood dysfunction. Koreans called the vote "in Sacramento" ginseng is grown in the presence of air. 22-48 degrees of latitude north and longitude 85 to 140 degrees East region, including China, Japan, Korea, and 70-97 degrees west longitude, including the United States. There are many varieties of ginseng plants. Grown in many countries, such as ginseng grown in Korea Panex Ginseng Panex quinquefolium. Growing plants in North America Panex notoginseng in China Panex trifolius grown in the northeastern United States Panex pseudoginseng. Grown in Nepal and the Himalayas Panex japonicus grown in Japan. Ginseng and ginseng based natural forest. And ginseng grown man. Ginseng root is similar to the human body. According to ancient texts of the drug. Ginseng is similar to the more human. Have shown that ginseng is a very valuable and expensive. Wild ginseng is ginseng plant has an advantage over you. Villagers say that the natural wild ginseng, the value of gold. In ancient times, ginseng has been out of the woods to find more. Before leaving for the wild ginseng that has to be made over. The ginseng hunter's body is washed in a stream of pure cold water into the wild. Of what they wish to provide protection from the beast in the forest. We have found that ginseng as needed. The wild ginseng is extremely rare. Or may already be extinct. Korean ginseng plants have done their foothills. Time to ride into the countryside, many ginseng. This is another beautiful one. Farmers are already stretched to the plastic mulch is straw roof.
Medicinal Uses of Ginseng
It is used to reduce the effects of stress, improve performance, boost energy levels, enhance memory, and stimulate the immune system. Oriental medicine has deemed ginseng a necessary element in all their best prescriptions, and regards it as prevention and a cure. It is said to remove both mental and bodily fatigue, cure pulmonary complaints, dissolve tumors and reduce the effects of age.
Ginseng contains vitamins A, B-6 and the mineral Zinc, which aids in the production of thymic hormones, necessary for the functioning of the defense system. The main active ingredients of ginseng are the more than 25 saponin triterpenoid glycosides called "ginsenosides". These steroid-like ingredients provide the adaptogenic properties that enable ginseng to balance and counter the effects of stress. The glycosides appear to act on the adrenal glands, helping to prevent adrenal hypertrophy and excess corticosteroid production in response to physical, chemical or biological stress.
Studies showed that ginsenosides also increase protein synthesis and activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. Ginseng is used to restore memory, and enhance concentration and cognitive abilities, which may be impaired by improper blood supply to the brain.
Ginseng helps to maintain excellent body functions. Siberian ginseng has been shown to increase energy, stamina, and help the body resist viral infections and environmental toxins. Research has shown specific effects that support the central nervous system, liver function, lung function and circulatory system.
Animal studies have shown that ginseng extracts stimulate the production of interferons, increase natural killer cell activity, lower cholesterol and decrease triglyceride levels. Men have used the herb to improve sexual function and remedy impotence. Ginseng is believed to increase estrogen levels in women and is used to treat menopausal symptoms.
It is also used for diabetes, radiation and chemotherapy protection, colds, chest problems, to aid in sleep, and to stimulate the appetite.
New Research- Ginseng is good For Cancer Patients
In a trial led by the Mayo Clinic, the herb commonly known as American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), showed good results in helping cancer patients with fatigue, when compared with a placebo. The findings, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, looked at 340 patients who were either in the post treatment phase or undergoing cancer treatment. 60% of the patients had breast cancer. Each day, the patients who were being treated at one of 40 different community medical centers were given 2,000 milligrams of pure American ginseng root in a capsule.
Researcher Debra Barton, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is quick to point out that quality of the herb is very important and people shouldn't necessarily rush to their health food store and start taking any old ginseng. She goes on to say: "Off-the-shelf ginseng is sometimes processed using ethanol, which can give it estrogen-like properties that may be harmful to breast cancer patients.There wasn't a great improvement after four weeks, obviously the herb took some time to work its magic, but at the eight week mark there was a sudden jump in the general energy levels reported by the group on ginseng when compared to the placebo group. General exhaustion diminished rapidly in those taking the Ginseng supplement.Dr. Barton says the herb had no apparent side effects in the patients taking it, and comments: "After eight weeks, we saw a 20-point
improvement in fatigue in cancer patients, measured on a 100-point, standardized fatigue scale. Webmd.com lists a variety of possible side effects of American Ginseng, including varying blood pressure, headache, nervousness, skin rash and vaginal bleeding. It also makes clear to differentiate between Panax, Siberian and American Ginseng, which are considered to have different properties. Interestingly, American ginseng contains a chemical group called ginsenosides, presumably a name made up after the name of the herb. These active ingredients are thought to act upon insulin levels to help lower blood sugar. Other chemicals include polysaccharides, which most likely have some effect on the immune system.Ginseng is well known for its properties in treating a variety of ailments, including fatigue, stress, diabetes, insomnia and it's often touted as a good for erectile dysfunction, while some people swear by it as a good hang over cure. It's become so popular in recent years that some states have threatened to add it to a protected list to prevent people picking the wild variety that grows in the United States. As many as 90% of all cancer patients report a debilitating fatigue, as the immune system struggles against inflammatory cytokines and the hormone known as cortisol becomes unbalanced. Cortisol effects how the body regulates stress. Ginseng has been shown in animal studies to act upon both these factors, reducing inflammation, and regulating cortisol.
Whether by accident or design, many of these kinds of herbal fix all are ridiculed by the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry. Echinacea the old wives cure for the common cold came under attack recently with research showing that it had no effect on helping against flu or a cold. I am sure that many people would disagree with that from their own personal experiences, and it's nice to see Ginseng, that has been touted for centuries as a trusted herbal remedy, getting the recognition it deserves. While people should always be wary to avoid snake oil and magic potions, there simply has to be some common sense to some of these old herbal remedies. Until recently, it seems there hasn't been much incentive for putting the time and money into funding scientific research on a scale comparable to that required for regulating industrially manufactured pharmaceutical products.
(source- American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting)
