Ginseng

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Ginseng
Panax quinquefolius foliage and fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Subfamily: Aralioideae Genus: Panax L.
Species
Subgenus Panax Section Panax Series Notoginseng Panax notoginseng Series Panax Panax bipinnatifidus Panax ginseng Panax japonicus Panax quinquefolius Panax vietnamensis Panax wangianus Panax zingiberensis Section Pseudoginseng Panax pseudoginseng Panax stipuleanatus Subgenus Trifolius Panax trifolius

Panax is a genus of 11 species of slow-growing perennial plants with fleshy roots, in the family Araliaceae. They grow in the Northern Hemisphere in eastern Asia (mostly northern China, North Korea, and eastern Siberia) and North America, typically in cooler climates; Panax vietnamensis, discovered in Vietnam, is the southernmost ginseng found. Ginseng is characterized by the presence of ginsenosides.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not considered a true ginseng; instead of a fleshy root, it has a woody root; instead of ginsenosides, eleutherosides are present, (see below).

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Traditional Uses 3 Modern science and ginseng 4 Ginseng, Nitric Oxide, and Reproductive Activity 5 Side effects 6 Overdose 7 Common classification 7.1 Wild ginseng 7.2 Red ginseng 7.3 Ginseng alternatives 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Etymology

The English word ginseng derives from the Chinese term rénshēn (simplified: 人参; traditional: 人蔘), or Cantonese jan4 sang1, literally "man root" (referring to the root's characteristic forked shape, resembling the legs of a man). The difference between rénshēn and "ginseng" is explained by the fact that the English pronunciation derives from a Japanese reading of these Chinese characters. However, the current Japanese word for these characters 人参 (ninjin) means carrot, and ginseng is referred to in Japanese as 朝鮮人参 (chosen ninjin), or Korean ninjin.

The botanical name Panax means "all-heal" in Greek, and was applied to this genus because Linnaeus was aware of its wide use in Chinese medicine.

[edit] Traditional Uses

The rhizome is taken orally as an adaptogen, aphrodisiac, stimulant, and in the treatment of type II diabetes, including sexual dysfunction in men.

This ingredient may also be found in some popular Energy Drinks: usually the 'tea' varieties.

[edit] Modern science and ginseng

As with herbalism in general, ginseng's medical efficacy remains controversial. It has been difficult to verify the medicinal benefits of ginseng using modern science, as there are contradictory results from different studies, possibly due to the wide variety and quality of ginseng used in studies. The quality and neutrality of studies from East Asia have also been questioned.^{[citation needed]} Another issue is the profit potential of corporate research since ginseng cannot be patented. As a result, quality studies into the effects of ginseng are rare. Ironically, one of the better studies involving ginseng actually uses a proprietary formula of ginseng ^[1]

Ginseng is promoted as an adaptogen (a product that increases the body's resistance to stress), one which can to a certain extent be supported with reference to its anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties,^[2] although animal experiments to determine whether longevity and health were increased in the presence of stress gave negative results.^[3]

A comparative, randomized and double-blind study at the National Autonomous University of Mexico does indicate it to be "a promising dietary supplement" when assessed for an increase in quality of life ^[4].

Panax ginseng appear to inhibit some characteristics associated with cancer in animal models; nevertheless, this effect is unclear in humans.^[5]

[edit] Ginseng, Nitric Oxide, and Reproductive Activity

A 2002 study by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (published in the annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) found that in laboratory animals, both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance.^{[citation needed]} These effects of ginseng may not be due to changes in hormone secretion, but to direct effects of ginseng, or its ginsenoside components, on the central nervous system and gonadal tissues.^{[citation needed]} In males, ginsenosides can facilitate penile erection.

[edit] Side effects

One of ginseng's most common side-effects is the inability to sleep.[1] Other side-effects include nausea, diarrhea, euphoria, headaches, epistaxis, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, mastalgia, and vaginal bleeding.[2]

[edit] Overdose

Ginseng is considered to be relatively safe even in large amounts. However, certain types of Ginseng are extremely dangerous in large amounts. For example notoginseng, (which is sometimes marketed as Asian Ginseng in the US and known as tian qi in Chinese), is known to be deadly in doses over 10 grams. The main symptom is uncontrollable internal bleeding and restlessness. Then muscle spasms occur due to the inflammation of nerve cells and neurons. Death may take place in the course of 3-4 days with severe insomnia occurring. However, since the overdose of notoginseng is extremely rare, this has only been medically documented two times. Herbalists in China knew this and according Xu Dachun in his brief essay on ginseng (1757 A.D., during the Qing Dynasty): "if one administers Ginseng of a purely supplementing nature, then one will merely supplement the evil influences and help them settle down. In minor cases, the evil influences will, as a result of such mistaken therapy, never leave the body again. In serious cases, death is inevitable." [3]

