Ginseng Health Benefits

Ginseng Health benefits and Side Effects

What is Ginseng Ginseng is a medicinal herb considered a panacea for all illness because of the many claimed health benefits.
Ginseng Health Benefits are likely based on its ability to improve blood flow and promote cellular nourishments all over the body. Ginseng is claimed to benefit memory, sexual function, and promote overall well being.

Gingko Biloba Tree

Ginseng Side effects. Ginseng is considered safe at recommended dosages. May cause side effects such as dizziness, headache and many others. Not safe for pregnant women and children.


What is Ginseng

ginseng rootOther Names: Asian Ginseng, Asiatic Ginseng, Chinese Ginseng, Chinese Red Ginseng, Ginseng, Ginseng Asiatique, Ginseng Blanc, Ginseng Blanc de Corée, Ginseng Chinois, Ginseng Coréen, Ginseng Coréen Rouge, Ginseng de Corée, Ginseng Japonais, Ginseng Oriental,

Ginseng

Ginseng is one of the top most popular herbs widely used as supplement. Ginseng health benefits are so many that it is called a panacea for all illness thus its scientific name “panax” comes from the Greek word meaning “all healing”. Ginseng’s claimed health benefits comes from its characteristic of being an adaptogen, meaning its effect is to normalize the body’s functions to promote overall well being.. An example of Ginseng’s adaptogenic effects is that it will lower high blood pressure but would also raise low blood pressure.




Traditional Health Benefits of Ginseng

Ginseng has been part of the Traditional Oriental Medicine for over 2,000 years as a panacea for all illness. There are many claimed traditional health benefits derived from ginseng that some has recently been confirmed through scientific research while others need further investigation. Some of these traditional health benefits are as follows;

Ginseng is used as a general tonic or as an “adaptogen” that benefits the whole body and improves overall health by relieving stress, increasing stamina, prolonging athletic endurance and promoting a feeling of well being. 

Ginseng provides mental and brain health benefits. Medicinal uses include improvement of memory and concentration, treatment for dementia and Alzheimer’s des ease. Ginseng benefits the mind by promoting calmness and clarity that is beneficial for fighting mental stress, anxiety, depression and mental psychosis.

Ginseng benefits the immune system by fighting infections and as treatment for inflammations. It is also used for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some people believe that ginseng benefits cancer patients as well as ginseng can prevent the development of liver cancer, ovarian cancer and skin cancer.

Ginseng benefits for men include treatment of erectile dysfunction and as topical preparation applied on the penis’ skin to treat premature ejaculation.

Ginseng benefits women by helping them to regain strength and health after child birth or miscarriage. Ginseng is also used to alleviate symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and menopause.

Other ginseng benefits include treatment for fever, anemia, asthma, bleeding disorders, loss of appetite, dizziness, headache, nerve pain, joint pains, nausea, sleeping disorders, convulsions,

Among the many health benefits of ginseng , the most popular is its ability to slow down aging.




Scientific Studies of Ginseng Health Benefits

Ginseng Health Benefits – The Many Health Benefits of Ginseng Supported by Scientific Studies

 

Ginseng Health Benefits for Lung Cancer

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine 2012 has published an article detailing the results of a study on the adaptogenic effects of ginseng extract for lung cancer. The anti cancer health benefit of ginseng has been confirmed when the butanol-extracted mountain ginseng inhibits the progression of lung cancer in clinical trials by attenuating cancer cell proliferation and likewise promoting cancer cell death.

Ginseng Health Benefits for Colorectal Cancer

In a similar study done in Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, USA, the ginsenoside compound K and not Rb1, possesses potential chemopreventive activities in human colorectal cancer. These results suggest that C-K could be have a potential health benefits for colorectal cancer(2)

Ginseng Health Benefits for the Immune System

A clinical trial done in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA, determined that ginseng and salviae herbs have protective immune activity against influenza virus by increasing the specific antibody and neutralizing its activities. This study supports the claimed health benefit from ginseng as an immune booster herb.(3)

Health Benefits of the Neuroprotective Activity of Ginseng

A clinical study reported in the Journal of Neuroscience and Research, March 2012, suggested that the administration of ginseng saponins after traumatic brain injury could reduce the secondary injury through inhibiting oxidative and nitrative stress, attenuating inflammatory response, and reducing apoptotic cell death.(5)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Alzheimer's Disease Patients

