Ginseng wild ginseng plant ginseng herb Chinese ginseng Ginseng Product
The root of the ginseng plant has been used in China, Japan, and Korea for many centuries in the therapy of psychiatric and neurological disorders, and for enhancing vitality. There are several varieties of ginseng herb sold over the counter: Chinese ginseng (Panax ginseng), American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus Chinensis) are the most common. Technically Siberian ginseng does not belong in the same genus as Asian or American ginseng and does not contain the same ingredients. As a rule, Chinese ginseng is more stimulating and raises body temperature while American ginseng is less heating and stimulating. Siberian ginseng is neutral. Hundreds of ginseng products are available over the counter with different dosages and combinations. For more ginseng information.

Panax Ginseng product, 400 mg
Club Natural
Panax Ginseng Supplement Facts:
 Panax Ginseng Root - 400 mg *

Suggested Use: One ginseng capsule in the morning a few times a week or as recommended by your health care professional.

Click here to purchase Ginseng product, Passion Rx, Mind Power Rx, Eyesight Rx, or to see a list of products at Physician Formulas

Constituents of Ginseng
The roots of Chinese and American ginseng contain several saponins named ginsenosides that are believed to contribute to the adaptogenic properties. They are used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve stamina and combat fatigue and stress. Saponins are interesting natural compounds found in many plants, herbs, roots, and beans. Saponins have potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the heart and circulatory system (Purmova 1995). For instance, they inhibit the formation of lipid peroxides (fat oxidation) in cardiac muscle or in the liver, they influence the function of enzymes contained in them, they decrease blood coagulation, cholesterol, and sugar levels in blood, and they stimulate the immune system. Some saponins may even have anti-tumor properties (Wakabayashi 1998).

What Ginseng does
The biochemical mechanisms of ginseng remain unclear, although there is extensive literature that deals with its effects on the brain (memory, learning, and behavior), neuroendocrine function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, immune function, and the cardiovascular system. Reports are often contradictory, perhaps because the ginsenoside content of ginseng root or root extracts can differ, depending on the species, method of extraction, subsequent treatment, or even the season of collection. Ginseng does have the potential to help with blood sugar levels.

 Availability of Ginseng product
Countless varieties and dosages of ginseng products are available. One option is to buy a ginseng product that has a standardized extract of 3 to 7 percent ginsenosides. Use 100 mg of this extract in the morning a few times a week. You may require 500 to 2,000 mg of he dried ginseng root to feel the effects. It’s best to cycle the use of ginseng. For instance, you can take ginseng for two or three weeks and then take off a few weeks.

Ginseng side effects
Insomnia is a common side effect from ginseng overuse, particularly Asian ginseng—especially when it’s combined in high doses with other herbs or nutrients that cause alertness. Althea, a 38 year-old owner of a garden shop in Maui, says, "I took ginseng that was recommended by a Chinese physician for fatigue. I took the ginseng for two weeks. I felt really better emotionally, mellow, and with increased energy. Then I started to have increased sleep problems and insomnia. I went three days being so mentally and physically overstimulated that I hardly got any sleep. I imagine this is what being on "speed" must feel like. I stopped taking the ginseng and within two days I slowly returned to my normal state."
   This story confirms my recommendations that dosages of nutrients and herbs have to be constantly evaluated since they can build up in the system.
   Patients being treated with the blood-thinning drug Coumadin (warfarin) should probably avoid using ginseng, since ginseng seems to reduce the drug's effects. Ginseng use for two weeks was tied to a significant reduction in the INR, meaning that the blood was now less thin and more prone to clotting.

Mechanisms of Action of Ginseng
The roots of Chinese and American ginseng contain several saponins named ginsenosides that are believed to contribute to their properties. Saponins are interesting natural compounds found in many plants, herbs, roots, and beans. They are used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve stamina and combat fatigue and stress. Saponins have potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the heart and circulatory system. For instance, they inhibit the formation of lipid peroxides (fat oxidation) in cardiac muscle and in the liver. Saponins also influence the function of enzymes; decrease blood coagulation, cholesterol, and sugar levels in the blood; and stimulate the immune system. Some saponins may even have anti-tumor properties. Recent studies in laboratory animals have shown that both the Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance. These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone secretion, but to the direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues. There is good evidence that ginsenosides can facilitate penile erection by directly inducing the vasodilatation and relaxation of penile corpus cavernosa. Moreover, the effects of ginseng on the corpus cavernosa appear to be mediated by the release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells and from nerves that surround the vessels. Treatment with American ginseng also affects the central nervous system and has been shown to significantly alter the activity of hypothalamic catecholamines, such as dopamine and norephinephrine, involved in the facilitation of copulatory behavior and hormone secretion. According to recent findings, that ginseng treatment decreases prolactin secretion, which also suggests a direct effect of ginseng at the level of the pituitary gland. High levels of prolactin inhibit libido. Studies sometimes have provided contradictory results, perhaps because the ginsenoside content of ginseng root or root extracts can differ depending on the species, method of extraction, subsequent treatment, or even the season of collection.