[edit] Common classification

• Panax ginseng Asian ginseng (root)

According to Traditional Chinese/Korean Medicine Ginseng promotes Yang energy, improves circulation, increases blood supply, revitalizes and aids recovery from weakness after illness, stimulates the body. Panax Ginseng is available in two forms:

The form called "white ginseng" is grown for four to six years, and then peeled and dried to reduce the water content to 12% or less. White Ginseng is air dried in the sun and may contain less of the therapeutic constituents. It is thought by some that enzymes contained in the root break down these constituents in the process of drying. Drying in the sun bleaches the root to a yellowish-white color.

The form called "red ginseng" is harvested after six years, is not peeled and is steam-cured, thereby giving them a glossy reddish-brown coloring. Steaming the root is thought to change its biochemical composition and also to prevent the breakdown of the active ingredients. The roots are then dried.

The ginseng root can be double steamed with chicken meat as a soup. (See samgyetang.)

• Panax quinquefolius American ginseng (root)

Ginseng that is produced in the United States and Canada is particularly prized in Chinese societies, and many ginseng packages are prominently colored red, white, and blue.

According to Traditional Chinese/Korean Medicine, American Ginseng promotes Yin energy, cleans excess Yang in the body, calms the body. The reason it has been claimed that American ginseng promotes Yin (shadow, cold, negative, female) while East Asian ginseng promotes Yang (sunshine, hot, positive, male) is that, according to traditional Korean medicine, things living in cold places are strong in Yang and vice versa, so that the two are balanced. Chinese/Korean ginseng grows in northeast China and Korea, the coldest area known to Korean in the old time, so ginseng from there is supposed to be very Yang. And originally, American ginseng was imported into China via subtropical Canton, the seaport next to Hong Kong, so Chinese doctors believed that American ginseng must be good for Yin, because it came from a hot area. However they did not know that American ginseng can only grow in temperate regions.

The ginseng is sliced, a few slices are soaked in hot water to make a tea.

Most North American ginseng is produced in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia and the American state of Wisconsin, according to Agri-food Canada. P. quinquefolius is now also grown in northern China.

A randomized, double-blind study shows that American ginseng reduces influenza cases in the elderly when compared to placebo.^[1]

[edit] Wild ginseng

Wild ginseng is ginseng that has not been planted and cultivated domestically, rather it is that which grows naturally and is harvested from wherever it is found to be growing. It is considered to be superior to domestic ginseng by various authorities, and it has been shown to contain higher levels of ginsenoside. Wild ginseng is relatively rare and even increasingly endangered, due in large part to high demand for the product in recent years, which has lead to the wild plants being sought out and harvested faster than new ones can grow (it requires years for a ginseng root to reach maturity).

[edit] Red ginseng

Red ginseng (Korean=홍삼, Simplified Chinese: 红蔘; Traditional Chinese: 紅蔘), is Panax ginseng that has been heated, either through steaming or sun-drying. It is frequently marinated in an herbal brew which results in the root becoming extremely brittle. This version of ginseng is traditionally associated with stimulating sexual function and increasing energy. Red ginseng is always produced from cultivated roots, usually from either China or South Korea.

In 2002, a preliminary double-blind, crossover study of Korean red ginseng's effects on impotence reported that it can be an effective alternative for treating male erectile dysfunction.^[6]

A study shows that Red ginseng reduces the relapse of gastric cancer versus control^[7]

A study of ginseng's effects on rats show that while both White ginseng and Red ginseng reduce the incidence of cancer, the effects appear to be greater with Red ginseng.^[8]

[edit] Ginseng alternatives

These plants are sometimes referred to as ginseng, but they are either from a different family or genus.

• Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian ginseng)
• Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Prince ginseng)
• Angelica sinensis (Female ginseng, aka Dong Quai)
• Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng, aka Ashwagandha)
• Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian ginseng)
• Lepidium meyenii (Peruvian ginseng, aka Maca)
• Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Southern ginseng, aka Jiaogulan)

[edit] See also

• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Food therapy
• Poor man's ginseng

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Phytochemicals in Korean Ginseng
• The Journal of the American Botanical Council HerbalGram. 2003;57:35 American Botanical Council
• Overdose and Safety information
• Ginseng Abuse Syndrome disputed
• "Ginseng may reduce number, severity of colds". (Nov. 6, 2005). New Sunday Times, p. F19.
• Drugs & Supplements - Mayo Clinic
• Panax ginseng - American Family Physician
• Asian Ginseng Fact Sheet

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