Panax Ginseng

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What does Panax Ginseng do?

Ginseng is a medicinal herb used primarily for increased stamina and for boosting the immune system and immune system responses. It is used to help relieve fatigue, declining capacity to work and concentration. It has been considered especially helpful as a supplement to cancer therapies. It is said to be effective as an as an antagonist of morphine analgesia and the analgesic effects of opioids.  It can be taken as a capsule, pill, tea, tincture or the whole root chewed.

Should my health care professional be advised before I take Panax Ginseng?

They should be consulted first if you have any of these conditions, as Panax Ginseng usage may be contraindicated: If you have diabetes mellitus (Ginseng may effect blood glucose levels). If you have high blood pressure.or are taking blood pressure medicine. If you have a tendency toward excessive menstrual bleeding. If you are taking phenelzine sulfate. If you are taking estrogens or corticosteroids. If you are taking blood thinning medication s.c. as warfarin.. Traditionally in Chinese medicine it has been advised to avoid Panax Ginseng usage if: The person is taking Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (Li Lu) The person is taking Faeces Trogopterori (Rhizoma Trogopterorum or Wu Ling Zhi ) The person often experiences a hot dry feeling. The person has a yin deficiency with heat signs, heat excess or in the absence of significant qi deficiency. Panax Red ginseng should generally be avoided if: the patient is hot tempered, irritable, nervous, prone to headaches, asthma, acute infectious diseases with fever, insomnia, palpitations, infections, colds, or the flu.

Are there other times my health care professional needs to be advised before I take Panax Ginseng?

They should be consulted first if you are: Pregnant or trying to get pregnant (May be contraindicated if pregnant.) Breast-feeding If you plan to administer this herb to a child.

How should I take this herb?

Take Panax Ginseng capsules or tablets by mouth. Swallow the capsules with a large drink of water. For the best bioavailability and if you have a sensitive stomach, it is often recommended that you take Panex Ginseng as a tincture, infusion, tea or the raw herb. You can take Ginseng with or without food.

What should the dosage be?

Lengths of administration are usually based on the severity of the symptoms and the type of problem. If Ginseng is being used over a long period of time then short breaks from ginseng usage should be included in the therapy. These breaks in usage are usually 2-3 weeks in length. Low dosages are usually 0.5-1.0 grams/day - and High dosages:3.0-4.5 grams/day with the average dosage for ginseng usage being 1 to 2 grams a day. The following consists of common average recommended dosages for ginseng usage: Tablets, Pills, Capsules: Equivalent to 1-2 grams root/day or 100 mg, 200 or 400 mg/day of standardized ginseng extract (standardized to Saponin or Ginsenoside content - usually 7%) where 100 mg of the preparation is equivalent to 500 mg P ginseng root. Chewed: 1-2 grams root/day - may be boiled gently and for a short time to soften it up before chewing Tea/Infusion : 1-2 gram root/day or 0.5 tbsp comminuted drug to one cup boiling water up to 4x /day. Or make a tea by simmering 2 ounces of fresh ginseng in four cups of water for 2 hours- drink one cup 2-4x day. Tincture/Liquid Extract: 5 milliliters in one cup after meals - equivalent to 1-2 grams/day

What medicines may interact with Panax Ginseng?

Ginseng is contraindicated in patients taking phenelzine sulfate. Ginseng may be contraindicated if used with estrogens or corticosteroids. Ginseng may interact with the blood thinning medication warfarin, however this is not clinically proven. In Chinese Medicine, traditionally, ginseng is considered contraindicated if the patient is taking Rhizoma et Radix Veratri (Li Lu). Traditionally Ginseng was thought to be incompatible with the intake of Faeces Trogopterori (Rhizoma Trogopterorum or Wu Ling Zhi), however this is under debate. There has been one case reported of interaction with furosemide, however this may have been due to a germanium contaminant.

What side effects may I notice from taking Panax Ginseng?