A clinical trial done in the Department of Surgery, Physicians & Surgeons College of Columbia University USA, has reported that ginseng  Rg1 has profound multi-faced and neuroprotective effects in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. The ginseng component Rg1 induces neuroprotection through ameliorating amyloid pathology, modulating APP process, improving cognition, and activating PKA/CREB signaling.(7)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Psychosis Conditions (Antipsychotic)

A study published in Neurochemical Research. April 2012 entitled “Evaluation of the Antipsychotic Potential of Ginseng quinquefolium in Ketamine Induced Experimental Psychosis Model in Mice” has reported that ginseng quinquefolium pharmatheraphy for psychiatric illness provided positive health benefits and recommends further evaluation for its benefits in predominant negative symptoms of schizophrenia.(8)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Depressions

A clinical study reported in Behavioral Medicine, April 2011, which was done in Kyung Hee University, Korea has reported that altered Korean red ginseng extract has the potential to improve symptoms of depression in mice.(9)

Anti Oxidant Health Benefits of Ginseng

In a study done in the Institute for Phytochemical-Drug Interactions, College of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Korea suggested that the red ginseng essential oil has antioxidant and hepatoprotective health benefits against H2O2 treated HepG2 cells and CC1(4)-treated mice. The test results showed that red ginseng essential oil seems to protect the liver from oxidative stress through the activation and induction of antioxidant enzymes via inhibition of MAPKs pathways.(10)

Anti Inflammatory Health Benefits of Ginseng

A study entitled “Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidative Effects of Korean Red Ginseng Extract in Human Keratinocytes” was published in the Journal of Immune Network February 2011. investigated the health benefits of Korean red ginseng extracts on the production of TNF-α and IL-8 in human keratinocytes. The study showed a significant inhibition of TNF-α when cells were treated with 500 and 1,000 µg/ml of Korean red ginseng extracts. Additionally, Korean red ginseng extracts showed DPPH radical scavenging and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner.(11)

Anti Fatigue Health Benefit of Ginseng

Excess fatigue is a pathological state of continuing accumulation of fatigue, which may cause the deterioration of body health, occurrence of diseases, and even lead to death. A metabonomics study was performed on the excess fatigue rats treated with traditional Chinese medicine Tongxinluo or ginseng based on ultra fast liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap-time of flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-IT-TOF-MS). The results showed tryptophan, bile acid, lysophosphatidylcholine metabolism were disturbed in the excess fatigue rats. The metabolic pattern including the related metabolic pathways of the rats, being treated with Tongxinluo or ginseng, was adjusted towards the normal state.(12)

Health Benefits of Ginseng against Osteoporosis

Food and Chemical Toxicology. February 2012 reported that ginsenosides, the main active components of ginseng possesses anti-osteoporosis health benefits in ovariectomized rats. The data suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 is one of the effective components of ginsenosides for the anti-osteoporosis activity and can inhibit osteoclastogenesis by suppressing RANKL-induced activation of both JNK and p38 MAPKs and NF-κB pathways, and consequently down-regulating the gene expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 in osteoclast precursors.(13)

Ginseng Health Benefits against Itchy Dermatitis

The Journal of Pharmacological Science. March 2012reported that the Korean red ginseng inhibits scratching behavior associated with atopic dermatitis in experimental animal models. This suggests that red ginseng extract possess potential health benefit for atopic dermatitis.(14)

Ginseng Benefits against Hypertension

The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. March 2012 reported that ginseng extract rich in ginsenoside protoatriol attenuates blood pressure elevation in spontaneously hypertensive rats by affecting the akt-dependent hosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. This suggests the anti hypertensive health benefits of the ginseng extract by improving vessel wall thickening, and alleviated hypertension in SHRs,(16)

Ginseng Health Benefits for the Heart

A study titled “Therapeutic potential of ginseng in the management of cardiovascular disorders”  done in Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada propose that the many cardiovascular benefits attributed to ginseng include cardio protection, antihypertensive effects, and attenuation of myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.(17)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Diabetic nephropathy

The Journal of Phytomedicine. April 2012 edition reported that a clinical study done in Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada. that the dysmetabolic state in the diabetic mice was significantly improved by ginseng treatment. In the kidneys of diabetic animals, ginseng significantly prevented oxidative stress and reduced the NF-κB (p65) levels.(18)

Anti Keloid Health Benefits of Ginseng

The Phytotheraphy Research Journal of February 2012 reported that a recommendation has been proposed by researchers from the University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran that ginseng could effectively treat keliod scars by inhibiting NF-kappa B, TGF-β, IL-6, ACE and MMP-2 that play a pivotal role in keloid formation pathogenesis. Clinical studies suggest that to topical applications of notoginseng (800 µg/ml) are warranted.(19)