American ginseng and diabetes
American ginseng modulates pancreatic beta cell activities.
Chin Med. 2007 Oct 25.
Recent studies show that American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, increases insulin production and reduces the death of pancreatic beta cells. American Ginseng influences immune fucntion and mitochondrial function through various factors. Clinical studies show that American Ginseng improves postprandial glycemia in type 2 diabetic patients.

Ginseng and exercise performance
Ginseng supplementation does not change lactate threshold and physical performances in physically active Thai men.
J Med Assoc Thai. 2007 Jun;90(6):1172-9. Kulaputana O, Thanakomsirichot S, Anomasiri W. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Ginseng has been one of the most popular herbs said to improve human exercise performance. Unclear and anecdotal information is known about the effect of ginseng on lactate threshold and aerobic performance in humans. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of ginseng supplementation on lactate threshold in physically active young men. Sixty men from the Naval Medical Corps, Royal Thai Navy, aged 17- 22 years old, were randomized into either the ginseng or placebo group. The ginseng group took 3 grams of 100% ginseng orally, while the placebo group took an equal amount of lactose powder each day, for 8 weeks. Daily administration of 3 g of ginseng for an 8-week period did not improve LT nor did it affect physical performances. Therefore, ginseng supplementation did not exert an ergogenic property on aerobic fitness enhancement in well-fit individuals.

Ginseng Summary
Many people who take ginseng find this herb to be a good overall energizer and cognitive enhancer. Due to the tremendous variety of ginseng products sold, it is difficult to give definite dosage recommendations. You could certainly try a few ginseng products to see which one(s) give you a positive effect. In practical and simple terms, Asian ginseng raises body temperature and is more stimulating while American ginseng is more calming. The effects of Siberian ginseng fall somewhere between these two. See information on panax ginseng.

Ginseng Research Update
Effects of Panax ginseng extract on lipid metabolism in humans.
Kim SH, Park KS. Purdue University, 1362 Lambert, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-1362,USA.
Pharmacol Res. 2003 Nov;48(5):511-3.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Panax ginseng extract (PGE) on lipid metabolism in humans by measuring cholesterol, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and plasma MDA levels were decreased by administration of PGE for 8 weeks (6g per day), however, high density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased. Those results suggest that hypolipidemic effect of PGE is associated with a decrease in TC, TG, LDL, MDA levels and an increase in HDL. These findings support scientific claims that ginseng has the hypolipidemic potential. Administration of PGE increased SOD and CAT activities while decreased MDA level indicating that antioxidant potential of PGE might induce hypolipidemic effect as one of action mechanism.

complex ginseng
Ginseng questions
Q. Is wild ginseng plant better than ginseng growing on a farm?
   A. There are so many varieties of ginseng plant that it is difficult to say whether wild ginseng is better than grown ginseng.

Q. Is ginseng used for erection enhancement?
   A. Ginseng is used for better erections, but other aphrodisiac herbs are more potent.

Q. Is it okay to drink coffee and ginseng herb taking?
   A. Both coffee and ginseng are stimulating, therefore the dose of ginseng should be low if you drink more than one cup of coffee a day.

Q. I take vitamins and ginseng together but lately i have been feeling revved up too much. Can taking too many vitamins and ginseng give this feeling?
   A. Yes, especially if you take high doses of B vitamins and ginseng together.

Q. Where can I find Chinese ginseng wholesale?
   A. You can search the internet for Chinese ginseng and there are many companies that sell wholesale.

Q. Is a ginseng product be taken during pregnancy. The ginseng product i have is 100 mg of ginseng herb extract.
   A. Unless absolutely necessary, it is best not to use ginseng during pregnancy.

Q. Is ginseng herb effective for erectile dysfunction?
   A. Perhaps to a slight extent, there are more potent aphrodisiac herbs that work better for sexual enhancement and impotence than ginseng herb.

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