Side effects from correctly administered Panax Ginseng usage are thought to be relatively rare. If you experience any of these side effects, stop usage immediately and report them to your health care professional. Post menopausal bleeding Breast pain (Mastalgia) Gestational diabetes. Hypertony Headache (in conjunction with phenelzine intake) Tremulousness (in conjunction with phenelzine intake) Manic episodes (in conjunction with phenelzine intake) Cerebral arteritis (one possible case reported) Ginseng Abuse Syndrome - the cases reported on Ginseng abuse syndrome are controversial due to the possibility the ginseng consumed had adulterants, that the ginseng types are unknown including how they were processed, and that the reports may not have been verified. The following are the side effects reported for this Syndrome: Intoxication induced by Ginseng causing: Mild irritability Edema Prutititus Depression Vertigo Palpitations Hyperpyrexia Side effects (considered rare) that usually do not require medical attention (stop usage and report it to your health care professional if they are continuing or bothersome): Diarrhea Headaches Insomnia Irritability Nausea Nervousness Rash Restlessness Vomiting

What do I need to watch out for with Panax Ginseng?

Usage of stimulants may be contraindicated if a patient has cardiovascular disease and is taking Ginseng. Red Ginseng may potentiate the effects of caffeine and other stimulants. Ginseng may be toxic in very large quantities (Ginseng Abuse Syndrome) and/or with intake over a long period of time. Read labels carefully before purchasing . A concern when purchasing Panax Ginseng is the continued practice of substitution. Labels should be checked for clear identification of the plant genus utilized. Still, even if the correct genus is listed, adulterations, absence of the constituent ginsenosides, mixing species, labeling that is either erroneous or lacking in information should be all cause for care when purchasing. Buying the raw herb or a standardized product may reduce the possibility of this occurrence. Look also for products that are clearly labeled with the ingredients contained and amounts.

Where can I keep my herbal product?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open. Store at room temperature between 15 and 30°C (59 and 86°F). The raw herb, tinctures or infusions should be stored in airtight, dry, and light resistant containers. Care should be taken in the storage of the roots, as p.o. storage (needs to be kept cool and dry) and age is thought to degrade the ginsenoside content available. If there is an expiration date listed on the herbal product, throw away the unused portion after the expiration date. Raw herbs, tinctures, ointments, etc all have varying life spans. Generally, an herbal product will have the longest life span when it has been extracted in alcohol.

Can you tell me a little more about Panax Ginseng?

Panax Ginseng is indigenous to Manchuria, Chinese Tartary, and other areas of Eastern Asia. By some it is considered one of the most utilized and highly regarded of the medicinal Chinese herbs. Its usage can be traced back over approximately 5000 years. It is a smooth herbaceous perennial belonging to the ivy family Araliaceae. It has a large, fleshy, and very slow-growing root which usually grows to 2 to 3 inches in length 1/2 to 1 inches in thickness. It is spindle shaped and annulated with a round summit. The color is pale yellow to brown. It's erect stem grows to over 1 foot and usually has three leaves divided by 5 leaflets and a singular terminal umbel. It produces bight red pea sized berries in clusters. Roots are usually harvested in the fall. Red and white ginseng are two forms often referenced. Red ginseng may be the most prevalent variety of Panex sold. Both types originate from the same genus plant but differ in the preparation process. Red Ginseng (also called Ginseng Radix Rubra) is prepared using a streaming process. Peeled roots are steamed before drying 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. Red Ginseng in Chinese medicine is associated with "Yang" energy (and therefor considered stimulating). It has been shown to contain a higher total content of saponins and has outperformed white ginseng in most therapeutic studies. 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. Ginseng roots can also be candied (processed in sugar) and these are considered to have a much milder effect and are used to treat qi and yin deficiency. When purchasing this herb, price is often determined by the length of time the herb was allowed to grow before harvesting. This effects the cost not only of the root but also of any of the processed herbal tonics or capsules. To cultivate good quality ginseng it is thought that maintenance of the soil, shade and other environmental conditions need careful attention and that roots should be allowed to mature for up to 5 years or longer and be harvested at the correct time of year. Roots that have been allowed to mature are thought to have stronger therapeutic qualities: therefore with each year in the ground the price tends to increase. It is maintained by some (with supporting studies) that young roots have not had the time to develop the properties Ginseng is renown for and therefore the benefits of its usage would be significantly less. Today, Ginseng is a very common herb sold around the world. In 1990 it was thought that at least 6 million Americans were using the herb. And in the US for 1997, Ginseng was recorded as generating more than $86 million in sales annually.

What are the actions that have been associated with the herb?

anax Ginseng is considered an adaptogen. This means it is purported to regulate the metabolism to be normalized and balanced. It is also categorized as an. immunostimulator with the ability to stimulate immune responses. Traditionally, in Chinese medicine it is thought to tonify the basal qi, lungs, and stomach.; strengthen the spleen, generate fluids, stop thirst; benefit the heart qi and have a calming effect on the spirit.

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