Anti Diabetes Health Benefits of Ginseng

In the Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases January 2008, it was reported that Korean red ginseng (ginseng) improves glucose and insulin regulation in well-controlled, type 2 diabetes. Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design, participants received the selected Korean red ginseng preparation (rootlets) and placebo at the selected dose. Korean red ginseng treatment maintained good glycemic control and improved PG and PI regulation safely beyond usual therapy in people with well-controlled type 2 diabetes.(20)

Red Korean Ginseng Health Benefits for Prostate

In the Journal of Natural Medicine November 2011 issue, it was reported that Korean Red ginseng and 20(S)-Rg3 control testosterone-induced prostate hyperplasia by deregulating androgen receptor signaling. Testosterone-induced expression of human kallikrein-3 mRNA and activation of androgen receptor (AR) were effectively inhibited by the Korean red ginseng extract. Red Korean Ginseng and 20(S)-Rg3 were found to have health benefits and new pharmacological activities against testosterone-induced prostate overgrowth. Red Korean ginseng and 20(S)-Rg3 could be potential therapeutic regimens for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.(21)

Korean Red Ginseng Health Benefits for Menopausal Symptoms

A study published in Menopause Journal of April 2012, reported the effects of Korean red ginseng supplementation on menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women The study recommended that Korean red ginseng provides positive health benefits in relieving menopausal symptoms and conferring favorable effects on markers of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women.(22)

Fructus Ginseng Health Benefits in Inducing Hair growth

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology of November 2011 issue reported that Fructus ginseng extract promotes hair regeneration in C57BL/6 mice. The study showed that fructus ginseng extract significantly increased the proliferation of DPCs in dose and time dependent manners. This study suggests that fructus ginseng extract improves the cell proliferation of human DPCs through anti apoptotic activation. Topical administration of fructus ginseng extract might have hair regeneration activity for the treatment of hair loss.(23)

Ginseng Health Benefits against Liver Damage

The Journal of Hazardous Materials November 2011 issue reported the protective effect of ginseng against serum biochemical changes and apoptosis in liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The study suggests that the health benefits of ginseng treatment may play a protective role by enhancing liver enzyme activities and recovering biochemical parameters, and improving the changes in histological structure against CCl(4)-induced liver damages in rats.(24)

Anti Obesity Health Benefits of Ginseng

The Journal of Medicinal Food. June 2011 issue reported the ant obesity health benefit of oil extract of ginseng. The study was released from the School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea suggestng that dietary oil extract from ginseng improved obesity-related parameters in blood, liver, and adipose tissue in a mouse model and suppressed obesity induced by high fat diet, possibly by regulating lipid metabolism by modulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) protein expression (25)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Erectile Dysfunction Condition

The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. October 2008 issue, published a review entitled “Red ginseng used for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review”. In this report, seven randomized clinical studies were reviewed to establish and evaluate the health benefits and effectiveness of Korean red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction. The review concluded that the collective randomized clinical studies provide suggestive evidence for the effectiveness of red ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, the total number of RCTs included in the analysis, the total sample size and the methodological quality of the primary studies were too low to draw definitive conclusions. Thus more rigorous studies are necessary.(26)

Ginseng Health Benefits for Allergic Rhinitis

A study released from Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research. April 2011, reported the therapeutic effects of fermented Korean red ginseng in allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. It reported that for nasal congestion, fermented Korean red ginseng was significantly effective (P<0.005), while placebo caused no change. It thus conclude that fermented Korean red ginseng provides health benefits by improving nasal congestion symptoms and RQoL in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis.(27)

Anti Asthma Health Benefits of Ginseng

A study published in BMB Reports. February 2012, reported that the RG-II from ginseng C.A. Meyer suppresses asthmatic reaction. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.(28)

 


Ginseng Availability and Dosage

Ginseng are available in most drug stores and health stores and online stores such ebay and amazon.

Bear in mind that Ginseng is considered as a supplement and not as medicine. Manufacturing procedures are not closely regulated. Be aware that ginseng products are not always what they claim. The contents of products labeled as containing ginseng can vary greatly. Many contain little or no ginseng. To get the high quality ginseng supplements, always buy from a reputable source or brand. Look for the USP mark.

Ginseng is also available online such as in ebay as well as in amazon such as Nature's Way Ginseng, Korean,




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