Overview
Ginseng: The unobtrusive, feel-good vitalizer
Ginseng, the powdered root of the plant Panax ginseng, has been used for thousands of years to treat specific ailments and
to achieve general vitality. In Chinese medicine ginseng is considered a remedy for
- irritability and restlessness
- insomnia
- palpitations and cold perspiration
- breathing difficulties and coughing
- weakness
- eating and digestive problems such as anorexia, chronic diarrhea, and vomiting.
In the West it is used to
- stimulate mind and body
- slow aging
- improve memory, libido, and immunity
- improve the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs
- treat hepatitis and bacterial infections
- prevent anemia and menopausal symptoms.
Read Ginseng Monograph
Ginseng, the powdered root of the plant Panax ginseng,
has been used for thousands of years to treat specific ailments and to
achieve general vitality. In Chinese medicine, for example, ginseng is
considered a remedy for irritability, insomnia, and restlessness; for
palpitations, cold perspiration, breathing difficulties, and coughing;
for very weak pulses; weakness, anorexia, chronic diarrhea, and
vomiting.
In the West it is used as a general
stimulant for mind and body, to slow aging, and to improve memory,
libido, and immunity. It has been shown to improve the effectiveness of
anti-cancer drugs, and has also seen use as a treatment for hepatitis,
anemia, menopausal symptoms, and bacterial infections.
Ginseng’s medicinal properties are
attributed to the ginsenosides it contains. Ginsenosides are
complicated molecules, part steroid and part sugar, that influence the
body’s production of steroid hormones. Ginseng contains many different
types of ginsenosides — the types and amounts vary widely depending on
the species of ginseng, the time of harvest, and the processing
procedure. Hence, different brands can have different effects, and it
may be necessary to experiment with various brands and dosages until
you find one that you like.
