Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng is a perennial plant that is native to China, Russia, and Korea and has been used in various systems of medicine for many centuries.
The word ginseng refers to species of the plant genus Panax. Asian ginseng, whose Latin name is Panax ginseng, is one of several types of true ginseng. Others include American ginseng, P. quinquefolius, and Japanese ginseng, Panax japonicus.
An herb called Siberian ginseng or eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng.
- Panax ginseng is one of the most commonly used and highly researched species of ginseng. It has long been used in China for weakness and fatigue.
- Other Names
- Common names
- Ginseng
- Chinese ginseng
- Korean ginseng
- Asiatic ginseng
- Panax
- Redberry
- Tartar root
- Five fingers
- Latin name
- Panax ginseng
Uses
Asian ginseng has been used to treat numerous conditions, and has also been used to support overall health and boost the immune system. Traditional and modern uses of ginseng include the following:
- Improving the health of people recovering from illness
- Increasing a sense of well-being and stamina, and improving both mental and physical performance
It also has been used to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Hepatitis C
- Menopause
- Diabetes
- Anemia
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Memory impairment
- Decreased libido
- Chronic fatigue
How Asian Ginseng Is Taken
The root is dried and used to make tablets, capsules, extracts, teas, creams, and other preparations for external use. "White ginseng" is the dried root, while "red ginseng" is root that has been steamed before drying. Standardized extracts of ginseng contain specified percentages of the active components, ginsenosides. A common dosing strategy is
- Standardized extract: 200 mg per day
- Dry root (tea form or chewed): 0.5 to 2 g per day
How Asian Ginseng Works
The root of Asian ginseng contains active chemical components called ginsenosides (or panaxosides) that are thought to be responsible for the herb's medicinal properties. It is thought that extracts of Panax ginseng affect the immune system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which controls many hormones in the body.
Asian ginseng is sometimes called an adaptogen because it is thought to increase resistance to stress and infection.
Risks
When taken by mouth, ginseng is usually well-tolerated. Some sources suggest that its use be limited to three months because of concerns about the development of side effects.
Ginseng is thought not to have any significant effects on the fetus, but, due to the lack of good data, some physicians have recommended that it not be used during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Similarly, ginseng probably does not pass from the mother to infant during breast-feeding, but caution is warranted.
Side effects
- Ginseng's common side effects include headaches, nervousness, trouble sleeping, nosebleed, and gastrointestinal problems.
- Ginseng can cause allergic reactions.
- A case report found an estrogen-like effect of ginseng in a post-menopausal woman.
- Ginseng may affect blood sugar. American ginseng is thought to lower blood sugar, while studies of Asian ginseng have had variable results. In one study, fasting blood glucose fell in patients treated with ginseng, , while in two others, Asian ginseng increased blood sugar levels after a meal.
Interactions
It may not be safe to take ginseng while taking phenelzine (Nardil), warfarin (Coumadin), alcohol, oral hypoglycemics, insulin, or caffeine.
